As OTAs begin Monday, here are five things to watch for the Giants
The starting quarterback for the Giants is still working his way back from a torn ACL that ended his 2023 season. It’s unclear how much he will participate in OTAs, but there’s a chance we see him out on the field in some capacity.
The Giants also brought in Drew Lock this offseason to serve as the backup behind Jones, and it’s likely he will take the first-team reps when Jones isn’t available to participate.
Offensive line shuffle
Outside of left tackle Andrew Thomas and center John Michael Schmitz, the offensive line for the Giants is going to feature plenty of competition. The right tackle spot will likely be a battle between Evan Neal and veteran Jermaine Eluemunor. Meanwhile, both guard spots will feature competition from Aaron Stinnie, Jon Runyan and Eluemunor if he kicks inside.
The Giants offensive line was a massive issue in 2023 and if they want to compete at all in 2024, this unit has to step up.
Welcome rookies
The rookie class for the Giants is expected to have an impact early on. Wide receiver Malik Nabers slots in as the WR1 on the depth chart while safety Tyler Nubin and cornerback Andru Phillips are likely headed for starting roles.
This will be the first time the rookies will be working with the veterans so it will be interesting to see what the pecking order looks like. Day 3 picks Theo Johnson, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Darius Muasau also figure to compete for depth roles.
Darren Waller’s status
The veteran tight end has been away from the team since the season ended as he contemplates retirement. The Giants have been giving him his space while he figures out his next move, but they also drafted Johnson as part of a contingency in case Waller decides to call it a career.
The tight end room also features Daniel Bellinger and Jack Stoll, which gives Johnson a clear path to compete for a role.
Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux
The Giants have a new pass-rushing duo after they pulled off a fantastic trade to acquire Burns from the Carolina Panthers in March. Burns is the type of edge rusher the Giants needed to add to the group considering his speed, burst, bend and consistency.
The duo of Burns and Thibodeaux gives the Giants a strong pair of bookend edge rushers while Dexter Lawrence continues to dominate the interior.
