EAST RUTHERFORD – Russell Wilson has done everything the Giants could have wanted to this point, so there likely won’t be a quarterback competition this summer, not in a conventional sense.
The pressure for Wilson in terms of the starting job – at least as training camp opens – exists only because of rookie Jaxson Dart’s presence and what he could – should – develop into with an uncertain yet realistic timeline.
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Given the relatively inexpensive deals worth $10.5 million for Wilson and $8 million over two years for Jameis Winston, the Giants were still set up for a big move at the position in the NFL Draft and they made one in trading up and selecting Dart.
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Winston, on a 2-year deal, has experience as a backup and what that entails. And while there has been speculation for his possible emergence as a trade chip, general manager Joe Schoen appears to have made this commitment with a two-year plan in mind.
The Giants have a plan to develop Dart, and they won’t place expectations on him until he is ready. Could that happen over the next month or so, with Dart forcing his way onto the field? That’s not out of the question. The Giants will then have to decide how to divvy up the reps during the regular season and on game day, where Dart could ultimately beat out Winston to be QB2 as well.
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Calling this a position showdown between Wilson, Dart and Winston would be disingenuous, however.
Wilson is not a Giant to be a savior. He’s here to stabilize the position and be a confident presence at the front of the offense after a rookie WR in Malik Nabers was essentially forced to do that a year ago. If Wilson struggles, they go to Dart. If Dart isn’t ready, they go to Winston, then Dart. It’s really not all that complicated.
And nothing Wilson has shown to date suggests he is on borrowed time here. Any suggestion otherwise is just not reality at the moment.
That’s not to say there won’t be other battles to keep an eye on, and here’s a look at some of them:
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Cornerback: Tae Banks vs. Cor’Dale Flott
Banks was fueled by his competition against the best two years ago. Those battles produced wins and losses on the field, and how Banks responded down to down was admirable. Now he’s got another tussle on his hands following an extremely disappointing second season with Flott pushing for the starting spot opposite newcomer Paulson Adebo.
Instead of taking a leap forward, Banks struggled when challenged and was ultimately benched as the coaches scrambled to try to find a way to work with Banks and rediscover his game. Flott and Banks split first-team reps in the spring, although that could have just been a way for the Giants to spark a competition for both players.
Still, it’s one of the most important positions on the team, and considering Flott is a third-round pick from Joe Schoen’s first draft class, certainly his status here has value, too.
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The best corner will play. Period.
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Guard: Greg Van Roten vs. Evan Neal vs. Jake Kubas
Van Roten played every snap last season, and his experience was plenty valuable, especially when injuries struck up front. He’s penciled in again as the starting right guard with Neal and Kubas options to push for that spot. Neal is more of a long shot, given the fact that the former first-rounder is attempting to move to guard from tackle, where he struggled through an up and down three seasons due to injury and inconsistency. Neal has been working mostly at left guard so far, so if he were to truly emerge as one of the Giants’ top five linemen, they could always move LG Jon Runyan Jr. to the right side, where he has played previously. Kubas impressed as an undrafted rookie and he is well-liked within the organization. Could he do enough this summer to surprise everyone and take the RG spot? That’s certainly promising seems improbable, but if Neal and Kubas both put their best forward over the next month and Van Roten stays healthy, it’s a great scenario up front.
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DT: Rakeem Nunez-Roches vs. Roy Robertson-Harris vs. Jordon Riley
The Giants are desperate to improve their depth on the defensive line and accordingly their ability to stop the run. Robertson-Harris is a solid addition with a history with defensive line coach Andre Patterson from college. While rookie Darius Alexander has a blue chip future and he’s a lock, it’s worth watching to see if younger players like Riley can put pressure on Nunez-Roches, a popular veteran whose play the last two years has been up and down. Alexander is the ace here when he is ready.
Tight end: Daniel Bellinger vs. Chris Manhertz vs. Thomas Fidone
There’s a lot of talk about how Bellinger is on the bubble and may be asked to take a pay cut to stay. The Giants are relatively healthy cap wise, though, so that shouldn’t be the reason to cast away a game day contributor. But he’s a solid player whose better days may lie ahead. The Giants believe they found great value in Fidone in the seventh round. How quickly he can be ready to contribute could be the determining factor as to whether Manhertz or Bellinger find themselves fighting for a job in late August. Manhertz is a pro and his role as a blocker is absolutely appreciated.
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Running back: Turbo Miller vs. Eric Gray
The pressure was already mounting against Gray, a fifth-round pick two years ago, and that was before he landed on the PUP list [physically unable to perform] to start camp due to a knee injury. He can be activated at any time upon passing a physical, but until then, Miller has a chance to jump even further ahead. He’d gain an even greater advantage if Miller can carve out a role on special teams. Their opportunities this summer – and what they do with them – could be a deciding factor in the Giants’ choice to keep a fourth running back on the 53.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: New York Giants training camp: Keep an eye on these position battles
