The range of outcomes seems wide for the New York Giants this year, but these three players definitely won’t be on the roster come Week 1.
Albeit it was the moribund NFC East of course, but the New York Giants had a chance to win the division right into Week 17 last year. Looking to the 2021 season, quarterback Daniel Jones taking a step up in his third season and running back Saquon Barkley making a successful return from a torn ACL are the headlines.
Giants GM Dave Gettleman did a lot to help Jones this offseason, signing Kenny Golladay and Kyle Rudolph in free agency and drafting wide receiver Kadarius Toney in the first round. A notable offensive line move might have been nice, but the return of Nate Solder after he opted out last year should be helpful there.
The Giants had a good defense last year, so it’s time for the offense to catch up. If that happens, a division title is not out of the question. In any case, these three players will not be on the roster come Week 1.
3 New York Giants who will be cut before Week 1
3. TE Kelvin Benjamin
On one hand, Benjamin is an interesting story as he tries to turn a tryout with the Giants’ into a spot on the 53-man roster as a tight end (thanks to Gettleman, who drafted him to the Carolina Panthers in 2014).
But just because you’re built (6-foot-5, 240 pounds) and move like a tight end doesn’t mean you are one. Benjamin also hasn’t played an NFL snap since 2018, and he’s now 30 years old. It’s possible he gets picked up by another team after something of a preseason showcase, but there’s no room for him in a deep group of Giants’ pass catchers (at least for now).