The Giants.com crew is presented with four statements and must decide whether they are Fact or Fiction.
Defensive line is the deepest position on the team.
John Schmeelk: Fiction – Defensive line is the strongest, and in my opinion, the best position on the team with the presence of two All-Pro level players in Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams and veterans like Rakeem Nunez-Roches, A'Shawn Robinson and Vernon Butler backing them up. There are also young players like Ryder Anderson, DJ Davidson and Jordon Riley. But the Giants are going to struggle pairing down their roster at wide receiver at the end of August.
Lance Medow: Fiction – Coincidentally, Schmeelk and I just had this conversation on a recent edition of Big Blue Kickoff Live, so if he doesn't go fact here, it'll be the biggest surprise since Paul Dottino didn't use a food analogy on the show to make a point. I have defensive line second in this category right behind wide receiver. As of now, the receiving corps showcases at least 10 players who realistically have a shot to secure a roster spot. Yes, there are some individuals coming off injuries and others who have yet to play an NFL snap, but the group overall still makes a stronger case than the defensive line, especially with respect to experience.
Cornerback is the most improved position on the roster.
John Schmeelk: Fiction – Deonte Banks certainly helps the position, but the addition of a proven high-level player like Bobby Okereke at inside linebacker could be a game-changer. The Giants struggled to stop the run last year. Okereke will help in those areas and bring a level of speed and strong instincts to the position that the Giants lacked last season. I expect a strong two-way performer that never leaves the field for the Giants defense.
Lance Medow: Fiction – The addition of first-round pick Deonte Banks will help this group, but for the most part, the cornerback unit from last season is returning and receiving some players back from injury. That's why I think the defensive line is the most improved unit. A'Shawn Robinson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches are both polished veterans who have a reputation for stopping the run, a facet of the defense the team is looking to elevate. Those two players should help that cause and create additional opportunities for the edge rushers.
View photos from OTA practice No. 3 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
DB Adoree' Jackson (22), DB Cor'dale Flott (28), DB Zyon Gilbert (38)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
WR Sterling Shepard (3)
DB Adoree' Jackson (22)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18), WR Darius Slayton (86), WR Jeff Smith II (19)
OL Evan Neal (73), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
RB Gary Brightwell (23), RB Eric Gray (20), RB Jashaun Corbin (25), RB Matt Breida (31)
DB Gervarrius Owens (31)
DB Tre Hawkins III (37), DB Gervarrius Owens (31)
LB Micah McFadden (41)
LB Carter Coughlin (52)
WR Sterling Shepard (3)
DB Alex Cook (23)
DB Germon Green (34)
DB Cor'dale Flott (28)
DB Alex Cook (23)
DB Zyon Gilbert (38)
DB Cor'dale Flott (28)
DB Deonte Banks (36)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
Brian Daboll Head Coach
P Jamie Gillan (6), K Graham Gano (9)
DB Bobby McCain (21)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
RB Jashaun Corbin (25), QB Tyrod Taylor (2), TE Lawrence Cager (83), WR Collin Johnson (15)
WR Collin Johnson (15)
DB Cor'dale Flott (28)
DB Cor'dale Flott (28)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
DB Adoree' Jackson (22)
LB Troy Brown (46)
LB Troy Brown (46)
LB Troy Brown (46)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
LB Dyontae Johnson (54)
LB Micah McFadden (41), LB Troy Brown (46), LB Dyontae Johnson (54)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
LB Micah McFadden (41), LB Troy Brown (46), LB Dyontae Johnson (54)
WR Parris Campbell (0)
WR Jalin Hyatt (84)
WR Jeff Smith II (19), WR Parris Campbell (0)
P Jamie Gillan (6), K Graham Gano (9)
WR Parris Campbell (0), WR Isaiah Hodgins (18), WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6), WR Jalin Hyatt (84), WR Jamison Crowder (80), WR Jalin Hyatt (84), WR Collin Johnson (15), WR Darius Slayton (86)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82), G Shane Lemieux (66), OL Devery Hamilton (62), OL Mark Glowinski (64), LS Casey Kreiter (59), OL Jack Anderson (77), LB Jarrad Davis (57), OL J.C. Hassenaauer (63), TE Tommy Sweeney (89), K Graham Gano (9)
DB Rodarius Williams (25)
DB Cor'dale Flott (28)
TE Lawrence Cager (83)
DB Adoree' Jackson (22)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
RB Matt Breida (31)
OLB Tomon Fox (49)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
LB Jihad Ward (55)
OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)
OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)
LB Oshane Ximines (53)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
LB Azeez Ojulari (51)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
LB Jihad Ward (55)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)
OLB Habakkuk Baldonado (45)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
DB Adoree' Jackson (22), DB Cor'dale Flott (28), DB Zyon Gilbert (38)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
OL John Michael Schmitz Jr (61), QB Daniel Jones (8)
TE Tommy Sweeney (89)
WR Jeff Smith II (19)
WR Sterling Shepard (3)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux is your breakout candidate on defense.
John Schmeelk: Fiction – I'm going to go with Xavier McKinney. He has flashed some big plays and has avoided big mistakes when he has been on the field, but I'm not sure he has broken out yet with a true Pro Bowl-level season. I think this could be the year where we get multiple game-changing interceptions. The same could be said for Azeez Ojulari, whom I think is the best pure pass rusher on the Giants. If he is healthy for 17 games, I think he will lead the Giants in sacks.
Lance Medow: Fact – I think this is a critical year for Azeez Ojulari given the injuries he battled in 2022, but not sure if you can make a case for him as a breakout candidate after he posted eight sacks and led the team in that department as a rookie. That's why Kayvon Thibodeaux is the most sensible choice. He's entering his second year in the league, has much more comfort in Wink Martindale's scheme and should benefit from some of the new additions on the interior of the defensive line.
WR Wan'Dale Robinson is your breakout candidate on offense.
John Schmeelk: Fiction – We have a FICTION SLAM! I am going to ride the Parris Campbell train here. He has an elite set of physical skills, and I have a lot of faith in Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka to put him in position to utilize them in the most explosive way possible.
Lance Medow: Fact – I thought Wan'Dale Robinson had a strong chance to make 2022 his breakout campaign, but he was limited to only six games due to injuries, including a season-ending torn ACL. Robinson provided some flashes of what he's capable of doing in Week 11 against the Lions when he recorded nine catches for 100 yards. If he has a chance to do that consistently this season, he'll absolutely produce a memorable year thanks to his elusiveness and ability to create explosive plays.
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2023 offseason.
C John Michael Schmitz - Selection List Signing (May 23)
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
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 - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 172) of 2023 NFL Draft
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
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)
CB Leonard Johnson - Free Agent Signing (March 20)
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)
