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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Dan Benton

Giants hosted several recent draft picks as part of mass workout

The New York Giants had a busy day in East Rutherford on Thursday, complete with the week’s final practice, head coach and player press conferences, and a mass workout that included several recent draft picks.

Among those in attendance were cornerbacks D.J. James, Zech McPhearson, Damarion Williams and Kyu Blu Kelly, and quarterback Chris Oladokun.

James was a sixth-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in the 2024 NFL draft but was waived after starting his career on the non-football injury (NFI) list. He was named Second-Team All-SEC in 2022 at Auburn.

McPhearson was a fourth-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2021 NFL draft and has the most experience of any drafted player who worked out. He’s appeared in 33 career games, recording 30 tackles, one QB hit, one sack, and two passes defensed. McPhearson suffered a torn Achilles during the 2023 preseason and missed the whole year.

Williams was a fourth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2022 NFL draft and has appeared in 15 career games, recording 24 tackles and two passes defensed.

Kelly was a fifth-round pick of the Ravens in the 2023 NFL draft and has also made brief stops with the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, and Washington Commanders. He’s appeared in eight career games and recorded five tackles.

Oladokun was a seventh-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2022 NFL draft but found his way to the Kansas City Chiefs after being released as a rookie. He’s picked up two Super Bowl rings as a member of the Chiefs, serving as the quarterback of their practice squad.

The following players also took part in Thursday’s workout:

  • Safety Al Blades
  • Wide receiver Kaden Davis
  • Wide receiver Alex Erickson
  • Cornerback Eric Garror
  • Defensive back Jason Maitre
  • Linebacker Andrew Parker Jr.
  • Offensive lineman Julian Pearl
  • Linebacker Yvandy Rigby
  • Wide receiver David Wallis
  • Cornerback A.J. Woods

Although Erickson went undrafted in 2016, he’s carved out a solid career for himself as a return specialist. He’s appeared in 107 games and returned 162 punts for 1,303 yards, and 110 kickoffs for 2,729. He led the NFL in kick return yardage (810) as a rookie in 2016.

None of the players who worked out were immediately signed.

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