Burning Questions Facing the New York Giants This Summer

The first offseason program under New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo is in the books, and by the sound of things, it was mostly successful.

“We started to establish our identity—without pads—but sound, smart and tough, committed to discipline and poise,” McAdoo said when asked what the team had accomplished.

“We know what it looks like now. We had a chance to sit down, we had a chance to define it and lay the foundation for when we do get the pads on.”

While the foundation is set and ready for the next layers, the team will have to answer a few remaining questions by the time the next step in the building process—training camp—is over. Let’s have a look at some of those burning questions and the possible answers.

What's the Plan at Right Tackle?

Nick Wass/Associated Press

For all the talk by the Giants offensive linemen about continuity and wanting to keep the band together, their words have yet to convince the personnel department of the sanity in maintaining the status quo.

The truth is that the Giants can’t continue as is, not at offensive tackle, where they have zero depth behind incumbents Ereck Flowers and Marshall Newhouse.

Thus, it was not surprising to learn that the team has interest in Eugene Monroe, whom the Baltimore Ravens recently released, per ESPN.com's Dan Graziano.

The situation at right tackle raises two questions. First, can the Giants, who weren’t willing to trade for Monroe’s contract, which has a base salary of $6.5 million this year, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, put together a deal that Monroe would consider?

Second and perhaps more important, if they can indeed work out the numbers, would they be willing to move Flowers from the left to the right if the deal-breaker ends up being where Monroe plays?

Who's the Slot Cornerback?

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

For the second year in a row, the Giants find themselves asking that same question. However, one would think that the addition of first-rounder Eli Apple would at least provide some clarity on the subject, right?

Not so. Apple rarely played in the slot during his college career at Ohio State unless he was facing the opponent’s top receiver.

Since coming to the Giants, that practice has carried over, as Apple has mainly rotated with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on the outside.

So if Apple isn’t going to be the slot cornerback, then who is?

“We are trying to find that out right now,” said defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. “We have played a lot of guys in there in the OTAs.

"[Cornerbacks coach] Tim Walton has done a great job, and we decided to do that right from the beginning. Let’s find out which guy plays best in there and then go from there because we know they can all pretty much play outside and have played outside.”

Are Any of the Injuries Serious?

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

You really didn’t think the Giants were going to come out of the offseason without any injuries, did you?

Hey, it’s football, and injuries are going to happen. And while for the first time since 2012 no one was announced as having suffered a potential long-term injury, there were still a few bumps and bruises that may affect the players involved.

The most concerning casualty is weak-side linebacker J.T. Thomas, who, per McAdoo, has a “lower leg” injury. McAdoo provided no other information regarding the specifics of the injury or how it happened, so it’s not even known if the injury is related to the high ankle sprain that dogged Thomas last year.

Besides Thomas, defensive tackle Jay Bromley, tight end Matt LaCosse and safeties Nat Berhe and Mykkele Thompson are all nursing something that kept them out of all or part of mandatory minicamp.

While none of those players is viewed right now as a starter or is even guaranteed to make the roster, it will be interesting to see if they’re ready for the start of training camp or if they’ll come along later on in the summer.

What Can They Realistically Expect from Victor Cruz?

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

When Odell Beckham Jr. threw up his hands in the air to signal a touchdown, the grin on his face was so wide it could have been seen by the passengers of the airplane that was passing over the team’s headquarters at the moment.

He was, of course, beaming about what the return of a healthy Victor Cruz, to go along with the addition of rookie Sterling Shepard, might mean for the team.

The problem is, no one knows just what Cruz is going to be able to give the Giants. If you recall, this time last year the cup of optimism was overflowing regarding the now-29-year-old receiver’s comeback from a torn patellar tendon.

We all know what happened.

It was encouraging to see Cruz take part in individual drills and run a few routes in walk-through mode during camp, but one can’t help but wonder if that was a simple psychological boost to the receiver, who, at times, looked shaky running some of his routes. (This video captured by NJ Advance Media is one such example.)

Cruz has remained optimistic throughout the process, but does anyone expect him to say he’s less than what he really is?

Assuming everything continues to go smoothly—and it’s going to be interesting to see if the Giants take the training wheels off him on July 28 when they report to camp—just how much will Cruz, who’s been away for almost two years, be able to give the offense with Beckham and Shepard there?

As general manager Jerry Reese said in April, anything he does give the Giants will be a bonus.

Patricia Traina covers the Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and Sports Xchange. All quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.  

Follow me on Twitter @Patricia_Traina.