On Wednesday, July 26, New York Giants training camp will be underway at the Quest Diagnostics center and head coach Brian Daboll will have not have to endure endless questions about the status of Saquon Barkley. What a relief to know that Barkley will be back for camp and the team can finally put this drama behind them.
We have a full month of training camp ahead of us and expectations are sky high for Big Blue. Here are my top five players or positions battles I am keeping my eye on at training camp this summer.
Deonte Banks - The Giants first round pick in the 2023 draft sure has a lot riding on him and Banks is ok with that. During his last season at Maryland, Banks had 38 combined tackles, one interception, and eight pass breakups. He is an athletic and aggressive player that looks to fit nicely in Wink Martindale’s defense. Banks will play opposite Adoree Jackson and all eyes will be on him to see if he can live up to the hype.
Evan Neal - Much has been made about Evan Neal’s less than stellar rookie season. Rookie growing pains are to be expected but most fans were not having it. Neal has heard all the criticism (and hate) loud and clear. So much so that he worked non-stop this offseason to improve his game. He has been working on his technique, stance and getting himself into tip top shape. I have maintained that Neal will have a much better sophomore season, and if the Giants want to compete in this division, it all starts with the offensive line.
The Wide Receiver Room - “How many slot receivers does it take to make a #1 WR?” I saw that joke on my Twitter timeline as a reaction to the Giants signing Cole Beasley and I thought it was funny and fitting. They say everyone has a type and when it comes to wide receiver, the Giants certainly have a type. When you bring 15 wide receivers into training camp, a lot of us are left to wonder what the plan is. I think part of the plan is to just simply hedge their bets since this position has a history of season ending injuries happening fairly early in the season.
Expect Shepard, Slayton, and Hodgins to get initial work. Hopefully we will see some of Wan’Dale Robinson. Don’t forget about Parris Campbell, Cole Beasley, Jalin Hyatt, Jamison Crowder and Jeff Smith. David Sills, Collin Johnson, and Bryce Ford-Wheaton could be interesting. And if they want any shot at all Kalil Pimpleton, Jaydon Mickens and Makai Polk are going to have to wow on special teams. Whew!
ILB2 - News broke last week that inside linebacker Jarrad Davis is out for the season. The Giants placed the veteran on injured reserve last Tuesday after he underwent knee surgery. Davis was expected to compete for the starting job but now all attention is on Micah McFadden and Darrian Beavers to see who will emerge as ILB2. Will one of these guys step up next to Bobby Okereke or will the Giants sign someone else to come in and compete for the job?
Running Back - The Giants signed James Robinson last week in a move that no doubt provided some sort of insurance policy in the event that Barkley decided to hold out. Now that Barkley is back it’s time to see where the pieces fit. Robinson is a versatile back who over the course of three seasons in the NFL rushed for 2,262 yards and scored 23 touchdowns. Robinson comes with injury concerns, but a healthy Robinson adds much needed depth to the running back position. This is a group of running backs that are versatile, powerful, speedy, and shifty. It will be interesting to see what each back can bring to the table this summer.
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