Has Odell Beckham Jr. Locked Up A Spot On Giants' 53-Man Roster? | Blue Rush

Giants final preseason game is Friday night against the Jets and let's say outside of a handful of bubble guys, this roster is basically set. So here's our projection for the Giants 53-man roster, New York Post sports style. At quarterback, we had them taking two. Jackson Dard is QB1, Jameis Winston is the clear backup. That competition was never really a competition, but they're set at quarterback. At running back, we all knew it'd be the deepest and most crowded room on the team. Now there are four running backs worth keeping, Najee Harris, Cam Scatterboo, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary, but that's a lot of miles to feed in one room. Tracy's stock has reportedly taken a hit after a couple of miscues in the preseason, including that missed block where Jackson Dard got hit and he fumbled against Miami. Friday's game is a real re-audition for Tracy specifically. If he can bounce back, I believe or we believe he's safe, but another shaky rep and this could get uncomfortable for him. At fullback, you only need one, Patrick Ricard. He's rare. You have never seen an old-fashioned, traditional lead blocker nowadays, but he's the guy. And by the guy, I mean he's the key to the 2026 Giants run game. At wide receiver is where the drama gets interesting, but we have them taking seven. Yeah, seven. That's why we have them keeping only two quarterbacks, Malik Neighbors, Darius Slayton, Malachi Fields, Darnell Mooney, Odell Beckham Jr., Braxton Berrios, and Daylon Cambry. Now, Tuesday's unfortunate knee injury to Calvin Austin III, who in our eyes had a spot locked up, opened the door for an OBJ and a Braxton Berrios. Berrios will more than likely now be the primary returner. And although OBJ doesn't play special teams, and he had that costly drop against Miami, but he's shown that he can stay healthy and even better. The man shows that he still has some juice left in the tank. He's in. Cambry offers some special teams value. At tight end, we have them keeping three, Isaiah Likely, Theo Johnson, and Chris Mannertz. Isaiah Likely is the guy, like the guy's guy, like draft them on fantasy type guy. Theo Johnson is the TE too, and Chris Mannertz was voted onto the team's leadership council by teammates. That kind of stuff matters when it comes to cutting down to 53 players. On the offensive line, there's nine. Andrew Thomas, John Runyon Jr., John Michael Schmitz Jr., Francis C.C. Maunoa, Jermaine Aluminor, Marcus Bowe, J.C. Davis, Aaron Stinney, and Brian Hudson. Thomas, Runyon, Schmitz, Maunoa, and Aluminor, those are the starting five. Bowe and Stinney, they've been solid backups for the Giants, and J.C. Davis is a kid that they don't just like, they love. He's earned himself a spot on this roster. Now, offense, of course, they get all the headlines, especially with the OBJ storyline, but the Giants' defense has been completely reshaped and revamped and re-energized, all the re's you can think of this offseason. Here's the defensive side of our 53-man projection. On defensive line, they keep four. D.J. Reader, Shelby Harris, Darius Alexander, and Liku Fotu. Now, Reader and Harris, they step in as the replacement for Dexter Lawrence. You got to expect them, or you need them to be stout against the run this year. Alexander has the highest ceiling for growth in that room, but he has to show that he's consistent when it comes to run stopping heading into year two. At outside linebacker, they're keeping four. Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Tibbittal, and Chauncey Golston. Now, this room is stacked in arguably the deepest position group on this entire roster. Burns and Carter are the starters, but it's still a four-man rotation. Kayvon has handled running with the twos this training camp pretty well, and I feel like K-5 has a chip on their shoulder. Golston flashed some real positional flexibility throughout the course of the summer, especially when they kicked them inside the line. Now, at inside linebacker, there's five they're keeping. Tremaine Edmonds, Arvell Reese, Micah McFadden, Jack Kelly, and Zaire Barnes. No position on this roster was transformed more dramatically. Both Edmonds and Reese look and are built like defensive ends lining up at interior linebacker, and that size and athleticism combo, that is rare. But don't sleep on Micah McFadden. He's a proven starter, and he's back healthy from the foot injury to provide some legitimate quality depth. At cornerback, they're keeping six CBs, Paul Sinodibo, Greg Newsom II, Deontay Banks, Colton Hood, Drew Phillips, and Art Green. The Tay Banks revival story is the biggest headline coming out of this room, and should be studied by the alien. Most people wrote him off for dead, but now he's not just making the final 53-man roster, he's in the mix for some real playing time, maybe even to be a starter. But all eyes are on Edibo to show the league that he is a legit CB1. Colton Hood, the rookie, looks like he's going to push for some early snaps as well. At safety, we have them keeping five, Javon Holland, Tyler Newben, Ardarius Washington, Jason Pinnock, and Elijah Campbell. Newben and Holland have to be a top safety duel in this league this season. The talent is there. With Denar Wilson as DC, the scheme is there. It's on these two guys to go out there and take some respect. Washington adds value as a player who can also kick inside and play some slot corner. Jason Pinnock is back, but worth watching, the Giants could ultimately keep only four safeties and use that extra roster spot elsewhere. On special teams, at kicker, Dominic Zavada, the undrafted rookie out of Michigan, has done everything asked of him to earn Harbaugh's trust. He flat out beat out Ben Sauls, and he deserves it. At punter, Jordan Stout, he's reunited with Harbaugh from their Baltimore days, where he became one of the best in the league, and I can see him keeping that going. At long snapper, to round out the 53-man roster, Ben Mann. The only time you talk about a long snapper is when he's done something wrong. Let's keep it like that. Well, that's our New York Post Sports Giants 53-man roster projection. Hit the comments below. We want you to let us know where you agree or even disagree. Let's keep some receipts on this one too, y'all, and see what the final roster actually looks like when it's all said and done.