NFL training camp is one of the best times of the year. Exciting reports begin coming in from every team, and every fan starts gearing up for the season.
Training camp is an especially critical part of the season for rebuilding teams with question marks on their rosters. In the New York Giants’ training camp this year, there are a few particularly competitive position battles and potential breakouts to look out for.
QB3 Battle
Russell Wilson and Jaxson Dart already fill New York’s QB1 and QB2 spots, but the third slot is still not decided between veteran Jameis Winston and third-year Giant Tommy Devito.
Both Devito and Winston offer valuable attributes. Winston has always been a locker room favorite, and he embodies the culture he is a part of, regardless of his role. Devito has chemistry with most of the Giants players already, having started eight games for them over the past two seasons.
When it comes to talent, Winston has shown a lot more in his 10-year career than Devito has in his short time. Winston, although coming off a down year with 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, has always been a gunslinger who goes for big plays. Devito is more of a systematic quarterback, hitting short throws and occasionally going for the deep shot.
Whoever the Giants decide to let go of, they will likely be able to get a sixth or seventh-round pick for them. With rumors swirling that New Orleans Saints players want Winston back, the Giants may decide to keep Devito over him, even if Winston is slightly more talented.
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Breakout Linebackers
The Giants’ defense has high expectations this year, and along with that come breakout expectations for linebacker Micah McFadden. McFadden played a career-high 75.1% of snaps last year, commanding the field with Bobby Okereke.
Although McFadden is already adept at making big plays in the run game, he needs to become a more consistent tackler and a much better pass defender. On 43 targets against him last season, 36 of them were completions, leading to 333 yards and a 114.4 passer rating on those throws. Training camp will be the first indication of whether McFadden will leap to stardom.
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Other than McFadden, the Giants have two other linebackers who could show major flashes in training camp: Chris Board and Dyontae Johnson. Board, the former Baltimore Raven, has a good feel for the game and is a great special-teams player. Board will turn a lot of heads this training camp, especially in special teams drills.
Johnson, who is currently the fourth-string linebacker, showed major flashes in the last preseason. Before his ankle sprain, he was viewed as one of the training camp surprises for the Giants. Now, completely healthy, he has a second chance to prove himself and be a part of the 53-man roster.
Interior Offensive Line Competitions
The Giants’ weakest position group, guard, will have competition this year. After last season’s O-line debacles, the starting position is up for grabs. The main position will be right guard, where Greg Van Roten is currently the starter. Former first-round pick Evan Neal and rookie Marcus Mbow will be battling Van Roten for the spot.
In his first three seasons, Neal was a significant disappointment at right tackle, but during OTAs, he was drawing plenty of attention at guard. He will have his final chance to prove himself as a starter in the NFL this training camp. Mbow, who can play any tackle or guard position, is looked at as a project and is more likely to learn on the bench for the majority of his rookie season.
The battle for the starting guard will be one of the biggest anticipations of Giants training camp. For a team with as many holes as the Giants, training camp will be a critical part of the 2025 NFL season.
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