New York Giants Roster 2012: Latest News, Cuts and Preseason Predictions

NFL training camp is in full swing, and the New York Giants will spend the next month readying themselves for the regular season and slashing their team down to a 53-man roster.

Finalizing pro football personnel and setting a depth chart requires trenchant analysis, a grueling practice regimen and perhaps a pinch of luck. The defending champs will enjoy a talented roster that will endure cuts, additions and shakeups as the summer rolls on.

Who will separate from the pack? Who's fighting for a final spot? Who will fall short for the G-Men?

Check back here for the latest news on and predictions for the Giants 2012 roster. This piece will be updated daily to reflect transactions and practice reports.

August 27th Cuts

CB Antwaun Molden

A bit of a surprise here. Molden touts four years of pro ball and offered outside speed for a now-depleted Giants secondary. A cut here opens the door for either Bruce Johnson, Michael Coe or Justin Tryon, who all continue to vie for playing time.

DT Carlton Powell

A camp body who recorded two preseason tackles. The G-Men will look to slim down to four or five active tackles, with incumbent starter Chris Canty still on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

CB JoJo Nicolas

Nicolas didn't see many preseason reps, and falls victim to New York's crammed secondary. An undrafted rookie from Miami, his aggressive style of play could land him in another jersey before 2012's over.

WR Julian Talley

Talley hauled in two receptions this preseason. Like Victor Cruz, Talley was an undrafted free agent from UMass. Some other team could roll the dice on him before the year's out.

DT Oren Wilson

Another camp body who failed to make much of an impact this summer.

OT Joel Reinders

Reinders had an outside shot of burrowing into the roster for O-line depth, but it seems that the Giants will look elsewhere. He's still young, and will likely be signed by another team at some point.

TE Ryan Purvis

With so many able tight ends on the roster, cutting ties with Purvis was inevitable.

RB Joe Martinek

Martinek's cut will resonate with fans in New Jersey, who watched the Rutgers talent put up a fight this summer. He notched a fourth-quarter touchdown against the Jets in the second week of the preseason.

TE Christian Hopkins

Like Purvis, Hopkins didn't stand any real chance of making the team with Bear Pascoe, Martellus Bennett, Adrien Robinson and Travis Beckum in the wings.

S Chris Horton

Horton was in on one tackle this preseason. With over 100 career stops and three picks to his name, he should find somewhere to play this year.

WR Brandon Collins

Collins was beat out by a slew of other receivers this summer. A cut here is good news for fellow wideout Isaiah Stanback, who's seen a lot of second-team time this preseason.

CB Brandon Bing

Bing rode the bench this summer, and a cut is no shock here.

Latest Roster Moves

July 27: Per Giants.com, Big Blue places tight end Travis Beckum, defensive tackle Chris Canty, wideout Hakeem Nicks and linebacker Clint Sintim on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

This comes as no surprise. Beckum sustained an ACL tear in February's Super Bowl; Canty continues to return from knee surgery; Nicks suffered a broken foot at team OTAs this spring; Sintim faces ACL and knee problems.

Beckum and Sintim's dwindling roster spots continue to narrow. With a crammed linebacking core, the oft-injured Sintim simply doesn't fit on the team anymore, while Beckum falls victim to the Giants' agglomeration of tight ends this offseason.

Nicks, meanwhile continues to target a mid-August return, per Ohm Youngmisuk and ESPN.com. Canty, on the other hand, could be forced to miss some preliminary regular season action, the New York Post notes.

Full Team Roster and Projected Depth Chart

Full Team Roster:

Quarterbacks

David Carr

Eli Manning

Ryan Perrilloux

Running Backs/Fullbacks

Ahmad Bradshaw

Andre Brown

Henry Hynoski

Joe Martinek

Da'Rel Scott

D.J. Ware

David Wilson

Wide Receivers

Ramses Barden

Brandon Collins

Victor Cruz

Dan DePalma

David Douglas

Domenik Hixon

Jerrel Jernigan

Hakeem Nicks

Rueben Randle

Isaiah Stanback

Julian Talley

Tight Ends

Travis Beckum

Martellus Bennett

Larry Donnell

Christian Hopkins

Bear Pascoe

Ryan Purvis

Adrien Robinson

Tackles

Will Beatty

James Brewer

Selvish Capers

David Diehl

Sean Locklear

Matt McCants

Brandon Mosley

Joel Reinders

Guards

Kevin Boothe

Stephan Goodin

Mitch Petrus

Chris Snee

Centers

David Baas

Jim Cordle

Chris White

Defensive Ends

Matt Broha

Craig Marshall

Adewale Ojomo

Jason Pierre-Paul

Justin Trattou

Justin Tuck

Osi Umenyiora

Defensive Tackles

Marvin Austin

Rocky Bernard

Chris Canty

Dwayne Hendricks

Linval Joseph

Markus Kuhn

Martin Parker

Shaun Rogers

Linebackers

Chase Blackburn

Michael Boley

Mark Herzlich

Greg Jones

Mathias Kiwanuka

Jake Muasau

Spencer Paysinger

Keith Rivers

Clint Sintim

Adrian Tracy

Jacquian Williams

Cornerbacks

Prince Amukamara

Brandon Bing

Michael Coe

Jayron Hosley

Dante Hughes

Bruce Johnson

Antwaun Molden

Terrell Thomas

Justin Tryon

Corey Webster

Brian Witherspoon

Safeties

Stevie Brown

Will Hill

Chris Horton

Janzen Jackson

Jojo Nicolas

Kenny Phillips

Antrel Rolle

Tyler Sash

Special Teams

Zak DeOssie (LS)

Lawrence Tynes (K)

Steve Weatherford (P)

Projected Depth Chart:

Quarterback

Eli Manning

David Carr

Running Back

Ahmad Bradshaw

David Wilson

Da'Rel Scott

D.J. Ware

Fullback

Henry Hynoski

Wide Receiver

Hakeem Nicks

Victor Cruz

Rueben Randle

Domenik Hixon

Ramses Barden

Jerrel Jernigan

Tight End

Martellus Bennett

Adrien Robinson

Bear Pascoe

Left Tackle

Will Beatty

James Brewer

Left Guard

Kevin Boothe

Mitch Petrus

Center

David Baas

Jim Cordle

Right Guard

Chris Snee

Brandon Mosley

Right Tackle

David Diehl

Sean Locklear

Left Defensive End

Justin Tuck

Justin Trattou

Left Defensive Tackle

Linval Joseph

Rocky Bernard

Right Defensive Tackle

Chris Canty

Marvin Austin

Right Defensive End

Jason Pierre-Paul

Osi Umenyiora

Left Outside Linebacker

Mathias Kiwanuka

Jacquian Williams

Middle Linebacker

Chase Blackburn

Mark Herzlich

Right Outside Linebacker

Michael Boley

Keith Rivers

Cornerback

Corey Webster

Prince Amukamara

Jayron Hosley

Antwaun Molden

Dante Hughes

Terrell Thomas

Free Safety

Antrel Rolle

Chris Horton

Strong Safety

Kenny Phillips

Tyler Sash

Kicker

Lawrence Tynes

Punter

Steve Weatherford

Long Snapper

Zak DeOssie

Kick Returner

Jerrel Jernigan

Da'Rel Scott

Punt Returner

Jerrel Jernigan

Domenik Hixon

Last Five in

RB D.J. Ware

Ware hasn't done much in his five-year stint with the Giants, but he offers able hands in the screen game. Sitting fourth on the depth chart, Ware bungles into one of the final roster spots.

WR Ramses Barden (Pictured)

His lofty potential addled by a murky medical history, Barden has upside as a vertical threat. He's struggled to stay on the field, and this summer, he'll struggle to lock down a jersey number. But, he should see ample preseason snaps and likely will squeak in come September.

DE Justin Trattou

Trattou was signed by the G-Men as an undrafted free agent last season. He likely won't see the field at all with stars Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Osi Umenyiora in place. Still, the Giants will need a fourth end somewhere, and he's likely the guy.

CB Dante Hughes

Hughes played 15 games in San Diego last season and has 105 career tackles. A six-year pro, he'll be called upon to allay the Giants' depth concerns in the secondary. With Terrell Thomas going down, he earns a spot.

FS Chris Horton

With strong safety Tyler Sash facing a four-game suspension, Horton could see time backing up both Kenny Phillips and Antrel Rolle. Cut from the Redskins in 2011, he could also be used in special teams.

First Five out

TE Travis Beckum (Pictured)

Beckum's tepid production and recent injury make him a viable candidate for a cut. He helped fill in at tight end last season, but after the signing of ex-Cowboy Martellus Bennett and the drafting of Adrien Robinson from Cincinnati, his time in the Big Apple is all but over.

RT Matt McCants

A sixth-rounder from April's NFL draft, McCants played college ball at University of Alabama at Birmingham. Scouts like his physicality and build, but there's no room for him on the roster this year. Ensconced in the practice squad, he could be a starter for this time one day.

DT Shaun Rogers

A three-time Pro Bowler, Rogers will give fellow tackles Rocky Bernard and Marvin Austin some competition this summer. The 12th-year veteran has his work cut out for him.

OLB Clint Sintim

Sintim was a second-rounder for the Giants back in '09. Now, with just 33 career tackles in the books, he leaves New York labeled as a big-time bust.

SS Stevie Brown

Brown could claw his way onto the final roster with Sash's suspension, but prospects are still bleak. He spent time with the Colts last year.

Quarterbacks

QBs on Roster: David Carr, Eli Manning, Ryan Perrilloux.

Projected Starter: Eli Manning.

Offseason Additions: No notable additions. Carr re-signed with the team back in March. Perrilloux was added after a practice squad cut last November.

Roster Cuts: No cuts since training camp has begun.

QBs on Projected Final Roster: David Carr, Eli Manning.

The easiest position to pin down. Manning is the face of the franchise and a veritable leader and will appear to enter the realm of the NFL's elite.

Carr will see plenty of preseason snaps and stands as one of the better backups in the game. He posted a whopping 144.1 quarterback rating in 2008 and followed it with a 93.6 in '09.

Perrilloux, meanwhile, is an interesting dual-threat option. He bounced around the practice squad last year, and at best, he provides a new angle under center for preseason ball. With Manning's durability, the Giants won't keep three quarterbacks on the final roster.

Running Backs/Fullbacks

RBs/FBs on Roster: Ahmad Bradshaw, Andre Brown, Henry Hynoski, Joe Martinek, Da'Rel Scott, D.J. Ware, David Wilson.

Projected Starter: Ahmad Bradshaw.

Offseason Additions: Wilson was Big Blue's first-round selection in April's Draft, whiel Martinek was brought in as an undrafted free agent from Rutgers.

Roster Cuts: No cuts since training camp has begun.

RBs/FBs on Projected Final Roster: Ahmad Bradshaw, Henry Hynoski, Da'Rel Scott, D.J. Ware, David Wilson.

Wilson has huge shoes to fill—Brandon Jacobs huge. He was explosive at Virginia Tech and averaged nearly six yards per carry in 2011. The Giants will look for an immediate impact here, supplementing the rookie with Bradshaw as the feature back. The coaching staff likes what they see so far.

Da'Rel Scott and D.J. Ware round out the Giants' cadre of halfbacks. Neither one will see much regular season field time, but both should be involved in the preseason.

Wide Receivers

WRs on Roster: Ramses Barden, Brandon Collins, Victor Cruz, Dan DePalma, David Douglas, Domenik Hixon, Jerrel Jernigan, Hakeem Nicks, Rueben Randle, Isaiah Stanback, Julian Talley.

Projected Starters: Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, Rueben Randle.

Offseason Additions: Randle was Big Blue's second-rounder in April and signed Talley, Collins and Douglas as undrafted free agents.

Roster Cuts: No cuts since training camp has begun.

WRs on Projected Final Roster: Ramses Barden, Victor Cruz, Domenik Hixon, Jerrel Jernigan, Hakeem Nicks, Rueben Randle.

Nick is one of the strongest units in the NFL, but his health is obviously something to keep an eye on this summer. Like David Wilson, Rueben Randle will be called upon right away to fill a void left by a Giant-turned-49er, manning the responsibilities held by Mario Manningham.

Giants staff have taken a liking to Douglas, and with a productive preseason, he could slither onto the final roster. Still, it's an uphill battle: The wideout position is unquestionably deep this year. Meanwhile, Hixon already appears to be at full strength.

Tight Ends

TEs on Roster: Travis Beckum, Martellus Bennett, Larry Donnell, Christian Hopkins, Bear Pascoe, Ryan Purvis, Adrien Robinson.

Projected Starter: Martellus Bennett.

Offseason Additions: The Giants made an effort to upgrade the tight end spot this winter, snagging Martellus Bennett from the Cowboys on a one-year deal and drafting Cincinnati product Adrien Robinson in the third round of the NFL draft. Donnell was inked after spending 2011 away from the game; he played at Grambling State from 2007 to 2010.

Roster Cuts: No cuts since training camp has begun.

TEs on Projected Final Roster: Martellus Bennett, Bear Pascoe, Adrien Robinson.

Robinson will get plenty of reps this summer as the Giants attempt to acclimate him to pro ball. Bennett has become a reliable outlet of outlandish quotes and will also see a lot of field time coming into a new system. Watch out for Travis Beckum, who continues to rehab his ACL, as he precipitously fights for his football life.

Offensive Tackles

Ts on Roster: Will Beatty, James Brewer, Selvish Capers, David Diehl, Sean Locklear, Matt McCants, Brandon Mosley, Joel Reinders.

Projected Starters: Will Beatty, David Diehl.

Offseason Additions: Mosley and McCants were fourth and sixth-round draftees, respectively, in April. Locklear was signed after stints in Seattle and Washington, and offers a wily veteran presence and flexibility at the second-string. Reinders was brought in as a camp body after being cut from the Browns practice squad.

Roster Cuts: No cuts since training camp has begun.

Ts on Projected Final Roster: Will Beatty, James Brewer, David Diehl, Sean Locklear, Brandon Mosley.

Mosley's a natural tackle, but could spend time at guard backing up Chris Snee. Beatty and Diehl are two incumbents sitting on a bit of a hot seat, with the former recouping from an injury-laden 2011 and the latter narrowly dodging a league-imposed suspension, per NFL.com. This was a weak spot last year, and the Giants can't expect to stay competitive without assuaging their problems on the edge. Locklear and Brewer will both push for starting jobs in camp.

Offensive Guards

Gs on Roster: Kevin Boothe, Stephan Goodin, Mitch Petrus, Chris Snee.

Projected Starters: Kevin Boothe, Chris Snee.

Offseason Additions: Goodin is an undrafted free agent with a big build; he's a likely candidate for the practice squad.

Roster Cuts: No cuts since training camp has begun.

Gs on Projected Final Roster: Kevin Boothe, Mitch Petrus, Chris Snee.

Boothe had a less than stellar Super Bowl and will be eyed keenly this summer. Snee looks to return to Pro Bowl form, while Petrus will give both players a run for their money as starters. There aren't many surprises here, either.

Centers

Cs on Roster: David Baas, Jim Cordle, Chris White.

Projected Starter: David Baas.

Offseason Additions: No offseason acquisitions.

Roster Cuts: No cuts since training camp has begun.

Cs on Projected Final Roster: David Baas, Jim Cordle.

Much to the chagrin of many Giants fans, New York's front office didn't do much to address the center position. The injury-plagued Baas takes over starting responsibilities again, and Jim Cordle should make the roster as insurance.

Defensive Ends

DEs on Roster: Matt Broha, Craig Marshall, Adewale Ojomo, Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Trattou, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora.

Projected Starters: Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul.

Offseason Additions: Ojomo is an undrafted free agent, who was involved in the Nevin Shapiro scandal at Miami. Broha was also claimed by the G-Men after clearing the draft.

Roster Cuts: No cuts since training camp has begun.

DEs on Projected Final Roster: Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Trattou, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora.

Another impossibly deep unit that will be expected to anchor this defense. There's not much to watch for in camp, aside from the battle for the fourth and final end spot. Trattou endured a twisted ankle in practice on Saturday.

Defensive Tackles

DTs on Roster: Marvin Austin, Rocky Bernard, Chris Canty, Dwayne Hendricks, Linval Joseph, Markus Kuhn, Martin Parker, Shaun Rogers.

Projected Starters: Chris Canty, Linval Joseph.

Offseason Additions: Kush was snagged in the seventh round of the 2012 draft, while veteran Shaun Rogers was signed from New Orleans.

Roster Cuts: No cuts since training camp has begun.

DTs on Projected Final Roster: Marvin Austin, Rocky Bernard, Chris Canty, Linval Joseph.

There will be plenty of cuts from this group, and Kuhn could be sequestered to the practice squad for a year. The big issue here lies in Canty's knee; should he be unable to take the field come opening night, the Giants could look to prospect Marvin Austin. Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell likes the dimension that Austin brings to the line.

Outside Linebackers

OLBs on Roster: Michael Boley, Greg Jones, Mathias Kiwanuka, Spencer Paysinger, Keith Rivers, Clint Sintim, Adrian Tracy, Jacquian Williams.

Projected Starters: Michael Boley, Mathias Kiwanuka.

Offseason Additions: Keith Rivers was acquired via a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Roster Cuts: No cuts since training camp has begun.

The big question here is Rivers. Should he live up to his potential (he was drafted ninth overall in '08 after a standout career at USC), he offers the Giants D invaluable flexibility and a new aggressiveness. Both Rivers and Boley sat out practice on Saturday with minor injuries, ESPN New York reports. This appears to be the end of the line for ostensible draft busts Clint Sintim and Greg Jones, although either one could sneak onto the team with a great summer. Keep an eye out there.

Williams bulked up this offseason, while Jones has seen time at middle linebacker in recent practices.

Middle Linebackers

MLBs on Roster: Chase Blackburn, Mark Herzlich, Jake Muasau.

Projected Starter: Chase Blackburm.

Offseason Additions: Muasau went undrafted at Georgia State and will likely see a cut before September.

Roster Cuts: No cuts since training camp has begun.

MLBs on Projected Final Roster: Chase Blackburn, Mark Herzlich.

It's Blackburn's job to lose, although Herzlich has come to camp ready to impress and stands at a leaner 246 pounds. Both will see ample reps at the middle spot this summer, while Muasau is merely an extra camp body.

The big question here boils down to how many backers the Giants will take come regular season time. There will be cuts galore as September rears its head.

Cornerbacks

CBs on Roster: Prince Amukamara, Brandon Bing, Michael Coe, Jayron Hosley, Dante Hughes, Bruce Johnson, Antwaun Molden, Terrell Thomas, Justin Tryon, Corey Webster, Brian Witherspoon.

Projected Starters: Corey Webster, Prince Amukamara, Jayron Hosley.

Offseason Additions: Hosley was a bona-fide steal for the Giants as a third-rounder in the 2012 draft. Hughes and Molden were signed from the Chargers and Patriots, respectively.

Roster Cuts: No cuts since training camp has begun.

CBs on Projected Final Roster: Prince Amukamara, Jayron Hosley, Dante Hughes, Antwaun Molden, Terrell Thomas, Corey Webster.

Without question, the corners are the group to watch this summer. The Giants struggled with maddening inconsistency in pass defense last year, and after re-injuring his ACL on Sunday, Terrell Thomas' 2012 is shrouded in uncertainty. Webster and Amukamara are the clear-cut starters for now, while Hosley will grapple for the nickel spot. The former Virginia Tech Hokie picked off a David Carr pass from the third corner slot in Thursday's practice, although safety Antrel Rolle may be forced to spend some time at the position as well.

Coe, Tryon, Molden and Hughes will all be potential cuts. Someone will have to step up this summer.

Safeties

S on Roster: Stevie Brown, Will Hill, Chris Horton, Janzen Jackson, Jojo Nicolas, Kenny Phillips, Antrel Rolle, Tyler Sash.

Projected Starters: Kenny Phillips, Antrel Rolle.

Offseason Additions: After being dismissed from Tennessee, Jackson was scooped up by the Giants. He will show massive upside if he can get his act together. Meanwhile, Nicolas was an undrafted free agent signed from Miami. Horton and Brown, two backups with a bit of NFL experience under their belts, were added as well.

Roster Cuts: No cuts since training camp has begun.

S on Projected Final Roster: Chris Horton, Kenny Phillips, Antrel Rolle, Tyler Sash.

Watch out for Will Hill, who had a great day at practice on Monday, per the Star-Ledger. Jackson, Brown and Horton will all duke it out for a final roster spot. Opportunities open up here due to Sash's four-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy.

Kick Specialists

Ps/Ks/LS on Roster: Lawrence Tynes, Steve Weatherford, Zak DeOssie.

Projected Starters: Lawrence Tynes, Steve Weatherford, Zak DeOssie.

Offseason Additions: No offseason acquisitions.

Roster Cuts: No cuts since training camp has begun.

Ps/Ks/LS on Projected Final Roster: Lawrence Tynes, Steve Weatherford, Zak DeOssie.

Nothing happening here. The Giants enjoyed reliable special teams play last year and should see the same in 2012 with no major changes in place.

Return Specialists

KRs/PRs on Roster: Domenik Hixon, Jerrel Jernigan, Da'Rel Scott.

Projected Starter: Jerrel Jernigan.

Offseason Additions: No offseason acquisitions.

Roster Cuts: No cuts since training camp has begun.

KRs/PRs on Projected Final Roster: Domenik Hixon, Jerrel Jernigan, Da'Rel Scott.

With Hixon still recovering from injury, the return game will be all about Scott and Jernigan. Neither one had overwhelming success in '11. Jernigan has impressed staff with his explosiveness and his route running in practice. Stay tuned as more develops here.