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New York Giants team reporter Dan Salomone revealed another signing on September 10, hours after it was reported that veteran fullback/tight end Jakob Johnson would be returning on an active roster deal.
The second move of Tuesday afternoon was a practice squad addition, per Salomone, as the team picked up former Carolina Panthers guard Cade Mays. To make room, Big Blue also released undrafted rookie offensive lineman Marcellus Johnson from the practice squad.
Mays was a sixth-round selection of the Panthers in 2022. He’s appeared in 27 games over the past two seasons, with 7 starts and 486 offensive snaps according to Pro Football Reference.
New Giants Signing Cade Mays Recorded Solid Run Blocking Grades With Panthers
Mays obviously didn’t last the length of his rookie contract in Carolina, but constant coaching and regime changes for the Panthers definitely didn’t help his chances.
Per Pro Football Focus, Mays was a solid run blocker but could use some work in pass protection. He earned run blocking marks of 64.0 and 71.2 in 2022 and 2023 but was down at 51.4 and 43.0 as a pass blocker.
In 2023 — the season Mays played the majority of his snaps — PFF charged him with 21 quarterback pressures and 3 sacks over 267 pass blocking snaps. That yielded a pass pro efficiency rating of 95.2, which ranked 110th in the NFL among interior offensive linemen that played a minimum 20% of snaps.
Mays was also flagged for four penalties last year, but did show some versatility at both left and right guard. In total, PFF has tallied 362 snaps at LG and another 104 at RG over his two-year career. He has yet to log a snap at center or offensive tackle.
Marcellus Johnson Fails to Make Lasting Impression With Giants
The Giants showed a willingness when it came to undrafted rookies making the 53-man roster this summer.
Both interior offensive lineman Jake Kubas and defensive lineman Elijah Chatman made the cut when all was said and done, and fellow UDFAs like Marcellus Johnson, running back Dante Miller, safety Alex Johnson and defensive lineman Casey Rogers all made the initial practice squad.
It seems Marcellus Johnson was unable to make a lasting impression, however, being that the Giants replaced him with Mays after just one week of regular season football.
Standing at 6-foot-4, Johnson hailed from the University of Missouri and Eastern Michigan before that.
At Eastern Michigan, the offensive lineman “earned academic All-MAC honors three times from 2019-21” and started all 13 games at left tackle as a senior. According to Missouri SB Nation reporter Brandon Kiley, Johnson had offers from BYU, Kentucky, South Carolina, Illinois, Kansas, Wisconsin, Colorado, Auburn and many others upon choosing to transfer to Mizzou.
Per Kiley, Johnson hoped to prove that he was a versatile player with Missouri in an effort to increase his draft stock. He played some right guard (one start) and special teams during his time with the Tigers.
It’s a bit surprising that the Giants were so quick to move on from the rookie blocker because he played well during the preseason.
PFF only charged Johnson with 1 quarterback pressure over 40 pass blocking snaps (zero sacks), which yielded a 98.6 efficiency rating and an 88.2 grade. He was not as strong as a run blocker (54.0 grade) and played the majority of his snaps at right guard (55 out of 60).
Granted, these statistics weren’t against top competition, but Johnson still performed well enough to stick around at the 53-man cutdown. Now, on September 10, Big Blue is electing to go in a different direction.
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