Giants' Projected Winners of Key Position Battles

Despite being a playoff team in 2022, the New York Giants showed last season that they had some glaring holes on their roster. Injuries to players like Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley played a role in New York's underwhelming campaign, but the Giants simply weren't talented enough at other key spots.

While New York lost Barkley and safety Xavier McKinney in 2024 free agency, it also took an aggressive approach to filling some of its other big needs. Now that the team-building portion of the roster is mostly complete, it's time for the Giants to settle on starting roles and its 53-player lineup.

As is the case for every team, many jobs will be won or lost through competitions in training camp and during the preseason.

With this in mind, let's examine three of New York's most important camp battles and make a few predictions based on past performances, player potential, roster makeup and any relevant recent buzz

Safety

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Dane Belton

McKinney's departure leaves a big hole in the back end of the defense, but the Giants do have options.

Jason Pinnock should hold down one starting safety spot after playing 95 percent of the defensive snaps across 16 games last season. The battle for the other spot involves Dane Belton and rookie second-round pick Tyler Nubin.

While Nubin has the edge in draft status, Belton, a 2022 fourth-round pick, isn't about to let the rookie steal the job.

"It's a battle, but I'm confident in my abilities," Belton said in July, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post.

Belton has logged four interceptions and three fumble recoveries and appears poised to step in as New York's new ballhawk on the back end. Unsurprisingly, he was also listed as the starter over Nubin on the Giants' first unofficial depth chart.

Nubin has a lot of potential as a playmaking box safety, and he'll likely see an early role as a subpackage player. However, Belton and Pinnock are likely to be the starting safety duo when New York faces the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1.

Projected Starters: Pinnock and Belton

Cornerback

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Cor'Dale Flott

The Giants appear to have one quality starting cornerback in 2023 first-round pick Deonte Banks. Following the offseason departure of Adoree' Jackson, though, jobs are up for grabs.

2022 third-round pick Cor'Dale Flott—who played primarily in the slot last season—has appeared to be the likely starter opposite Banks since the spring.

"Giants would start Deonte Banks and Cor'Dale Flott at cornerback if season started today, [defensive backs coach] Jerome Henderson said," Dunleavy posted in May on X.

Flott is far from the only cornerback competing for a starting role, though. The Giants also have Darnay Holmes, Tre Hawkins III, Nick McCloud, Tre Herndon and rookie third-round pick Andru Phillips competing for reps.

Phillips has made "eye-opening" plays during camp, according to Peter Botte of the New York Post, and he flashed in the preseason opener by tackling Detroit Lions running back Jermar Jefferson for a two-yard loss.

Hybrid linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons has also been competing for nickel-back reps, but Phillips clearly has the inside track. While Nabers may be a role player early on, Phillips is likely to join first-round pick Malik Nabers as Week 1 starter.

Projected Starters: Banks, Flott and Phillips

Tight End

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Theo Johnson

The Giants lost starting tight end Darren Waller to retirement this offseason, which created a fairly open competition at the position. New York needs to provide Jones with a reliable outlet option, and it may use a committee approach to do it.

Rookie fourth-round pick Theo Johnson is an intriguing pass-catching option who joins Daniel Bellinger, Chris Manhertz, Lawrence Cager and Jack Stoll in the tight-end competition.

"It's a really diverse group," offensive coordinator Mike Kafka told reporters.

Johnson has the athleticism and blocking ability needed to make an impact right away, though he may initially do so as a second option in two-tight-end sets. Bellinger, who has appeared in 29 games with 24 starts over the past two seasons, should open the season as TE1.

Bellinger and Johnson will likely top the depth chart, with Manhertz or Cager rounding out the top three. Cager was listed as the second-team tight end behind Bellinger on the first unofficial depth chart, but Manhertz may stick as a blocking specialist.

Expect Bellinger to be the starter for Week 1, though Johnson has more upside and may supplant him at some point as a rookie.

Projected Starter: Bellinger

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*Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.