The Giants’ wide receiver room is headed for a real squeeze when training camp opens, and the biggest question is how many of the names in the mix will actually survive the final cut to the 53-man roster.
That decision gets even trickier because of the injuries, the veteran additions, and the number of players fighting for what could be only a handful of spots. Six to seven receivers usually make the roster, which means a few of these guys will be left on the outside looking in, with a chance to land elsewhere or stick around on the practice squad.
At the top of the list is Malik Nabers, who remains one of the offseason’s biggest storylines. There still isn’t a clear timetable for his return after the ACL tear he suffered last season and the two surgeries he has had since then, and that lack of updates has left plenty of fans uneasy. He will make the team, but it would not be a shock if he starts the year on the Injured Reserve or Physically Unable to Perform list, which would keep him out for the first four weeks.
Darius Slayton and Darnell Mooney look like safe bets. Slayton is heading into his eighth season with the G-Men, while Mooney already has familiarity with offensive coordinator Matt Nagy from their time together with the Chicago Bears. Both bring veteran stability and should be ready to contribute right away.
Rookie Malachi Fields also has a real shot to carve out a role. The Giants traded with the Cleveland Browns to move up to pick No. 74 and take the Notre Dame third-rounder, a move that signals how much they think of him. He could be one of the more interesting players to watch in camp.
Then comes the crowded middle of the room, where veterans like Odell Beckham Jr., Calvin Austin III, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Braxton Berrios, Jalin Hyatt, and Isaiah Hodgins are all fighting for attention. Beckham is the fan favorite in New York, but he still has to earn a roster spot. Even so, his connection with Harbaugh, his appeal to the fan base, his leadership, and the way he looks could be enough to get him through.
The return game could also shape the decision. With Gunner Olszewski out after a season-ending injury at the start of the offseason, Austin III looks like the best candidate to step in and beat out Berrios for that job. He could also give the Giants another option in the slot for Dart.
That would leave the final spot for JuJu, who also has a past connection with Nagy from their time together in Kansas City and brings the kind of veteran playmaking profile that can tilt a close competition.
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