Giants 53-man roster prediction ahead of 2026 NFL season

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EAST RUTHERFORD – This was the exclamation point for Odell Beckham Jr.’s career revitalization. Back at the place he’d called home for so many years, sprinting through the secondary without a corner near.  The ball just needed to get to him and Beckham would skip into the end zone, 73 yards from the play’s beginning. 

Jameis Winston let it fly. Beckham lunged. He lost control of the slight overthrow as he came crashing to the turf. 

So, so close. 

That play would have been the highlight of Beckham’s summer, and the Giants’ 23-6 victory. Now he’ll await to see if everything he has accomplished is enough to make the team. He finished Friday night with three catches for 53 yards. He drew a pass interference. He slipped on another, leading Winston’s pass to glance off his fingertips and into the waiting arms of linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball. 

Beckham finished the Giants’ three preseason games with seven catches for 76 yards. Quarterbacks threw his way 13 times. 

“I’m pleased with what I did,” said Beckham. “But I’m always looking to do more.” 

While impressed with his workouts, the Giants weren’t exactly sure how much Beckham had left when they signed him in June. He last played in December of 2024, having sat out the entire 2025 season. He wasn’t particularly effective that year with Miami, though, catching just nine passes for 55 yards in nine games. 

Beckham admitted he wasn’t healthy when he met with the Giants. He now was and believed he could still play. He’s spent the last three months showing his self assessment wasn’t far off. 

While not the former all-pro who racked up 288 catches for 4,122 yards and 35 touchdowns his first three seasons, Beckham routinely got himself open during training camp practices. The same happened in the preseason, too, although the passes didn’t always come his way. 

His week of practice leading into the preseason finale was, per John Harbaugh, his “best” of the summer. Unsurprisingly it led to his most productive outing. 

The odds to make the Giants roster seem in Beckham’s favor after Calvin Austin, New York’s starting slot, suffered a season-ending knee injury, last week. Beckham will find out if that’s the case over the next 48 hours. 

“It would mean everything to me if I made it,” he said. 

Here’s one final prediction on how the Giants roster will shake out … 

Quarterback (2)

• Makes the cut: Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston
• Gets cut: Brandon Allen, Jake Haener

More teams keep three quarterbacks now with the emergency designation. Allen showed absolutely nothing that warrants a spot on the 53-man roster this summer, though. Haener arrived late, and could be an option for the practice squad, but the Giants can likely find someone with more upside on the waiver wire or after. 

Running back (4)

• Makes the cut: Cam Skattebo, Najee Harris, Devin Singletary, Patrick Ricard (FB)
• Gets cut: Tyrone Tracy, Eric Gray, Damon Blankston, Grant Finley

This is the first real surprise. Tracy finds himself in the dog house, though, after nearly getting Dart decapitated in the preseason opener, then fumbling against the Dolphins. Seeing him playing on special teams in the final two preseason games was telling. 

The Giants could choose to keep four running backs (plus Ricard). That would give Tracy a spot. The signing of Harris, and reliability of Singletary, makes it unnecessary, though. This is the first real sign things are different with Harbaugh.

Receiver (6)

• Makes the cut: Malik Nabers, Malachi Fields, Darnell Mooney, Darius Slayton, Braxton Berrios, Odell Beckham Jr.  
• Gets cut: Dalen Cambre, Xavier Gipson, Isaiah Hodgins, Jalin Hyatt, Kobe Prentice

The Giants keeping six or seven receivers was a hot topic before the Austin injury. His season-ending ACL tear likely secured the roster spots of both Berrios and Beckham, who really turned it on in the final week of camp. This is the end of the road for Hyatt, the wildly disappointing former third-round pick. It shouldn’t be long before Beckham takes back No. 13 for himself. 

Tight end (3)

• Makes the cut: Isaiah Likely, Theo Johnson, Chris Manhertz
• Gets cut: Tanner Conner, Thomas Fideone, Josiah Deguara

Likely developed into Dart’s go-to target this summer. Look for him to see the second–most targets this season behind Nabers, assuming the wideout stays healthy. It will be interesting to see how coordinator Matt Nagy works Johnson into the fold, too. While inconsistent, he made plays a season ago (five touchdowns) and has size (6-6, 264 pounds) you can’t coach. 

Offensive line (10)

• Makes the cut: Andrew Thomas, Jon Runyan, John Michael Schmitz, Francis Mauigoa, Jermaine Eluemunor, J.C. Davis, Aaron Stinnie, Marcus Mbow, Bryan Hudson, Lucas Patrick
• Gets cut: Evan Neal, Brenden Jaimes, Jake Kubas, Jarrod Gray, Ryan Schernecke 

Finally the end of the road for Evan Neal, the former first-round pick who’s been a massive bust to this point. Not even his conversion to guard could save his career. He’s been a little better this year at guard than last, but still isn’t someone you want to play on Sundays. 

The Giants could look to trim a bit here to keep an extra running back or receiver with special teams value. Patrick is a candidate for the practice squad in this situation. 

Defensive line (5)

• Makes the cut: Shelby Harris, DJ Reader, Darius Alexander, Leki Fotu, Bobby Jamison-Travis
• Gets cut: Zacch Pickens, Ben Barten, Josh Tupou, Marlon Davidson

This is an area Schoen and Harbaugh should spend quite a bit of time scouring the waiver wire to add to. They could also look to move some of those late-round picks they got for trading Josh Ezeudu and Daniel Faalele to address the middle of their defense. It’s a weakness even when healthy. 

EDGE (4)

• Makes the cut: Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Chauncey Golston
• Gets cut: Caleb Murphy, Khalid Kareem, Trace Ford

This group needs to be the strength of the Giants defense. They’ve invested so many resources into their pass rush between trades (Burns), draft picks (Carter, Thibodeaux) and free-agent dollars (Golston), they should torment quarterbacks weekly. Of course, you need to stop the run to give your rushers a chance to get home. 

Linebacker (6)

• Makes the cut: Tremaine Edmunds, Arvell Reese, Micah McFadden, Jack Kelly, Zaire Barnes, Darius Muasau
• Gets cut: Anfernee Orji

Give Barnes a lot of credit. He’s turned heads as a special teamer and shown some ability in the preseason to contribute on defense. He’s also a great locker room guy. That special teams prowess, though, gives him the nod over others. 

Cornerbacks (6)

• Makes the cut: Tae Banks, Greg Newsome, Dru Phillips, Paulson Adebo, Colton Hood, Nic Jones
• Gets cut: Korie Black, Art Green

This is another spot I could see the Giants keeping one more, like a Green or Jones. They’ve flashed at different points this summer. You can also easily get one of those players on the practice squad, though, and call up as need be. 

Safeties (4)

• Makes the cut: Jevon Holland, Tyler Nubin, Jason Pinnock, Ar’Darius Washington
• Gets cut: Ugo Amadi, Beau Brade, Elijah Campbell, Raheem Layne, JT Woods

No real surprise cuts here. The real question will be who starts from the grouping. Holland is locked, but the Giants have rotated Nubin and Washington throughout the summer. Nubin has more upside, but Washington has looked better and has familiarity with Harbaugh. Washington seems to have the edge now. 

Special teams (3)

• Makes the cut: Dominic Zvada (K), Jordan Stout (P), Ben Mann (LS)
• Gets cut: Ben Sauls (K)

Zvada has been the better kicker all summer and has an absolute cannon for a leg. He deserves this job and might be the next great kicker uncovered by Harbaugh.

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