New York Giants: The Rookies Have Chosen Their Numbers

New York Giants, DeAndre Baker
Apr 25, 2019; Nashville, TN, USA; Deandre Baker (Georgia) is selected as the number thirty overall pick to the New York Giants in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft in Downtown Nashville. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Giants are coming off an important and controversial 2019 NFL Draft. Their rookie class features a lot of defenders, but also a quarterback whom they took with the 6th overall pick, Daniel Jones.

Fans are excited to see these players get in action. Luckily, the fans will not have to wait much longer. The Giants are beginning their rookie minicamp today, Friday, May 3rd. It is a two-day camp so it will run through Saturday, May 4th.

With the rookie minicamp starting this weekend, the rookies needed to officially select their numbers. Here is every rookie’s number heading into the 2019 rookie minicamp:

Rookie Numbers:

Daniel Jones, Quarterback, #8:

Daniel Jones, the 6th overall pick out of Duke will be wearing number 8 with the New York Giants. In college, Jones wore number 17, but that number is already taken by Kyle Lauletta.

Of course, these numbers are subject to change. Nothing is final, so if Lauletta is moved off the roster prior to the regular season, Jones could get his number 17 back.

Daniel Jones is the heir apparent to the Giants’ quarterback position. Number 10 has become an iconic number for the Giants with Eli Manning’s historic career. Let’s all hope that we have the same feelings about number 8 at the end of Daniel Jones’s career (unless Jones switches numbers prior to the start of the regular season).

Dexter Lawrence, Defensive Tackle, #97:

The 17th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Dexter Lawrence, will be wearing number 97 at the rookie minicamp. Lawrence was the Giants’ second pick in the draft.

At Clemson, Lawrence wore number 90. Number 90 is already taken by another young interior defensive lineman, R.J. Mcintosh. Mcintosh was drafted in the 5th round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

DeAndre Baker, Cornerback, #35:

DeAndre Baker was the Giants’ third pick in the first round. They selected him with the 30th overall pick. DeAndre wore number 18 in college, but in the NFL, defensive backs are not allowed to wear that number. So, instead, Baker will wear number 35.

Number 35 was worn by safety Curtis Riley last season. Riley was not a well-liked player by Giants fans. Hopefully, DeAndre Baker can change the way we view number 35.

Oshane Ximines, Outside Linebacker, #53:

The Giants did not have a 2nd-round pick, but they were lucky enough to have X-man fall to them at the end of the 3rd-round. Oshane Ximines will wear number 53 for the Giants at rookie minicamp. Ximines wore number 7 in college, but that is obviously an invalid number for linebackers in the NFL.

Number 53 is a special number to many Giants fans. Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson wore number 53 with the New York Giants. Oshane Ximines will have big shoes to fill with this number. Many fans believe this number should be retired, so Ximines will need to prove to fans that he is worthy of number 53.

Julian Love, Cornerback, #37:

In the 4th-round of the draft, the Giants got an absolute steal. They selected the underrated cornerback Julian Love out of Notre Dame. Love is considered by many to be a 2nd-round talent, so the Giants were lucky to land him in the 4th round.

Love wore number 27 in college, but that number is already taken by Michael Hunter. Love will still get to rock his number 7, but with a 3 in front instead of a 2.

Ryan Connelly, Linebacker, #57:

Ryan Connelly was drafted by the New York Giants in the 5th round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The former high school quarterback will wear number 57 with the Giants. His collegiate number, 43, is already taken by Ronald Zamort.

Darius Slayton, Wide Receiver, #86:

The Giants drafted wide receiver Darius Slayton in the 5th round. He was their second 5th round selection in this year’s draft. Slayton will wear number 86, despite his collegiate number 81 being available.

Corey Ballentine, Defensive Back, #25:

The versatile cornerback/safety Corey Ballentine will don the number 25 with the Giants. He wore number 1 at Washburn, but that is another number that cannot be worn in the NFL at Ballentine’s position group.

George Asafo-Adjei, Offensive Lineman, #78:

Big George was the Giants’ first 7th round pick. George has received a lot of hype from Giants fans as he was the only offensive lineman taken by the Giants in the 2019 NFL Draft. Fans have high hopes for Big George, as we all look forward to seeing him compete for the starting right tackle job.

Chris Slayton, Defensive Tackle, #99:

Slayton was the Giants’ final selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. Interestingly enough, Slayton will wear the final number possible. He wore number 95 at Syracuse, but promising young lineman B.J. Hill already possesses that number.

An interesting thing to note: not a single 2019 Giants draft pick will wear the number they wore in college at rookie minicamp.