With NFL training camp rolling, the Giants are already seeing one of their quiet advantages come into focus: depth. Before rosters get cut to 53 in late August, every team has to figure out which backups can really hold up when injuries start piling up, and New York appears to have more answers than most.
That strength showed up in ESPN’s latest All-Backup Team from Bill Barnwell, who put together a 53-man group made up of backup players, including some who could wind up starting by season’s end. Barnwell’s list included two Giants: quarterback Jameis Winston and edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Barnwell described Winston as a quarterback with high-risk, high-reward traits who can get “white-hot” for stretches. Thibodeaux, meanwhile, was labeled a trade candidate this season, but Barnwell still slotted him in as a starter on the All-Backup Team after his 11.5-sack season.
For the Giants, Winston’s role is clear. He’s there to help guide Jaxson Dart as Dart continues his development, bringing a long track record from both college and the NFL.
Winston won the Heisman Trophy and National Championship in 2013 at Florida State, then went first overall in 2015. He’s played for four NFL teams, won Rookie of the Year and made a Pro Bowl in 2015, and led the league in passing yards in 2019.
That kind of background makes him a major voice in the locker room.
Thibodeaux’s situation is more crowded. His name has come up in trade talk, but that chatter can overshadow what he brings when he’s healthy.
The problem has been availability; he’s appeared in just 22 total games over the last two seasons. Even when he’s on the field, he’s fighting for snaps behind Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, who are viewed as the top two starters.
First-round rookie Arvell Reese will also get chances as an edge rusher, which only tightens the squeeze on Thibodeaux at camp.
Winston and Thibodeaux may not be the obvious names fans circle when they think about immediate impact, but both give New York useful veteran value. However limited their workloads end up being, they could still matter a great deal if the Giants are going to push for a playoff run.
In Other News...
Jalin Hyatt Suddenly Has One Clear Path Out Of New York
Jalin Hyatts summer with the Giants has turned into one of those training camp stretches where every rep feels like it carries extra weight. The young receiver is fighting to hold his roster spot, and with the competition tightening, it is at least worth wondering whether New York still has room for him when the numbers get trimmed.
If Hyatt does wind up on the move, there should be interest waiting. The Panthers and 49ers are both potential landing spots, but Carolina stands out as the more natural fit because Hyatts game is built on stretching the field as a vertical outside receiver. The Giants may not be the only team watching that situation closely, because an opening in Carolina could give him a clearer path to meaningful snaps than he currently has in New York. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Have An Early Slot Decision That Could Change Their Offense
Training camp has already put the Giants in the middle of an early receiver evaluation, with WanDale Robinson gone and a spot in the slot suddenly open. The team is sorting through how to replace that inside production while keeping the rest of the passing game balanced, and the conversation has quickly turned to a group built around speed and versatility rather than a straightforward one-for-one answer.
Calvin Austin III has emerged as a name to watch in that mix, while Darnell Mooney gives the offense a different kind of stress test for defenses because of his ability to threaten vertically. For the Giants, the challenge is finding a combination that keeps the formation functional and the coverage guessing, and that decision could end up shaping how the offense looks well beyond camp. [Read more 🡒]
Odell Beckham Jr. Is Giving Giants Fans A Familiar Feeling Again
Odell Beckham Jr. has been back at Giants training camp long enough to stir up a familiar kind of buzz, and it has not taken much for him to remind people why his name still carries weight in East Rutherford. Beckham has already turned in a few notable grabs, including a toe-tapping catch in the end zone, while working through a crowded wide receiver room in a roster battle that feels more about fit and role than old headlines.
The Giants do not appear to be looking at Beckham as a primary target this season, but there is still value in what he can bring to a group that needs dependable hands and a steady veteran presence. His path to a limited spot looks promising, and the bigger question now is how much more he can add beyond the highlights, especially with younger receivers around him who could use the benefit of his experience. [Read more 🡒]