The New York Giants aren’t going to have room for everyone going into the 2021 season, and some of the cuts aren’t even being held off until training camp. In a likely move to consolidate space, the Giants have already moved on from an addition they made earlier in the offseason.
That addition is former Jaguars running back Ryquell Armstead, who may have been hoping to prove himself and end up with a backup running back spot via a good offseason showing.
Armstead came into the league in 2019 when he was taken by the Jaguars as a fifth round pick. He went on to put together a decent enough rookie season with a pair of receiving touchdowns as the most notable part of his statline, but ended up missing the entire 2020 season after being hospitalized twice with COVID-19. He was waived following the season, which was when the Giants picked him up.
It’s not all that surprising that Armstead didn’t make the roster with the Giants. The team is deep at running back already, and not just because Saquon Barkley is back this season. The Giants not only bring back Barkley and spent to bring in Devontae Booker as his main backup, but also added Corey Clement this offseason and drafted Gary Brightwell.
With a lineup like that, which features experienced NFL talent in addition to a new draft pick, making the team was always going to be hard for a player like Armstead.
If there is a silver lining, though, it may be that the early cut provides time for the player to find another spot in the league before training camp begins.