The New York Giants fell to the New York Jets in the first preseason game of the 2021 season. With both teams looking to deploy their reserves to gauge value with roster cuts quickly coming up, this game was littered with secondary talent.
The Giants gave quarterback Daniel Jones the night off, sending their first-team offensive line out for the first drive to test their resiliency. The Giants only managed to score once, courtesy of a Clayton Thorson touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to Damion Wills.
However, let’s take a look at a few players that saw their stock rise or fall.
New York Giants stock movements:
Stock up:
1.) David Sills
Sills was one of the top performers for the Giants on the night, recording three receptions for 49 yards, including a 37-yard completion. Overall, he displayed solid hands and great releases off the line of scrimmage, providing yet another reason for him to earn a spot on the 53 man roster.
2.) Carter Coughlin
Coughlin is making the transition to weak-side linebacker, alongside Blake Martinez. Coughlin picked up five tackles, one sack, and one tackle for a loss. He was flying all over the field, making plays in the running game, and also picking up a sack against Jets quarterback Mike White.
3.) Danny Shelton
Danny Shelton made a nice play against Ty Johnson to cause a turnover on downs. The Jets tried an inside zone run with Johnson, but Shelton clogged the gap with his massive frame.
4.) Corey Clement
Clement looked fantastic for the Giants before a red-zone fumble. Those are a big no-no for offensive coordinators, but Clement picked up 32 yards on five carries, averaging 6.4 per attempt. He had some burst on his runs and showcased some strength, and while the fumble is a bit problematic, he has solid value the Giants can expand upon.
5.) Sandro Platzgummer
Platzgummer is a practice squad member for the Giants, and he’s likely headed for that same reality this season. Despite pulling off a 48-yard scamper, picking up 51 yards on four carries, he simply doesn’t provide enough value as a receiver to earn a spot on the roster. However, his solid game increases his stock.
6.) Tae Crowder
Crowder was flying all around the field in the loss to the Jets. Despite only picking up two tackles, he was close to the ball at all times and made an impact that didn’t show on the stat sheet. The Giants are hoping he can be the starting weakside linebacker next to Martinez, and so far, it seems as if it‘s his job to lose.
Stock down:
1.) Rodarius Williams
The sixth-round draft pick out of Oklahoma State had a tremendous training camp, but his stock came crashing down after a poor performance against the Jets. The Jets targeted him frequently in pass coverage, but oddly, he featured out of the slot quite a bit when he’s primarily a boundary corner.
While there’s reason for concern, his changing of position likely contributed toward his poor outing.
2.) Clayton Thorson
Giants might want to consider looking for an alternative QB3. When Glennon went down, Thorson took over, posting 72 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked four times and completed just five passes on 16 attempts. There are plenty of other solid developmental players who could likely provide a bit more than Thorson moving forward. Of course, you never want your third-string QB in a football game.
3.) Kenny Wiggins
With Shane Lemieux missing the game and Kyle Murphy knocked out due to injury, Kenny Wiggins virtually play the entire contest. His pass protection was spotty, and run blocking was inefficient. The Giants desperately need more interior depth before things get serious for Daniel Jones.
4.) Matt Peart
The Giants rolled out their first-string offensive line to start the game, and right tackle Matt Peart struggled to get going. Peart was beaten clean off the edge by a Jets pass rusher, and while it will take time for him to gain some momentum, his first showing brought his stock down. There’s plenty of time for him to bounce back in a strong way.