CUT-DOWN TIME
Shaping Giants’ 53-man roster
Roster trims due next as Giants, Jets finish preseason games:
Odell Beckham Jr. screamed with delight running off the MetLife Stadium field andthrough a tunnel as a crowd of raucous fans hollered from above Thursday night.
Beckham hadn’t played in the Giants’ 17-12 preseason finale loss to the Patriots, but he knows he will be playing in the Giants’ next game, the seasonopener here on Sept. 9 against the Jaguars.
Olivier Vernon (ankle), who walked out of the Giants’ locker room in a suit postgame, is not as much of a sure thing. Vernon said he’s “good” but only shrugged when asked about his Week 1 status. He wasn’t saying he’s iffy; he simply couldn’t answer the question. Time will tell.
Meanwhile, GM Dave Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur must cut the Giants’ active roster from 90 players down to 53 by 4 p.m. Saturday.
Corner Donte Deayon shined brightest, making two interceptions and a strong case to stick after being cut and placed on the practice squad to start last season.
Here is the Daily News’ projection for the team’s 53-man roster at the conclusion of the exhibition slate:
QUARTERBACKS: Eli Manning, Davis Webb, Kyle Lauletta
Manning begins a 14th straight season as the Giants’ starter, though it could be his last if he doesn’t take a paycut in 2019. Webb, as a second-year pro, becomes Manning’s primary backup. The rookie Lauletta continues to develop and actually got the start Thursday, completing 8-of-19 passes for 118 yards, one TD and two INTs.
RUNNING BACKS: Saquon Barkley, Wayne Gallman, Jonathan Stewart
Undrafted Rutgers rookie Robert Martin was impressive early in August, but he struggled to stay healthy. An ankle injury forced him to leave Thursday night’s game after just three carries. The presence of a fullback also limits the RB group to a trio. Maybe they sneak Martin on the practice squad. They might need him if Stewart doesn’t pick it up.
FULLBACK: Shane Smith
Smith is athletic, a solid special teamer, hard worker, and efficient at a position Shurmur values.
WIDE RECEIVERS:
Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard, Cody Latimer, Russell Shepard, Hunter Sharp
I had Roger Lewis narrowly edging Hunter Sharp going into Thursday night’s game, but Lewis’ advantage as a receiver could have disappeared when he failed to provide any resistance on a Lauletta deep pass that Patriots corner J.C. Jackson intercepted. Shurmur could keep both wideouts, too. Lewis is a hard worker and has talent and helps on special teams. Evan Engram’s presence on the roster — as a tight end who often functions as a receiver also could squeeze this group to five. Sharp could be cut if Shurmur decides he’s unafraid to use Barkley, Beckham and Shepard on punt or kick returns, with perhaps Latimer handling the regular duties. But Sharp can run and is versatile, too.
TIGHT ENDS:
Evan Engram, Rhett Ellison, Jerell Adams, Scott Simonson
Two tight-end sets are common in Shurmur’s offense. The Giants will keep four. This coaching staff seems to like Adams, who has made several mental errors buthas also flashed good ability and work ethic. And Gettleman values Simonson from Carolina.
OFFENSIVE LINE:
Nate Solder, Will Hernandez, Jon Halapio, Patrick Omameh, Ereck Flowers, John Greco, John Jerry, Chad Wheeler
Wheeler sticks as the lone backup tackle with the possibility that Gettleman adds another off waivers this weekend.
DEFENSIVE LINE: Damon Harrison, Dalvin
Tomlinson, B.J. Hill, Kerry Wynn, Robert Thomas, A.J. Francis
Josh Mauro won’t be on the initial 53-man roster, and therefore won’t count against it, because he is suspended for the first four games. But the Giants still load up on the big boys up front.
D-ENDS/OUTSIDE LBs : Olivier Vernon, Kareem Martin, Lorenzo Carter, Connor Barwin, Romeo Okwara
Avery Moss was a bubble guy entering Thursday night. I personally think the second-year pro is too competitive and impactful for the Giants to give up on him. He fought through an early knee injury against the Pats. And with Vernon and Barwin both banged up, it’s not crazy to keep six players on the edge.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS:
B.J. Goodson, Alec Ogletree, Ray-Ray Armstrong, Mark Herzlich
The coaches seem to like undrafted free agent Tae Davis (Tennessee-Chattanooga) as a special teamer, but he struggled on defense and there are valuable players elsewhere who are worth a spot.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Janoris Jenkins, Eli Apple, B.W. Webb, Chris Lewis-Harris, Donte Deayon, Grant Haley
The first three are locks. Lewis-Harris can run and help on special teams at the very least. Deayon makes plays on the ball more than almost anyone else in the secondary when he’s healthy. And Haley, an undrafted rookie out of Penn State, is a good player who I believe will contribute this season more than is believed. This is another position where the Giants could add a player off waivers.
SAFETIES:
Landon Collins, Curtis Riley, Michael Thomas, Andrew Adams
James Bettcher moved William Gay to the unfamiliar position of safety to find a spot for him on the team, but it’s probably not the best use of a roster spot when a player like Adams also can help better on special teams. Darian Thompson (hamstring) could make the 53-man roster and then go on the PUP list, but in my scenario here I have the club putting him on injured reserve.
SPECIAL TEAMS: LS Zak DeOssie, K Aldrick Rosas, P Riley Dixon
Once given a second chance after his awful rookie year, Rosas didn’t do anything to lose his job this preseason.