The New York Giants have their fair share of roster spots available for 2024. Here are three positions to keep an eye on this offseason.
Running back
Projected starter: Devin Singletary
Players to watch: Eric Gray and Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Former Giant Saquon Barkley had 247 carries and 41 receptions in 717 snaps for the Giants last season. Singletary had 216 carries and 30 catches in 629 snaps with Houston. While Barkley was considered a “workhorse” back, the former Texan was usually part of a committee that could open the door for a player like Tracy.
New York's fifth-round pick this year, Tracy played 38 games at wide receiver with Iowa before switching positions in 2022. He then led the Big Ten in yards per carry (6.3) for Purdue last season, but with 1,201 yards as a receiver, he could become a dangerous weapon as the team’s third-down back.
Eric Gray was the team’s fifth-round pick in 2023 and averaged 2.8 yards per carry for 48 yards as a rookie. Numbers like that should make him an afterthought, but according to beat writer Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News, Gray got lots of work with the first-team offense during OTA practices. If Singletary should miss time, Gray could see work on early downs.
Tight end
Projected starters: Daniel Bellinger
Player to watch: Theo Johnson
With the retirement of Darren Waller, Bellinger and the fourth-round pick Johnson have a golden opportunity to become the team’s starting tight end. Bellinger has two years in head coach Brian Daboll’s system, but just 523 yards since joining the team in 2022.
Johnson didn’t post outrageous numbers in college, but got better every year, finishing with 938 yards and 12 touchdowns in four seasons at Penn State. More recently, his 4.57 time in the 40-yard dash was second-fastest among tight ends at the NFL Scouting Combine. At 6-foot-6 and 264 pounds, Johnson could easily become a favorite target of quarterback Daniel Jones.
Right tackle
Projected starters: Evan Neal
Players to watch: Jermaine Eluemunor
Neal was the No. 7 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, but so far, injuries have limited him to just 20 games. He played in just seven contests last season, allowed seven sacks and committed seven penalties, according to Pro Football Focus.
No wonder the team signed Eluemunor, a seven-year veteran who hasn’t missed a game since 2021. Eluemunor spent the last two seasons at right tackle for the Raiders, but he can also play guard, giving the Giants flexibility should Neal suddenly live up to expectations.
Ideally, New York should want Neal to win the right tackle job so Eluemunor can play left guard. Offseason ankle surgery kept Neal off the field during OTAs, but the team believes he’ll be ready for training camp on July 23. If not, Eluemunor should have no problem filling his shoes.
