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With training camp just around the corner, we here at Pro Football 366 want to take a look at the potential starters for each team. Today’s team: The New York Giants.
Quarterback: Eli Manning
Unless he gets injured in training camp or preseason Eli Manning will be the Week 1 starter for the New York Giants. This offseason he did have surgery on his ankle but he is believed to already be 100%. After a rough season last year Eli Manning will be looking to restablish himself as an elite Quarterback in the NFL once again.
Running Back: Rashad Jennings
The backfield of the New York Giants has the potential to be interesting. With the signing of Rashad Jennings and the questions surrounding David Wilson’s health the Giants should have a good competition brewing in training camp. While Peyton Hillis, Andre Williams, and Michael Cox are all on the roster, I believe the starting job is between Jennings and Wilson. I give the slight nod to Jennings simply because we know he is 100% healthy.
Fullback: John Conner
While the fullback may be a dying position in the NFL, it is still an important position for the New York Giants. The Giants also have a tough decision to make at this position in training camp as Henry Hynoski and John Conner are going to be competing for the lone fullback spot on the roster. It will be a competitive race that I think Conner will come out ahead in simply because of his ability to move people in the hole.
Wide Receiver 1: Victor Cruz
This is probably the second easiest position to project on the Giants after Eli Manning. Victor Cruz is entering his fifth season in the NFL (fourth full season) and he has come out and said that he wants to be a leader on the offense. He will have that opportunity this coming season.
Wide Receiver 2: Rueben Randle
The Giants took Odell Beckham Jr. with the twelfth pick in the draft this past May. However, Rueben Randle will still be ahead of Beckham Jr. on the depth chart for at least the first part of the season. Randle had a very good year last season and has a somewhat similar playing style to Hakeem Nicks who was not re-signed after a poor season last year.
Tight End: Larry Donnell
This is the position on the Giants that is absolutely wide open. Every player on the roster is essentially competing for the starting job. When all is said and done I believe that it will be Donnell who comes out on top. He has been in the Giants system for a few years now and Jerry Reese has always been very high on him.
Left Tackle: Will Beatty
If Will Beatty is healthy come week 1 then the job is undoubtedly his. He admits to trying to hard to be the hero last year after receiving a big contract and I think he will bounce back and be one of the leaders of the offensive line this season.
Left Guard: Geoff Schwartz
The Giants signed a huge piece to the offensive line puzzle this season when they landed Geoff Schwartz via free agency this season. Schwartz will provide veteran leadership and stability to an offensive line that needs both of those intangibles.
Center: Weston Richburg
When the Giants drafted Richburg in the second round of this year’s draft they drafted the best pure center in the draft. Richburg has a “throwback” style of play and has a very high football IQ. The Giants don’t normally start rookies but they realize that this guy could anchor down the center position for the next ten to twelve years.
Right Guard: Chris Snee
If Snee is healthy then I think that this is his job for one more season. Snee has been the Giants best offensive lineman in recent memory and he feels as if he has unfinished business after his 2013 season was cut short by injuries.
Right Tackle: Justin Pugh
A lot of people are saying that the Giants should move Pugh to guard but I don’t like that idea. Pugh was excellent at right tackle last season and that was as a rookie. It would be wise to let him continue to grow as a player at right tackle before moving him because his confidence has to be high playing there.
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