The Giants’ rookie class has been a mixed bag through the bye week, but a few first-year players are already changing the tone of the group. Arvell Reese has been the headliner, while several later picks are doing the quieter work that keeps a roster afloat.
Reese, the linebacker out of Ohio State, has done far more than just meet the expectations that came with him. There were questions about whether he would settle in on the edge or off the ball, but nobody questioned his talent.
So far, he’s backed that up by leading the Giants in tackles and showing up as a relentless presence on defense. Each time Dennard Wilson has asked him to handle more, he has answered.
That makes this one look like a clear success. Verdict: Stock up.
Malachi Fields is making his own case for a bigger role as the season goes on. The rookie receiver isn’t putting up the kind of splashy production Reese is delivering, but he has become a useful part of the passing game and turned in his best performance of the year in J.J.
Mccarthy’s first start. His route running has improved, and his blocking is earning more trust from the staff.
The direction here points upward, and any targets that might have gone to Darnell Mooney should probably be headed Fields’ way instead. Verdict: Stock up.
There are also a couple of rookies giving the Giants real value in less glamorous roles. Bobby Jamison-Travis, a sixth-round defensive lineman, has seen his snap count rise lately and has mostly worked as a nose tackle to help spell D.J.
Reader. He was never supposed to be a headline player, and the Giants are getting what they wanted: a useful depth piece.
Verdict: Stock neutral.
J.C. Davis has offered even more reason for optimism when called upon.
He has only appeared on offense in one game, but that outing stood out - when he stepped in for Andrew Thomas at left tackle in Week 6, he didn’t allow a single pressure. That followed a strong preseason and reinforced the idea that the Giants may have found the backup left tackle they’ve been missing for years.
Verdict: Stock neutral.
Jack Kelly has also done what was asked of him. The sixth-round linebacker has yet to play a defensive snap, even with Tremaine Edmunds out, but he has held his spot through solid work on special teams.
The BYU product is athletic and versatile, and while a larger defensive role may come later, simply staying on the active roster is a win for now. Many players picked around him are already gone.
Not every rookie has followed that path. Francis Mauigoa has struggled since moving from tackle to guard, dealing with the faster and more physical NFL interior.
His 49.1 overall PFF grade ranks 66th among 82 qualifying guards, and the Giants still aren’t getting much of a push in the run game from him. His pass protection has been uneven, too.
It’s too soon to label him a bust, but the choice looks questionable, especially with Vega Ioane mentioned as the alternative. Verdict: Stock down.
Colton Hood’s start has been rougher than anyone hoped, though there are reasons it hasn’t broken his way. Cornerbacks already face a steep transition, and an early injury made his climb even harder.
Even so, the second-round pick hasn’t given the Giants much to feel good about. He barely played in Week 1, got cooked by Davante Adams in Week 2, bounced back in Week 3, and then disappeared from the defensive rotation.
Since Week 4, he has been limited to special teams work. For a second-round pick, that’s not a great place to be seven games into his career.
Verdict: Stock slightly down.
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A few roster calls have helped shape that rise, too, including the decision to move on from running back Najee Harris before the recent win. But the next layer of roster management is where things get trickier now, especially with Tyrone Tracys situation putting added pressure on the backfield picture and forcing the Giants to weigh depth against the urgency of staying on top in a division race that suddenly looks very real. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Bye Week Lead Faces Its Biggest Test Yet
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Giants Face A Defining NFC East Stretch With Pressure Suddenly Rising
The Giants head into their bye week on the heels of a win over the Houston Texans, but the break only delays what looks like a pivotal stretch for their season. With the NFC East still within reach and John Harbaugh stressing how important the coming division games are for the teams place in the race, the next few weeks carry a different kind of weight for a club that has spent much of the fall trying to establish itself at the top of the standings.
The pressure only grows because the Cowboys have recently moved ahead of the Giants as the betting favorite in the division, even though New York still holds the lead in the standings. The schedule coming out of the bye leaves little room to settle in, and the Giants will also have to manage their backfield depth after placing Tyrone Tracy Jr. on injured reserve, a reminder that every edge matters as the division chase tightens. [Read more 🡒]