Getty New York Giants miss out on a 2022 NFL Draft pick.
The preseason is in the books and the 2021 NFL regular season is right around the corner. However, before the New York Giants welcome the Denver Broncos into MetLife for Week 1, there are some tough decisions to be made.
The final roster cuts are upon us, meaning Big Blue will have to trim their roster down to 53 players by 4:00 pm ET on Tuesday (August 31st). The team does have a roster exemption for running back Sandro Platzgummer as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program.
Finalized Giants Cut Tracker
- Quarterback
- Brian Lewerke
- Running Back
- Corey Clement
- Former Super Bowl hero who rushed for 86 yards on 18 carries this preseason.
- Sandro Platzgummer
- Corey Clement
- Wide Receiver
- David Sills
- Led Giants in receptions (seven) and yards (94) in the preseason.
- Damion Willis
- 92.5 Pro Football Focus grade in final preseason game — led all Giants.
- Matt Cole
- David Sills
- Tight End
- Nakia Griffin-Stewart
- Jake Hausmann
- Offensive Line
- Chad Slade
- Jonotthan Harrison
- 42-game career starter.
- Kenny Wiggins
- 38-game career starter. Had rotated with the 1s throughout camp.
- Jackson Barton
- Jake Burton
- Brett Heggie
- Defensive Line
- Ifeadi Odenigbo
- Offseason signing guaranteed $1 million. Has 10.5 sacks since 2019.
- Ryan Anderson
- Willie Henry
- David Moa
- Elijah Qualls
- Ifeadi Odenigbo
- Linebacker
- Devante Downs
- Opening day starter in 2020.
- Niko Lalas
- Devante Downs
- Defensive Back
- Madre Harper
- Played nine games for Giants in 2020.
- Chris Johnson
- Jordyn Peters
- Madre Harper
- Long Snapper
- Casey Kreiter
- Expected to re-sign via the team’s official website.
- Casey Kreiter
- Injuries
- Aaron Robinson, CB
- Third-round rookie remains on PUP list.
- Red Larsen, OL
- Alex Bachman, WR
- Austin Mack, WR
- All three players placed on injured reserve.
- Aaron Robinson, CB
Latest Giants Rumors Ahead of Deadline
The Giants got a head start on their roster reshuffling a day early when they shipped B.J. Hill to Cincinnati in a trade with the Bengals for interior offensive lineman Billy Price. The former Ohio State standout helps add depth to an ailing position and becomes the 13th former first-rounder on the Giants roster.
By the sound of it, New York may not be done wheeling and dealing on the trade market. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer has reported that linebacker Devante Downs and wide receivers Dante Pettis and David Sills have come in trade talks prior to Tuesday’s 4:00 pm cut deadline.
New York was kicking tires on interior linemen the last few days and wound up dealing off B.J. Hill to land Price. And the Giants might not be done—bubble guys Dante Pettis, David Sills and Devante Downs have been raised in trade talks.
Update: Sills and Downs will be waived.
Downs shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. The California product was a camp standout last summer, beating out the likes of Ryan Connelly for a roster spot and earning an opening day starting job in the midst. Downs went on to start eight games in 2020, but was mostly underwhelming. He was always believed to be on the roster bubble in a reworked linebacker corps.
As for the two wideouts, each has performed admirably this summer. Pettis is a former second-round pick with potential game-changing ability as a punt returner. Sills, a fan favorite and the most productive Giants pass-catcher this preseason, theoretically played himself into a roster spot. With that said, his limited special teams upside is likely what left him on the outside looking in as he battled for the final receiver spot.