Brian Daboll has promised a clean slate for players since he was hired as Giants coach in January. That leads to uncertainty with the depth chart, as returning players are mixed with newcomers signed and drafted by Daboll and new general manager Joe Schoen.
Here’s a look at the five biggest position battles that will be settled over the next seven weeks before the Giants’ Sept. 11 season opener:
Wide receiver
There isn’t direct competition for one spot at wide receiver because there will be anywhere from two to four wideouts on the field each play. But it’s unclear how the depth chart will shape up.
Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney and Wan’Dale Robinson are locks to see significant action, while Sterling Shepard will be in the mix once he’s cleared to return from a torn Achilles. Toney, Robinson and Shepard have some overlap in their skill sets, so it will be interesting to see how they fit together. Shepard is the most polished receiver of the group, so he should maintain a prominent role if healthy. Toney and Robinson are shifty playmakers who can get the ball in a variety of ways.
There will be a competition for the fifth and sixth spots, with Darius Slayton, Richie James and C.J. Board the leading candidates. Slayton has been far more productive than the other options, but the Giants would create $2.5 million in cap savings if they cut/trade him, and he doesn’t provide any value on special teams. James, who can return kicks, took advantage in the spring of most of the top receivers missing time with injuries, while Board has been a steady backup receiver and a quality special-teamer over the past two seasons.
Tight end
Rookie fourth-round pick Daniel Bellinger surprisingly got extensive work with the first-team offense during the spring. Bellinger wasn’t a dynamic receiver at San Diego State, but he has reliable hands and the blocking ability to be the most well-rounded tight end on the roster.
Bellinger enters training camp on the physically unable to perform list with a quad injury. Depending on the length of his stay on the PUP list, he could fall behind in the competition for the No. 1 tight end job.
Bellinger’s primary competition will be veterans Ricky Seals-Jones and Jordan Akins. Seals-Jones has flashed some receiving skills during his five-year career, but he’s never been a No. 1 tight end. Akins, who spent four years playing minor-league baseball before transitioning to football in 2014, is mostly a receiving threat like Seals-Jones. Akins played for Giants tight ends coach Andy Bischoff with the Texans last season, which could give him a leg up in the competition.
In an ideal world, Bellinger would establish himself as the No. 1 tight end. But there could be situational rotating at this position, with Seals-Jones or Akins seeing more action in passing situations.
Left guard
This seemed like more of a position battle early in the offseason when the Giants signed Max Garcia, who has made 52 career starts, and drafted Joshua Ezeudu in the third round. But 2020 fifth-round pick Shane Lemieux took every first-team rep in the open practices this spring. Meanwhile, Garcia wasn’t even locked in as the No. 2 left guard, and Ezeudu spent extensive time as the first-team left tackle with Andrew Thomas sidelined by an ankle injury.
Garcia isn’t even a lock to make the roster, so pushing for a starting job seems unlikely. Ezeudu could enter the equation if Thomas is fully healthy, but Lemieux enters camp with a strong hold on the job. Lemieux showed promise as a run blocker in nine starts as a rookie, but there were major pass-protection issues.
Lemieux started the opener last year but lasted just 17 snaps before suffering a torn patellar tendon that required season-ending surgery. It’s clear that the new coaching staff had a strong opinion of Lemieux during the 2020 draft process while in Buffalo, so he should get an opportunity to show his development after a lost second season.
Inside linebacker
The expectation is that Blake Martinez will reclaim his role as the top inside linebacker after tearing his ACL in Week 3 last season. Tae Crowder has made 23 starts over the past two seasons, so he has the inside track for the spot next to Martinez. But Crowder’s subpar performance leaves the door open to competition, especially after the new regime used two Day 3 draft picks on inside linebackers.
It’s probably overly ambitious to expect fifth-round pick Micah McFadden or sixth-round pick Darrian Beavers to win a starting job in camp, but one could take over eventually depending on his rate of development. Carter Coughlin hasn’t played much during his first two seasons, but he’s another option to push Crowder. Despite all of the challengers, Crowder’s experience gives him a big advantage as camp begins.
Slot cornerback
The Giants will have new starters at multiple positions in the secondary, but the expectation is that Aaron Robinson will take over as the No. 2 cornerback and Julian Love will be the strong safety. The most intrigue is at slot cornerback, where veteran Darnay Holmes will battle rookie third-round pick Cor’Dale Flott for the starting job.
A 2020 fourth-round pick, Holmes has seen his role fluctuate during his first two seasons. He has made nine starts but has also had stretches when he barely played. He has also lost time to injuries, missing the final six games last season with a rib ailment.
The new regime obviously sees potential in Flott, but the 6-foot-1, 175-pounder likely will need time to develop physically so he can handle the toll of playing the run from the slot position. Holmes should be able to hold on to the starting job through camp, but Flott will be waiting in the wings to take over.
(Photo of Daniel Bellinger: John Jones / USA Today)