The New York Giants are inching closer to their final preseason game of the year against the New England Patriots. While that’s a great thing for fans patiently waiting for the start of the regular season, fringe-roster players are still playing for their livelihoods.
Here are three surprise cuts for the New York Giants:
1.) CB Sam Beal
The Giants’ Supplemental Draft pick from 2018 has yet to play in a regular-season game let alone a preseason matchup this year. He missed all of his rookie season with a predisposed shoulder injury that required surgery. Now that his shoulder is healed, his hamstring has been acting up.
His lack of experience in a live-action setting could force the Giants to cut him and allocate the roster spot towards a player with actual, proven value. This would undoubtedly be a surprise but justifiable.
2.) LB B.J. Goodson
At this point in Goodson’s career, he seems to be losing value with every passing day. Injuries have hurt his development and consistency, and Ryan Connelly, the rookie out of Wisconsin, has taken full advantage of that.
Connelly has been working with the starting team in the absence of Alec Ogletree, and Goodson has been seeing time with the second and third-string defense. His influence last year isn’t noteworthy, and it seems as if his time as a Giant could be coming to an end. The only reason head coach Pat Shurmur would keep him around is because of the lack of depth at the linebacker position and his familiarity with DC James Bettcher’s scheme.
3.) RB Paul Perkins
With 546-yards rushing to his name, Perkins is a glorified scat-back. His minimal power and high injury risk make him a waste of a roster spot. This might not be a surprise cut, but his value is next to none on a Giants team with plenty of talent at the running back position.
Behind Saquon Barkley and Wayne Gallman, Perkins and Rod Smith have been battling it out for a third-string roster spot. Smith is the more wise choice that can help Gallman and Barkley refine the mental aspects of their game, which makes him a more valuable option.
Perkins once had a ton of potential, but his production would come from the passing game, and the Giants don’t need him with Barkley and Gallman more than capable of succeeding in that facet.