The next time the Giants take the field will be training camp next month, but battle lines for competitions for jobs and coveted spots near the top of the depth chart have already been drawn.
Here’s a look at the biggest winners and losers from this spring’s run of OTA and minicamp practices:
Winners:
QB - Daniel Jones
How impressive has Jones been during his first spring? Impressive enough that head coach Pat Shurmur says Jones is “on track to play Day 1." Jones’ arm-strength and deep ball accuracy was better than expected throughout the spring, and he showed a strong command of the Giants’ offense. Consistently, Jones got rid of the football quickly and accurately throughout this run of practices. Shurmur gave a lukewarm commitment to Eli Manning remaining the opening day starter, but left the door cracked open just wide enough for Jones to win that job. if Jones continues on this trajectory during training camp and the preseason, he could give the coaching staff and ownership some difficult decisions to make.
WR - Sterling Shepard
Shepard was far and away the most dominant wide receiver on the field for the Giants. More than just a slot receiver, Shepard frequently was a target of Eli Manning on deep post patterns and made several highlight-reel worthy receptions throughout the spring. The absence of Odell Beckham Jr. along with appearing to take a step forward towards becoming a more complete wide receiver make Shepard a strong breakout star candidate for 2018.
NT - Dexter Lawrence
A mammoth of a space-eater in the middle, Lawrence has the chance to be dominant against the run. Lawrence is quicker than you’d expect for a 6-foot-4 and 345 pound nose tackle. Already with the inside track to start in between B.J. Hill and Dalvin Tomlinson, If Lawrence can develop any sort of interior pass rush presence, look out.
CB - DeAndre Baker
This spring, despite regulations against teams playing press coverage -- Baker’s strength -- in practice, the former Georgia standout has been a consistent playmaker. Baker also has taken the lion’s share of first-team reps opposite Janoris Jenkins and looked like he belongs there. It’s early, but Baker already looks like the complete package at cornerback with more than adequate speed in coverage with plenty of physicality and elite ball skills. This spring’s play sets the foundation for Baker to secure a starting job, if he’s able to sustain his high level of play this summer.
WR - Darius Slayton
Darius Slayton’s finish to the spring is a stark contrast to a rough rookie minicamp weekend. Giants head coach Pat Shurmur called Slayton “The most improved” player this spring. Slayton spent time with the first-team offense during Monday’s OTA and made a couple of really nice catches from Eli Manning, after developing a strong rapport as one of Jones’ favorite targets in recent weeks, all after he struggled mightily to catch the football during a rookie minicamp where he had several dropped passes. Slayton’s 4.39 speed gives him the chance to be a dangerous vertical threat in an offense desperate for one, and if he continues to be as sure-handed this summer as he was down the stretch this spring, he’ll be difficult to keep off the field.
TE - Scott Simonson
With Evan Engram sidelined, Scott Simonson wound up splitting time this spring with the first-team and second-team offenses, where he made some impressive catches. Simonson’s time with Jones and impressive catches will only bolster his chances to make the roster and see the field because his strong blocking is what will keep him i the mix.
TE - C.J. Conrad
Undrafted rookie tight end out of Kentucky, C.J. Conrad had quite the strong finish to the spring. Conrad caught just about everything thrown his direction, and seemed to develop a strong connection with Jones. It will be interesting to see how the tight end depth chart shapes up behind Evan Engram this summer, but Conrad acquitted himself nicely that a strong showing in training camp and preseason could put him in the mix for a roster spot.
S - Jabrill Peppers
Jabrill Peppers has stepped right into a starting safety job and consistently looked like one of the most athletic players on the field. Peppers’ speed and athleticism will give him a chance to leave his mark on the Giants’ defense in a much different way from Landon Collins’ physical brand of football. It is quite telling that quarterbacks Eli Manning and Daniel Jones’ best day of practice this spring came on a day that Peppers was sidelined due to a tooth extraction.
CB - Grant Haley
The Giants invested heavily at cornerback this offseason, drafting Baker, Julian Love and Corey Ballentine, but at least for now, Grant Haley seems entrenched as the starting nickel cornerback. Haley has taken the vast majority of first-team nickel reps and consistently made plays. Last week, Haley sacked Eli Manning on a cornerback blitz, he took a nice angle on a deep pass during Monday’s practice to get a pass breakup and during OTAs knocked down a would-be touchdown during a red zone period. Love, Sam Beal or Ballentine might ultimately mount a legitimate challenge to Haley for the nickel job, but he doesn’t look close to relinquishing it at this stage.
RB - Paul Perkins
The Giants made a conscious effort to limit Saquon Barkley’s snaps this spring after the reigning Offensive Rookie of The Year logged 352 touches last season and could see an even bigger workload this season. During minicamp, Paul Perkins was the first running back up when Barkley was on the sideline. Perkins has shown some explosiveness and ran some smooth routes this spring, which could help him not only secure a roster spot but keep him near the top of the running back depth chart behind Barkley this season, if his strong play continues into training camp and the preseason.
OT - Chad Wheeler
With Nate Solder and Mike Remmers both sidelined, Wheeler saw meaningful first-team reps at right tackle. If Wheeler is able to fend off Remmers for the starting right tackle job, these snaps alongside new right guard Kevin Zeitler will prove incredibly valuable once the season kicks off. Likewise, seeing playing time with the first-team offense can only help Wheeler improve if he is called upon to be the swing tackle on the depth chart.
QB - Alex Tanney
Once an afterthought and the presumptive No. 3 quarterback, for a several day stretch this spring, Tanney was the best and most accurate quarterback on the field. Seriously. Tanney eventually came back to earth and Jones eventually started taking every second-team rep, but it is obvious that head coach Pat Shurmur and the Giants value Tanney’s veteran presence and knowledge of the system.
Losers:
- QB Kyle Lauletta
Lauletta appears to be the forgotten man this spring after being chosen by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Daniel Jones and Alex Tanney split the second-team reps all spring. Meanwhile, Lauletta’s third-team snaps were split on some days with Tanney. After only taking 19 snaps and attempting five passes last season, Lauletta seemingly faces an uphill battle just to make the roster this summer.
- DB Julian Love
Love entered with high expectations after being chosen by the Giants in the fourth round of April’s NFL Draft. However, early in rookie minicamp it was evident that Love’s speed was inadequate to keep pace with receivers on the outside and he quickly was moved to safety. During OTA and minicamp practices, Love lined up with the second-team at nickel and at times as a second-team safety. Love’s path to a starting job is blocked as long as the Giants stick with Antoine Bethea. This summer could offer Love a chance to compete for the nickel job, but he rarely stood out during spring practices.
- CB Sam Beal
Beal returned to practice for Tuesday’s OTA practice after missing two practices during mandatory minicamp due to personal reasons. However, after initially splitting first-team reps on the outside with Baker, Beal has primarily been running with the second-team ever since. Haley has been a mainstay as the first-team nickel and Beal has yet to mount any significant challenge to either him or Baker for one of the top three cornerback jobs.
- RB Wayne Gallman:
At this point, Gallman’s status as the Giants’ No. 2 running back behind Saquon Barkley seems precarious, at best. Gallman had multiple drops during Monday’s practice after the Giants previously signed Rod Smith and have given first-team reps to Paul Perkins. Gallman rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown last season, but it was telling when during several practices that the Giants limited Barkley’s reps that Gallman was not the first running back up with the first-team offense. It might take a strong spring for Gallmen to keep his job as the No. 2 running back and perhaps even fend off Smith and Jon Hilliman for his place on the 53-man roster.
- TE Evan Engram:
Engram was sidelined for all of minicamp, dealing with an undisclosed injury. Entering his option year and one year away from potentially working on a contract extension with the Giants, Engram is tip-toeing close to being labeled “injury prone” after missing five games with a sprained MCL in 2018.
- OT Mike Remmers
The Giants signed Remmers last month, but he was unable to participate in any of the OTA or minicamp practices. Remmers is expected to start at right tackle and provide some veteran stability at a position that has been a revolving door in recent years. However, missing this spring’s practices while recovering from back surgery will make speeding up the process of developing chemistry with his offensive linemates critical during training camp, assuming he’s able to get on the field.
Matt Lombardo may be reached at MLombardo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardoNFL