The New York Giants faced off against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon in the second preseason game of the year. The Giants lost to the Jets in their first bout of live-action, and despite losing 17-13 to Cleveland, they got essential work in for their depth pieces and 53-man roster candidates.
With roster cuts coming up on August 31, the Giants don’t have much time left to gauge value and versatility. However, there are a few notable players who are likely on their way out.
Three players who the New York Giants will likely cut:
1.) Devante Downs
The fact Devante Downs has managed to stick around the Giants for two years is mind-blowing. Despite his seven total tackles and one pass defended on Sunday against Cleveland, he seems to be nonexistent as a pass-coverage linebacker and offers little against the run. Downs made 16 appearances last year for the Giants, starting in eight games. He picked up 33 combined tackles and one QB hit.
With the emergence of Carter Coughlin at linebacker, the Giants shouldn’t think twice about cutting Downs and sticking with a younger option containing upside. Despite having a big frame at 6’2″ and 252 pounds, his football IQ is average at best, and he finds himself trailing behind plays, even against backups.
2.) Sam Beal
Having missed the last two seasons, it is a surprise that Sam Beal is still on the roster. After general manager Dave Gettleman elected to spend a third-round pick on Beal during the Supplemental Draft in 2018, he has made six appearances since then.
This past off-season, Beal was hit with two gun charges and was facing possible suspension. Luckily, he was absolved of the charges, but his job security is far from guaranteed. He picked up 4.0 tackles on the afternoon, but considering the Giants had wide receiver Matt Cole playing opposite Beal at corner, the Browns continued to pick on the inexperienced (veteran) DB. Based on the depth in the secondary, I would be surprised if Beal wasn’t cut in the coming days.
3.) Alex Bachman
At one point, Alex Bachman seemed to be gunning for a roster spot last off-season, but he’s found himself in a tricky spot. With tons of depth at receiver, Bachman is a long shot to make the roster. He dropped multiple passes against the Browns, which undoubtedly hurt his stock.
Bachman recorded one reception for 6 yards on four targets, showing a lack of production and efficiency. Even when the Giants were extremely thin at receiver last year, they decided against elevating Bachman to the active roster, so his days in blue are unfortunately numbered. It is entirely possible he ends up on the practice squad once again.