The Giants.com crew breaks down the 53-man roster, which was announced on Tuesday:
John Schmeelk: My initial reaction to the initial 53-man roster is that special teams played a big role in how they decided on how they would fill out some of the position groups and the roster overall. Gary Brightwell has not played in a preseason game nor practice since the beginning of August, but he still found a spot on the roster. His ability to impact all of the coverage and return teams undoubtedly played a big role in the that decision making process. Jashaun Corbin showed juice as a runner, but he is less experienced on special teams.
At linebacker, Carter Coughlin and Cam Brown were on the initial 53 man roster, kept instead of a young second-year player such as Darrian Beavers. Coughlin and Brown are both "plus" athletes and have been core members of all the special teams units since joining the Giants. There's no doubt their dependability on teams played a huge role on their inclusion. Coughlin also flashed on defense in extensive playing time at inside linebacker in preseason games.
The team has been transparent that they know they coverage teams must be better this season, and there's no doubt that trying to achieve that goal played a large role in how this roster was constructed.
Dan Salomone: Something that Dexter Lawrence said at the start of training camp seems apt for this week's roster news: "I don't want to talk about building. It's more about doing at this point." The Pro Bowl defensive lineman probably spoke for a lot of Giants fans. While it is only Year 2 of the new regime, Lawrence is part of a core group on the roster that has the scars of some lean times. Along with players like Daniel Jones, Andrew Thomas, Saquon Barkley, and Darius Slayton, all of whom were retained this off-season, they were rewarded with a taste of team success a year ago. They will look to take the team to the next level alongside key newcomers as Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll continue to build the roster.
"Going into my fifth season, I hate losing," Lawrence continued. "I don't really want to talk about building. I want to talk about what we are doing today to get better for tomorrow, and then that day leads into the season. You all can talk about building, but our mindset is winning."
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2023 cycle.
OLB Oshane Ximines - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
OL Jaylon Thomas - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
RB Taiwan Jones - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 16)
OLB Oshane Ximines - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 16)
RB Taiwan Jones - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 9)
K Graham Gano - Signed 3-year contract extension (September 8)
WR Cam Sims - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (September 4)
WR Cole Beasley - Practice Squad; Injured (September 4)
G Jack Anderson - Waived, Injury Settlement
DB Kaleb Hayes, WR Dennis Houston, T Jaylon Thomas - Practice Squad Signing (August 31)
RB Taiwan Jones - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (August 31)
TE Tyree Jackson, G Jalen Mayfield - Practice Squad Exception Signing (August 31)
DB Gemon Green, T Tyre Phillips - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (August 31)
CB Zyon Gilbert - Waived, Injury Settlement
DT Ryder Anderson, ILB Darrian Beavers, DB Alex Cook, QB Tommy DeVito, CB Gemon Green, ILB Dyontae Johnson, TE Ryan Jones - Practice Squad (August 30)
WR Cole Beasley, CB Amani Oruwariye, T Tyre Phillips, OLB Oshane Ximines - Practice Squad Veteran (August 30)
OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exception (August 30)
DE Boogie Basham - Acquired via Trade (via BUF) with 2025 7th Round Pick for 2025 6th Round Pick (August 30)
DT Ryder Anderson - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
DE Habakkuk Baldonado - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LB Darrian Beavers - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
DB Alex Cook - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
RB Jashaun Corbin - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
QB Tommy DeVito - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LB Tomon Fox - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
DB Gemon Green - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LB Dyontae Johnson - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
TE Ryan Jones - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LS Cameron Lyons - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
T Tyre Phillips - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
WR Kalil Pimpleton - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
DT Kobe Smith - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LB Ray Wilborn - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
WR Cole Beasley - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
WR Jamison Crowder - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
C Sean Harlow - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
DB Amani Oruwariye - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
WR David Sills V - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
LB Oshane Ximines - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
TE Tommy Sweeney - Reserve/Non-Football Illness (August 29)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson - Passed Physical (August 29)
CB Aaron Robinson - Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (August 29)
TE Chris Myarick - Reserve/Injured (August 28)
DB Zyon Gilbert - Waived, Injured (August 28)
G Jack Anderson - Waived, Injured (August 28)
G Wyatt Davis - Waived, Injured (August 28)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton - Reserve/Injured (August 27)
WR Jaydon Mickens - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
OT Korey Cunningham - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
OT Julién Davenport - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
DT Brandin Bryant - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
DE Tashawn Bower - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
DT Kevin Atkins - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
WR Collin Johnson - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
DB Darren Evans - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
NT Donovan Jeter - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
RB James Robinson - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons - Acquired via Trade (via ARZ) for 2024 7th Round Pick (August 25)
OT Devery Hamilton - Waived, Injury Settlement (August 24)
LB Troy Brown - Waived, Injury Settlement
CB Rodarius Williams - Waived, No Recall (August 19)
OT Julién Davenport - Free Agent Signing (August 16)
LB Troy Brown - Waived, Injured (August 16)
LB Ray Wilborn - Claimed off Waivers from DEN (August 15)
OT Devery Hamilton - Waived/Injured (August 15)
DL D.J. Davidson - Passed Physical (August 14)
WR Jeff Smith - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Injury Settlement (August 11)
DT A'Shawn Robinson - Passed Physical (August 7)
OL Marcus McKethan - Passed Physical (August 7)
NT Donovan Jeter - Free Agent Signing (August 4)
WR Jeff Smith - Waived/Injured (August 4)
C Sean Harlow - Free Agent Signing (August 1)
OL J.C. Hassenauer - Reserve/Injured (August 1)
WR Sterling Shepard - Passed Physical (July 30)
WR Jamison Crowder - Passed Physical (July 30)
DT Vernon Butler - Reserve/Injured (July 29)
LB Elerson Smith - Waived, Injury Settlement (July 29)
DT Kevin Atkins - Free Agent Signing (July 27)
T Andrew Thomas - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (July 26)
DT D.J. Davidson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
G Marcus McKethan - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
CB Aaron Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
DT A'Shawn Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
WR Sterling Shepard - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
WR Jamison Crowder - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 25)
DT Vernon Butler - Reserve/Did Not Report (July 25)
RB Saquon Barkley - Franchise Player Signing (July 25)
OLB Tashawn Bower - Free Agent Signing (July 25)
OLB Elerson Smith - Waived, Injured (July 25)
DB Trenton Thompson - Waived, No Recall (July 25)
DT Brandin Bryant - Free Agent Signing (July 24)
WR Makai Polk - Waived, No Recall (July 24)
WR Dre Miller - Waived, No Recall (July 24)
RB James Robinson - Free Agent Signing (July 21)
WR Cole Beasley - Free Agent Signing (July 21)
DB Darren Evans - Free Agent Signing (July 18)
LB Jarrad Davis - Reserve/Injured (July 18)
DB Leonard Johnson - Waived/Injured (July 18)
DL Kobe Smith - Free Agent Signing (June 15)
DL Dexter Lawrence - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (May 5)
OLB Oshane Ximines - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
OLB Habakkuk Baldonado - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
LB Troy Brown - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
DB Alex Cook - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
QB Tommy DeVito - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
DB Gemon Green - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
LB Dyontae Johnson - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
TE Ryan Jones - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
LS Cameron Lyons - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
CB Deonte Banks - Selected in Round 1 (Pick No. 24) of 2023 NFL Draft
CB Deonte Banks - Selection List Signing (May 18)
OL John Michael Schmitz - Selected in Round 2 (Pick No. 57) of 2023 NFL Draft
C John Michael Schmitz - Selection List Signing (May 23)
WR Jalin Hyatt - Selected in Round 3 (Pick No. 73) of 2023 NFL Draft
WR Jalin Hyatt - Selection List Signing (May 15)
RB Eric Gray - Selection List Signing (May 5)
CB Tre Hawkins III - Selected in Round 6 (Pick No. 209) of 2023 NFL Draft
CB Tre Hawkins III - Selection List Signing (May 5)
DL Jordon Riley - Selected in Round 7 (Pick No. 243) of 2023 NFL Draft
RB Eric Gray - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 172) of 2023 NFL Draft
DL Jordan Riley - Selection List Signing (May 6)
DB Gervarrius Owens - Selected in Round 7 (Pick No. 254) of 2023 NFL Draft
DB Gervarrius Owens - Selection List Signing (May 5)
DT A'Shawn Robinson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 24)
C J.C. Hassenauer - Free Agent Signing (April 7)
OLB Jihad Ward - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 29)
TE Tommy Sweeney - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 23)
CB Amani Oruwariye - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 23)
WR Jamison Crowder - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 23)
S Bobby McCain - Free Agent Signing (March 23)
WR Darius Slayton - Free Agent Signing (March 20)
DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
WR Parris Campbell - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
WR Jeff Smith - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
LB Bobby Okereke - Free Agent Signing (March 16)
WR Sterling Shepard - Free Agent Signing (March 15)
TE Darren Waller - Acquired via trade with Las Vegas Raiders (March 15)
RB Matt Breida - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 14)
P Jamie Gillan - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 13)
LS Casey Kreiter - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 13)
G Wyatt Davis - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 13)
QB Daniel Jones - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 7)
RB Saquon Barkley - Designated Franchise Player (March 7)
LB Jarrad Davis - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 7)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Signed, Exclusive Rights (February 16)
G Jack Anderson - Signed, Exclusive Rights (February 14)
TE Lawrence Cager - Signed, Exclusive Rights (February 13)
WR David Sills V - Reserve/Future Signing (January 26)
DB Terrell Burgess - Reserve/Future Signing (January 26)
TE Chris Myarick - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
T Devery Hamilton - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Dre Miller - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DB Zyon Gilbert - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DT Vernon Butler - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Makai Polk - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
T Korey Cunningham - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Jaydon Mickens - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Kalil Pimpleton - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
RB Jashaun Corbin - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DB Trenton Thompson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DB Terrell Burgess - Waived/Injured (May 5)
G Solomon Kindley - Waived
WR Kenny Golladay - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 15)
Lance Medow: In the salary cap era, the most effective way to build a strong, deep roster is by selecting and developing players through the draft. In the last two years, the Giants have added 18 players (11 in 2022, 7 in 2023) through that facet and 17 of those 18 draft picks made the initial 53-man roster. The only exception is linebacker Darrian Beavers and every member of the 2023 draft class earned a spot. The volume of recent picks shouldn't be overlooked as it's an indication those players have shown promise and potential and how much they produce and execute consistently in the regular season will absolutely determine the outlook of the team.
Based on what we've seen during training camp practices and the preseason, all seven members of this year's draft class will likely see plenty of action and have a chance to put their stamps all over the season. Deonte Banks and Tre Hawkins are in line to start at corner, John Michael Schmitz will be the man in the middle of the offensive line, Jalin Hyatt, Eric Gray and Jordon Riley will have opportunities to carve out specific roles on each end of the ball and Gervarrius Owens could be a key special teams player.
Aside from Beavers failing to make the cut, the other noticeable player was defensive lineman Ryder Anderson, who bulked up this off-season but had been sidelined due to injury for much of camp. You'd think he'd make the initial 53 and then be a strong candidate to be placed on injured reserve, keeping the door open for his return later in the season. From a volume standpoint, they kept 11 defensive backs. Part of that is a reflection of injuries and a bit of a youth movement but something suggests that number will change sooner rather than later following other tweaks. Remember, until Week 1 kicks off and even after, everything pertaining to the roster is fluid.
Matt Citak: There weren't too many surprises on the Giants' 53-man roster announcement. However, the linebacker group is intriguing in the sense that the group looks pretty different than what most people would have predicted just a week ago.
For starters, the Giants traded with the Arizona Cardinals for Isaiah Simmons at the end of last week. The linebacker/safety/hybrid defender was the eighth overall pick in the 2020 draft, and provides the defense with some elite athleticism. Simmons, listed at 6-foot-4 and 238 pounds, ran in incredible 4.39 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Combine. Just to put it into comparison, Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, this year's eighth overall pick and one of the most highly touted running back prospects in years, ran a 4.46. Although Simmons' stats weren't amazing in Arizona, he did had solid production over his first three seasons. More importantly, he fits perfectly into Wink Martindale's positionless defense, and will line up all over the defense this season, likely including next to Bobby Okereke at the WILL linebacker spot. In his first game action with the Giants, albeit a preseason contest, Simmons recorded a pressure on Jets QB Aaron Rodgers, forcing him out of the pocket where the veteran eventually threw away the ball. In addition to Simmons, the Giants also traded with the Buffalo Bills for Boogie Basham, a second-round pick from 2021. Basham has recorded 6.5 sacks across 27 games (23 regular season, four postseason) the last two seasons for the Bills. He adds some depth to the outside linebacker group, joining Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari and Jihad Ward to form a promising bunch.
The other observation as it pertains to the linebackers is the inclusion of both Cam Brown and Carter Coughlin on the 53-man roster. Both players have been strong contributors on special teams in recent years, but neither one has seen much playing time on defense. In fact, they combined for just nine defensive snaps total last year. However, they were both included on the 53-man roster, while Darrian Beavers, who looked like a candidate to start at inside linebacker before tearing his ACL last preseason, was waived. This decision makes me believe that at least one of them could push for more snaps on defense this upcoming season. Keep in mind that in the preseason finale, Coughlin was on the field for 15 defensive snaps and played well, recording two tackles for loss.
View photos of the New York Giants' 2023 roster as it currently stands.
CB Deonte Banks
RB Saquon Barkley
OLB Boogie Basham
TE Daniel Bellinger
S Dane Belton
G Ben Bredeson
RB Matt Breida
RB Gary Brightwell
ILB Cam Brown
TE Lawrence Cager
WR Parris Campbell
ILB Carter Coughlin
DL D.J. Davidson
OL Joshua Ezeudu
CB Cor'Dale Flott
K Graham Gano
P Jamie Gillan
G Mark Glowinski
RB Eric Gray
CB Tre Hawkins III
WR Isaiah Hodgins
CB Darnay Holmes
WR Jalin Hyatt
CB Adoree' Jackson
QB Daniel Jones
LS Casey Kreiter
DL Dexter Lawrence
G Shane Lemieux
S Bobby McCain
CB Nick McCloud
ILB Micah McFadden
OL Marcus McKethan
S Xavier McKinney
OT Evan Neal
DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches
OLB Azeez Ojulari
LB Bobby Okereke
S Gervarrius Owens
OT Matt Peart
S Jason Pinnock
DL Jordon Riley
DT A'Shawn Robinson
WR Wan'Dale Robinson
C John Michael Schmitz Jr.
WR Sterling Shepard
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons
WR Darius Slayton
QB Tyrod Taylor
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux
OT Andrew Thomas
TE Darren Waller
OLB Jihad Ward
DL Leonard Williams
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