Examining Giants' Top Positional Battles
- Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com evaluates the Giants‘ top positional battles going into OTAs, and he believes the fight for the backup QB job is the most intriguing. Second-year pro Davis Webb has a stronger arm than rookie Kyle Lauletta, but Lauletta receives high marks for his intelligence and accuracy, plus he was drafted by Big Blue’s new regime. Whoever wins the job will be the favorite to ultimately succeed Eli Manning.
Giants’ Odell Beckham Jr. To Attend OTAs
The Giants and Odell Beckham Jr. still have some work to do when it comes to his contractual situation, but the impending talks won’t keep him from the practice field. OBJ will be in attendance for the Giants’ offseason team activities on Monday, a source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
The 25-year-old is entering the final year of his rookie deal and earlier this year it was reported that he could consider a holdout if he did not get the pricey contract extension he was after. The big money deal has yet to arrive, but OBJ will arrive for Phase 3.
The news of OBJ’s participation in OTAs is not totally unexpected since he already took part in individual drills this offseason. Still, it’s a positive sign for Beckham’s mindset, even as the Giants say they won’t rush their way into a new deal.
“I wouldn’t say a sense of urgency,” Giants co-owner John Mara said recently. “The contract will get done when it’s supposed to get done. I think that’s the Dave Gettleman line. I’m gonna adopt that I think, all spring, all summer, as long as it takes.”
Beckham is set to earn earn $8.5MM in 2018, per the terms of his fifth-year option. Before the 2017 season, it was said that he was seeking a deal in excess of $100MM. That may be a lofty goal, but a $90MM pact certainly seems within reach after Mike Evans secured a new $82.5MM deal from the Bucs earlier this year.
Last year, Beckham was one of several jinxed Giants receivers to succumb to the injury bug. This year, the WR group has received a face lift following the release of Brandon Marshall and addition of former Broncos receiver Cody Latimer. Sterling Shepard, who had 59 catches for 731 yards and two scores in eleven games last year, will start alongside Beckham.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/15/18
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DB Jason Hall
- Waived: RB Terrence Magee
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed: OL Anthony Fabiano (Colts), OL Avery Gennesy (Jaguars)
- Waived: P Michael Carrizosa, OL Christian Schneider
Detroit Lions
- Claimed: OL Adam Bisnowaty (Giants)
- Waived: OL Brett Kendrick
Los Angeles Rams
- Claimed: RB Larry Rose (Titans)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB LaRoy Reynolds
- Waived: S Dominick Sanders
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DL Blaine Woodson
- Claimed: CB C.J. Goodwin (Giants)
- Waived: WR DeAndre Carter
Giants Sign Six, Cut Six
The final draft choice of Jerry Reese‘s tenure as Giants GM has been released. Offensive lineman Adam Bisnowaty was handed his pink slip on Monday, along with linebacker Derrick Mathews, tight end Stephen Baggett, and cornerbacks Brandon Dixon, Bryon Fields, and C.J. Goodwin. To fill those spots, the G-Men signed cornerback Chris Lewis-Harris, guards Chris Scott and Malcolm Bunche, running back Robert Martin, defensive back Mike Jones (Temple) WR Alonzo Russell (Toledo)
Bisnowaty was the Giants’ sixth-round pick in 2017 and spent the majority of last season on the practice squad. The 6’6″ athlete played tackle at Pittsburgh, but the Giants were using him at guard in practice. It looked like he might have had a shot at sticking as an interior lineman on this year’s roster, but that did not pan out.
In other Giants news, former first-round pick Ereck Flowers reported to the team on Monday morning. Things have been strained between the Giants and the tackle, to say the least, but the team is apparently intent on keeping him and seeing what he can do at right tackle.
Giants’ Ereck Flowers Reports To Team
For now, it sounds like the Giants and Ereck Flowers will be moving forward together. The former first-round pick returned to work on Monday after missing the team’s previous offseason program, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Schefter hears a trade is still an option, but right now the plan is for the Giants to play him at right tackle. 
[RELATED: Giants’ Ereck Flowers Hires Agent Drew Rosenhaus]
Flowers was reportedly upset about the Giants’ signing of left tackle Nate Solder this offseason, but it’s not hard to see why the Giants wanted an upgrade at the position. Despite some serious buzz that led to him being taken No. 9 overall in 2015, Flowers has yet to do much at the pro level. Last year was his best season to date and he graded out as just the No. 54 tackle in the NFL out of 81 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Meanwhile, in a “down year,” Solder was the 32rd ranked tackle, per PFF. In previous years, he placed as one of the league’s best.
The Giants will pit Flowers against second-year UDFA offensive tackle Chad Wheeler, 2018 UDFA Tyler Howell, and others for the right tackle job and it wouldn’t be surprising to see another veteran or two thrown into the mix. Ideally, the Giants would probably like to move on from Flowers altogether, but teams balked when asked to part with a mid-round pick for him last month.
Given the dearth of quality tackles available, the Giants could have better luck unloading Flowers this summer in the event of an injury to a starter. For now, the Giants will see what he can do on the opposite side.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/13/18
Today’s minor moves:
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: T Michael Ola
New York Giants
- Signed: Chris Lewis-Harris
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: OL R.J. Prince
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OL Ruben Holcomb, CB Mark Myers
- Waived: S Josh Liddell, WR Devin Lucien, DE Antonio Simmons
Pat Shurmur's Been In Contact With Ereck Flowers
- We learned last week that Giants offensive lineman Ereck Flowers was upset that the team signed free agent lineman Nate Solder. Giants head coach Pat Shurmur told Zach Braziller of the New York Post that he’s been in contact with the 2015 first-rounder, although he wouldn’t say when the lineman was expected to attend offseason workouts (Twitter link). The Giants signed Solder to a landmark deal this offseason and gave him Flowers’ position, and the team subsequently tried to shop their now-disgruntled lineman.
[SOURCE LINK]
Draft Pick Signings: 5/11/2018
Here are the rest of Friday’s draft-pick signings:
- In addition to signing Marcus Davenport, the Saints also inked Florida State offensive tackle Rick Leonard (Round 4, pick 127), Wisconsin safety Natrell Jamerson (Round 5, pick 164), Boston College cornerback Karmin Moore (Round 6, pick 189), Louisiana Tech running back Boston Scott (Round 6, pick 201), and LSU center Will Clapp (Round 7, pick 245), The Advocate’s Nick Underhill tweets.
- The Cardinals continued to ink their draft picks to deals, signing Fordham running back Chase Edmonds (Round 4, pick 134), cornerback Christian Campbell (Round 6, pick 182), and offensive tackle Korey Cunningham (Round 7, pick 254).
- The Giants followed suit, signing UTEP guard Will Hernandez (Round 2, pick 34), Georgia linebacker Lorenzo Carter (Round 3, pick 66) and Richmond quarterback Kyle Lauletta (Round 4, pick 108).
- The Panthers also inked cornerback Rashaan Gaulden (Round 3, pick 85) and linebacker Andre Smith (Round 7, pick 234).
- The Bills added another signing in Weber State cornerback Taron Johnson (Round 4, pick 121).
- The Bengals were also busy, tabbing cornerback Davontae Harris (Round 5, pick 151), defensive end Andrew Brown (Round 5, pick 158), quarterback Logan Woodside (Round 7, pick 249) and guard Rod Taylor (Round 7, pick 252).
- The 49ers signed their fifth pick so far in the offseason, inking Kansas State defensive back D.J. Reed (Round 5, pick 142).
- The Patriots added a slew of draft picks to the ranks, signing linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley (Round 5, pick 143), linebacker Christian Sam (Round 6, pick 178), wide receiver Braxton Berrios (Round 6, pick 210), quarterback Danny Etling (Round 7, pick 219), cornerback Keiron Crossen (Round 7, pick 243), and tight end Ryan Izzo (Round 7, pick 250).
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/11/2018
Here are today’s minor moves:
Houston Texans
- Waived: DL Matthew Godin
New York Giants
- Waived: OT Laurence Gibson
Oakland Raiders
- Waived: P Colby Wadman
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: QB Stephen Morris
Washington Redskins
- Retired: OL Sean Welsh
Giants Sign 11 UDFAs
The Giants have formally signed eleven undrafted free agents:
- TE Stephen Baggett (East Carolina)
- C Evan Brown (SMU)
- S Sean Chandler (Temple)
- DT Tyrell Chavis (Penn State)
- CB Aaron Davis (Georgia)
- WR Jawill Davis (Bethune-Cookman)
- LB Tae Davis (Tenn.-Chattanooga)
- CB Bryon Fields (Duke)
- G Nick Gates (Nebraska)
- CB Grant Haley (Penn State)
- T Tyler Howell (Missouri)
Chandler received a $35K bonus to sign with the Giants, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports (via Twitter). Chandler gave Temple solid production throughout his four-year tenure and offers the kind of toughness that GM Dave Gettleman appreciates. He’s definitely undersized at 5’11”, but his higher-than-average bonus indicates that there were at least a few NFL GMs eager to see what he can do in camp.
Howell was a part of Missouri’s impressive 2016 offensive line, which finished first nationally in tackles for loss allowed (2.92 per game), the lowest for any team since at least 2005.