With final cuts less than a week away, the New York Giants’ 2023 roster is coming into focus as they head into their final preseason matchup this Saturday night against the Jets.
There’s a group of players still fighting for positions on the roster, but there’s even more who can sit back and relax a bit as they are ‘locks’ to make the team.
Here are the top 14 ‘locks’ for this year’s roster.
QB Daniel Jones
Once the Giants made the decision that Daniel Jones was their man, they went all-in. $160 million clams says Jones is here for at least the next four years. Get used to him.
DL Dexter Lawrence
Dexter Lawrence is one of the faces of the franchise after being inked to a huge extension this offseason. The Pro Bowler is here for the long haul and beyond.
LT Andrew Thomas
Andrew Thomas could establish himself as the best in the game at his position with a solid season. He just signed a massive extension that will keep him in blue for the rest of the decade.
OL John Michael Schmitz
The Giants stole John Michael Schmitz in the second round. He’s a first-round talent who dropped right into their lap. He is showing that daily at training camp and in preseason games. He’s here to stay, hopefully for a long time.
LB Kayvon Thibodeaux
A high first-round pick in their second year is usually safe come final cuts. A lot is expected of Kayvon Thibodeaux this season and the Giants are hoping he emerges as a leader and a staple for years to come.
LB Bobby Okereke
The Giants have been in need of an off-ball since forever and Bobby Okereke is the apparent answer. He’s athletic, intelligent, and a leader. The Giants gave him a $40 million deal this March, so he’s here to stay for a while.
TE Darren Waller
The trade for Darren Waller was perhaps the biggest coup of the offseason for general manager Joe Schoen. Waller has already shown that he can be a major mismatch for defenses and a difference-maker to an offense that is on the verge of exploding. He’s going nowhere.
WR Jalin Hyatt
Jalin Hyatt is being called one of the league-wide ‘steals’ of the 2023 draft, so why in the world would he not be included on this year’s roster? His speed is becoming legendary and there’s talk that he is the player the Giants have been seeking since parting ways with OBJ.
CB Deonte Banks
There’s no way the Giants are cutting their top draft pick, especially one they traded up to get. Deonte Banks had a bit of a rough start to camp but is proving more and more each day that he was worth the pick.
S Xavier McKinney
The Giants are not extending Xavier McKinney until the end of the upcoming season, perhaps because they are not completely sold on him yet. 2023 will serve as a ‘prove-it’ year after he lost half a season due to an off-the-field injury in 2022.
DL Leonard Williams
The Giants did not make any overtures when it came to reducing Leonard Williams’ mammoth $32.5 million cap hit this offseason, and with the veteran stalwart looking better than he has in years, he’s here to stay — for now.
RT Evan Neal
His high first-round status plus his noticeable improvement have solidified Evan Neal’s position on the roster. The Giants are relying on him to take a significant step forward in his second pro season.
P Jamie Gillan, K Graham Gano
The Giants did not bring in any camp challenges for either Jamie Gillan or Graham Gano this summer. They are fully confident in their ability and with one week until cuts, it’s hard to see the Giants bringing in competition at this late date.
