The Giants are keeping their rookie class fairly small this year. After drafting seven prospects in the draft last weekend, New York will add nine more rookies of the undrafted variety. Here is the full list:
- DE Habakkuk Baldonado (Pittsburgh)
- LB Troy Brown (Mississippi)
- S Alex Cook (Washington)
- QB Tommy DeVito (Illinois)
- WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (West Virginia)
- CB Gemon Green (Michigan)
- LB Dyontae Johnson (Toledo)
- TE Ryan Jones (East Carolina)
- LS Cameron Lyons (UNC-Charlotte)
Johnson, not to be confused with Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson who came out of Toledo four years ago, was second on the Rockets defense with 109 total tackles this year, adding eight tackles for loss, three sacks, three passes defensed, two fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble to his stat sheet in 2022. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, the Giants lured him in with an undrafted deal that has a guaranteed amount of $175K consisting of a $25K signing bonus and $150K of the first year’s base salary (worth $750K total).
New York also provided a strong contract offer to Ford-Wheaton, according to Wilson. Ford-Wheaton was offered a guaranteed amount of $236K consisting of a $20K signing bonus and $216K of his $750K first-year base salary. Ford-Wheaton was second on the Mountaineers in receiving yards behind only Sam James, who signed with the Rams after also going undrafted, but surpassed James and the rest of the team with seven receiving touchdowns in 2022.
DeVito arrive in Champaign as a transfer after five years at Syracuse, utilizing his extra COVID-year of eligibility. After being unseated as the Orange starting quarterback in 2021, DeVito took hold of the starting job with the Fighting Illini and had a career year. He completed nearly 70 percent of his passes while throwing 15 touchdowns to four interceptions with Illinois, leading the Illini to their first winning season since 2011.
Lyons comes in as some expected camp competition for Casey Kreiter, who has served as the team’s long snapper for the last three years. Kreiter has only ever played in New York on one-year contracts, which may indicate that the Giants are hesitant to commit to the veteran long-term. Lyons could earn himself a roster spot if he shows more upside than Kreiter.