The Giants have a roster squeeze coming, and rookie defensive tackle Bobby Jamison-Travis may be one of the players caught in it.
That’s the uncomfortable reality for a sixth-round pick who has flashed enough this preseason to make people notice, but maybe not enough to force his way into New York’s final 53. With the league heading into the brutal stretch where teams must trim from 90 players down to 53, promising depth pieces are often the first to feel the pressure.
Jamison-Travis has given the Giants reasons to keep him around. Against the Miami Dolphins, he worked with the starters and logged 10 defensive snaps.
In that stretch, he picked up one sack and one run stop while splitting his time almost evenly between nose tackle and three-technique. That kind of versatility matters, especially for a player who can line up at multiple spots on the interior.
Still, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan left him off his latest roster projection after New York’s preseason win over Miami. In Raanan’s view, the rookie’s play is still too unpolished, which makes the practice squad the more likely landing spot.
The problem for Jamison-Travis isn’t just what’s happening at defensive tackle. The Giants’ roster math could squeeze him from another direction too. Raanan projected the team to keep seven receivers, and that kind of decision can ripple through the rest of the roster, leaving fewer openings for an interior lineman.
In Raanan’s projection, only four defensive tackles made the final cut: DJ Reader, Darius Alexander, Shelby Harris, and Leki Fotu. Chauncey Golston was listed as an edge defender, but he can also slide inside in certain packages.
Jamison-Travis still has a path, though. He’s not locked into the roster, but he’s also not out of the picture. His ability to stop the run and bring some pass-rush juice gives him a profile other teams can use, which means if the Giants can’t keep him, someone else might be willing to claim him.
He’ll get one more chance to make his case when the Giants face the New York Jets in their final preseason game. Another strong showing there could go a long way toward forcing the issue.
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