SPRING STAKES
Several Giants have much to gain or lose during OTAs
The school year is winding down in most places, but Brian Daboll is just beginning to impart his lesson plans to the Giants.
“This is a teaching camp here,” the third-year head coach said before conducting the third of 10 OTAs. “There’s no roster spots that are going to be made based on what they do here.”
Try saying practices aren’t closely evaluated to any players whose spots on the depth chart will change between now and training camp. Or to the handful of players who will be cut as others join the 90-man offseason roster.
Here are eight players with something to gain or something to lose over the next few weeks. OTAs resume Tuesday with the first of three this week.
Something to gain
QB Tommy DeVito: If Drew Lock doesn’t clean up his nonchalant fundamentals quickly, he might find himself in a summer battle with DeVito to be the backup instead of pushing starter Daniel Jones. DeVito still holds the ball too long against the pass rush, but his arm strength pops. A strong spring could force the Giants to start thinking ahead about how to make room for three quarterbacks on the 53man roster so that DeVito isn’t exposed to waivers, which would mean he collects a bigger payday.
WR Isaiah Hodgins: With Darius Slayton skipping OTAs, Hodgins is rotating with the starters. Assuming Slayton’s contract dispute gets resolved, four receivers will be locked into roster spots, leaving Hodgins to compete for one of the last two or three against others with longer résumés (Allen Robinson, Isaiah McKenzie) or more versatility (Gunner Olszewski, Bryce Ford-Wheaton). So, Hodgins is looking to get involved in special teams after playing zero coverage/return snaps over the past two seasons.
DT Jordon Riley: There is a depth shortage behind starters Dexter Lawrence and Rakeem Nunez-Roches, especially if the Giants are going to play more snaps with four-down defensive linemen than in the past. Veteran Jordan Phillips’ absence from OTAs has opened a door for Riley — who has separated himself from 2022 late-round pick D.J. Davidson — to prove he is more than Lawrence’s backup. Ryder Anderson has an opportunity to keep the Giants from scouring free agency, too.
WR Wan’Dale Robinson: Optimism in all corners is high for a potential Year 3 breakout from Robinson, who had 24 catches for 260 yards over his last five games as he moved past the oneyear anniversary of an ACL tear. The Giants are trying Robinson as a kick returner — the new NFL rules value a ball-carrier who forces missed tackles — and a punt returner. With the creative Daboll possibly calling plays,
Robinson could get the ball out of the backfield, too.
Something to lose
DB Nick McCloud: Cor’Dale Flott — not McCloud — is getting the first shot as a starting outside cornerback. McCloud is practicing in the slot with the starters, but rookie third-round pick Dru Phillips has eyes on that job. If McCloud is pushed back into a role as a special-teamer and secondary supersub, general manager Joe Schoen could have the leverage to force a late-summer pay cut — like he did with Slayton in 2022 and Darnay Holmes in 2023 — from McCloud’s nonguaranteed $2.9 million salary.
RB Devin Singletary: If Singletary was expecting to be a Saquon Barkley-like featured back after topping 200 carries last season with the Texans for the first time in his five-year career, he might have to think again. Eric Gray, Tyrone Tracy, Jashaun Corbin and Dante Miller are rotating through 11-on-11 drills to sort out the depth chart behind Singletary. Any explosive No. 2 option who emerges will be a threat to steal some of Singletary’s carries.
TE Daniel Bellinger: In line to reclaim the starting job he held as a rookie in 2022 if Darren Waller retires as expected, Bellinger didn’t practice last Thursday for unknown reasons. Bellinger is a nice mix of red-zone pass catcher and blocker, but how much of a lead does he have on a two-headed tight end system? The Giants could pair former receiver Lawrence Cager and/or rookie fourth-round pick Theo Johnson as pass-catchers with free-agent additions Chris Manhertz and/or Jack Stoll as blockers.
LT Josh Ezeudu: With starters Andrew Thomas (rest) and Evan Neal (rehab) sidelined during 11on-11s, Ezeudu is practicing at left tackle, which suggests he is in line to be the swing tackle. Drafted as a guard in 2022, Ezeudu lost all confidence when forced to play left tackle without much practice time early last season (allowing five sacks in five starts). At least he is getting reps this offseason, but he is no match for pass rusher Brian Burns. Matt Nelson (rehab) or Yodny Cajuste eventually could jump Ezeudu and force him back inside.