Making a 53-man roster out of active ex-New York Giants
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The NFL is a league of significant turnover. Every offseason, team rosters are churned and free agency leads to the recycling of personnel.
That has certainly been the story for the New York Giants this past year. They’ve let high-quality players like Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney walk — decisions that cost the team in 2024. That led us to think: Could we make a 53-man roster entirely out of former Giants?
Well, as it turns out, we could. Sort of.
Here are the ground rules we set for this exercise:
- All players/coaches had to have been on a 90-man roster or practice squad at some point during the 2024 season (dating back to March 15, 2023) with one exception (below).
- Players who weren’t in the NFL in 2024 were still considered if they were active in another league (CFL, UFL, etc.) this past season.
- Players/coaches had to have been on the Giants’ 90-man roster, 53-man roster, or practice squad for at least one day at some point in their careers.
- Construction of the 53-man had to be realistic and balanced in terms of numbers at each position (ie. couldn’t go 1 RB and 10 WR). Players also had to be listed at a position they’ve played (ie. couldn’t put a TE along the OL, etc.).
This is what we came up with…
Quarterback (3)
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- Geno Smith
- Daniel Jones
- Cooper Rush
Commentary: Having a mobile quarterback and a mobile No. 2 is exactly what this team needs. They will be a run-first/RPO offense based on the roster construction. We considered Tyrod Taylor as QB3 but ultimately went with Rush after his decent production in 2024.
Running back (4)
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- Saquon Barkley
- Matt Breida
- Wayne Gallman
- Gary Brightwell
Commentary: Barkley would be the focal point of this offense (as you’ll see coming up) and that’s not a bad thing. Breida is a solid backup, Gallman has reemerged in the UFL, and Brightwell would be a quality special teams asset.
Wide receiver (6)
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- Odell Beckham Jr.
- Sterling Shepard
- Dante Pettis
- Kadarius Toney
- Kalif Raymond
- Collin Johnson
Commentary: This is a less-than-stellar group of receivers. Shepard is headed toward retirement, OBJ can’t shake the injuries and Toney is an all-time bust. Pettis continues to play well in his role, Johnson offers a big target, and Raymond is a top-tier return specialist who can also fill a limited offensive role.
Tight end (3)
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- Evan Engram
- Cody Latimer
- Chris Myarick
Commentary: Engram makes up for some of the lacking talent at wide receiver. Latimer, meanwhile, has become a star tight end in the UFL and can also move outside to wide receiver. Myarick can be used as a tight end, fullback, or H-back.
Offensive line (10)
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- LT Matt Peart
- LG Ben Bredeson
- C Jon Feliciano
- RG Kevin Zeitler
- RT Cam Fleming
- OT Eric Smith
- OT Roy Mbaeteka
- OL Will Hernandez
- OL Mark Glowinski
- OL Nick Gates
Commentary: The interior of this line is solid and the iOL depth is also a bonus. Gates brings much-needed energy and tenacity, and he can start at three positions if needed. The glaring issue is the tackle position, which is lacking in a big way.
Defensive line (6)
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- Leonard Williams
- A’Shawn Robinson
- B.J. Hill
- Dalvin Tomlinson
- Johnathan Hankins
- Ryder Anderson
Commentary: This is a very deep and talented group. Williams is at or near the top of his game, Robinson is still a high-quality player, and the rest all still bring legitimate value. The choice to include Anderson is due to his potential versatility, which you’ll understand when viewing the next slide.
Edge/Linebacker (8)
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- Lorenzo Carter
- Jihad Ward
- K.J. Cloyd
- Cam Brown
- Niko Lalos
- Oshane Ximines
- Benton Whitley
- Elerson Smith
Commentary: Arguably, this is the weakest unit on the entire team. There is nothing here that inspires confidence and the concern over a lacking pass rush would be very real.
Cornerback (6)
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- James Bradberry
- Isaac Yiadom
- Nick McCloud
- Fabian Moreau
- Antonio Hamilton
- Darnay Holmes
Commentary: This group is also less than inspiring. Bradberry is two seasons removed from being an All-Pro, while the rest are mid-tier or below at this point in their respective careers. We could have also added Eli Apple but… Pass.
Safety (4)
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- Xavier McKinney
- Julian Love
- Jabrill Peppers
- Bobby McCain
Commentary: McKinney is Defensive Player of the Year potential, while Love and Peppers continue to play at a high level and provide necessary leadership.
Special teams (3)
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
- LS Taybor Pepper
- K Chris Boswell
- P Riley Dixon
Commentary: This is just a solid trio of special teamers. The aforementioned Kalif Raymond would serve as the return specialist.
Coaching staff
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- Head coach: Dan Campbell
- Offensive coordinator: Sean Payton
- Defensive coordinator: Steve Spagnuolo
- Special teams coordinator: Chase Blackburn
Commentary: We could toss in Davis Webb as the quarterbacks coach, too.
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