The New York Giants kick off their training camp practices on Wednesday morning in preparation for the upcoming 2024 season. Training camp gives the coaching staff their first look at the talent on the roster and an opportunity to determine who will make the final 53-man cut. Entering this summer’s training camp, a few players are playing on the roster bubble, fighting to keep their jobs.
Aaron Robinson needs to finally prove himself
The Giants traded up to select cornerback Aaron Robinson in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Expectations were relatively high for Robinson entering the league as he stepped into a thinned-out Giants secondary with a chance to immediately compete as a starter.
However, Robinson has struggled to get on the field as he has dealt with numerous injuries over the last three seasons. He has appeared in only 11 games and made only four starts, totaling 32 combined tackles and four pass defenses in his career.
It’s now or never for Robinson as the Giants have added plenty of young talent to their secondary over the past couple of offseasons. If he wants to win a roster spot, Robinson will need to be healthy throughout the summer and play at a high level to earn the coaching staff’s trust.
Once a breakout starter, what does the future hold for Isaiah Hodgins?
The Giants had high expectations for wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins entering the 2023 season. He had a breakout during the final weeks of the 2022 regular season, capped off by an incredible performance in the team’s Wild Card Round victory over the Minnesota Vikings that postseason. But in 2023, Hodgins did not receive the bigger role he seemed primed to step into.
Instead of being a projected starter, Hodgins is now the fifth or even sixth man on the depth chart at his position. He appeared in all 17 games last season, but made only nine starts, totaling just 21 receptions for 230 yards and three touchdowns.
Veteran wideouts Allen Robinson, Isaiah McKenzie, and second-year playmaker Bryce Ford-Wheaton are also gunning for that spot on the roster. It’s a crowded wide receiver room for Big Blue entering this summer’s practices. Hodgins will need to edge out the competition if he wants to keep his roster spot.
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The Giants’ safety room has gotten a bit crowded
The Giants’ safety room has been overturned this year after seeing star Xavier McKinney depart in free agency. Jason Pinnock remains as one of the team’s holdover starters from last season, and rookie second-round pick Tyler Nubin will likely join him in the starting lineup.
But with Nubin and Pinnock projected to start this season, some of the other youngsters on the roster could be squeezed out of the bubble, such as third-year defensive back Dane Belton. The 2022 fourth-round pick has only seen the field in spurts so far, playing 686 career snaps. He’s totaled 64 career combined tackles, four interceptions, and three fumble recoveries during that playing time, proving to be an impact player when on the field.
Belton has a knack for getting his hands on the football but hasn’t developed a knack for staying on the football field. And now with so many defensive backs competing for reps, Belton could end up being the odd man out.
Belton was a perfect fit in defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s defensive scheme. But with new DC Shane Bowen taking over, Belton’s role in the defense is unclear. The Giants will hope to see him perform well throughout the summer and carve out a role in the defense.
