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[New York Giants]

New York Giants UDFAs: Get to know Rushawn Baker, RB, Elon

James Guillory-Imagn Images

Can the New York native crack the roster?

The New York Giants showed obvious interest in the 2025 NFL Draft’s running back class.

They brought several of the top runners in for “30” visits and there was a definite theme. Each of the running backs brought in were physical, downhill runners and the team ultimately selected Cam Skattebo out of Arizona State — arguably the most physical back in the draft.

The Giants have also reportedly signed Elon running back Rushawn Baker as an undrafted free agent. He, too, fits the theme at just under 5-foot-11, 220 pounds and sporting a downhill running style.

Baker is a New York Native and a star around the Rochester area and was named first team All-State as a senior. His college career started at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania before transferring to Elon in North Carolina prior to the 2024 season.

Can the Western New York native stick with Big Blue?

What does he bring?​

Baker is an interesting prospect from an athletic standpoint. He sports a compact physique at 5-foot-10⅞ inches, 218 pounds, and is explosive in short areas. Baker posted a very good 1.52-second 10-yard split as well as a 38½-inch vertical leap, both of which line up with the good initial burst he shows on tape.

Kent Lee Platte | RAS.football

On the field, Baker runs with solid vision and patience behind the line of scrimmage. He does a really good job of anticipating defenders and giving his offensive line time to establish their blocks. He has a powerful lower half and does a good job of dropping his pad level into contact around the line of scrimmage, as well as using quick feet to make subtle adjustments to his pathing.

Baker’s burst allows him to exploit quickly closing holes, while his strength and contact balance let him survive contact around the line of scrimmage. His ability to navigate the trash around the line of scrimmage could make him the type of back who can keep an offense on schedule.

While he was able to out-athlete his competition at the CAA, Baker is ultimately a one-cut downhill runner. He won’t be confused with a scatback or a burner at the NFL level, and he was rarely used as a receiver — though that might not mean he can’t catch, just that he wasn’t often asked to.

Can he stick?​

It seems unlikely that Baker will stick with the Giants’ 53-man roster. Tyrone Tracy is likely entrenched as the starter, with Devin Singletary likely sharing reps to keep both healthy and fresh while Cam Skattebo picks up the tough yardage.

The bigger question is whether Baker can do enough to to force Eric Gray or Dante Miller off the roster bubble.

The Giants might keep two backs on their practice squad, so Baker’s best bet is to show that he’s more dependable option than Gray. Baker’s game could strike a balance between Tracy’s elusiveness between the tackles and Skattebo’s ability to pick up the tough yards. Having a player who could spell either Tracy or Skattebo could appeal to the Giants — or make him a useful emergency option to keep around

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/5/...iants-udfas-get-to-know-rushawn-baker-rb-elon

 

[New York Giants]

WR Gabe Davis released by Jaguars — should the New York Giants be interested?

Gabe Davis | Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Brian Daboll got good production from Davis when they were together in Buffalo

The New York Giants have made it pretty clear this offseason that they are interested in creating competition for the final spots on their wide receiver depth chart.

The Giants did not draft a wide receiver, but six of their reported undrafted free agent signings have been wide receivers. They also signed veteran free agent wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Zach Pascal.

It also seems apparent they they are seeking a “type”, as most of the receivers they have added are bigger-bodied players.

With that in mind, an intriguing free agent option hit the market on Wednesday when the Jacksonville Jaguars released wide receiver Gabe Davis.

At 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, Davis fits the body type the Giants have apparently been seeking this offseason. He also has an obvious connection to Giants’ head coach Brian Daboll. Davis was a 2020 fourth-round pick by the Buffalo Bills, and caught 70 passes for 1,148 yards (16.4 yards per catch) and 13 touchdowns over his first two NFL seasons with Daboll as his offensive coordinator.

Davis signed a three-year, $39 million free agent contract with Jacksonville last offseason, including $24 million guaranteed. That clearly did not work out for the Jaguars. Davis caught just 20 passes and and was released with a post-June 1 cut designation. The Jaguars will take a $5.7 million dead cap hit after letting him go.

Davis, who is entering his age 26 season, has 183 regular-season receptions for an average of 16.2 yards per catch with 29 touchdowns.

The Giants clearly seem to be trying to add to their depth behind Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt.

Should they sign Davis?

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/5/...new-york-giants-be-interested-nfl-free-agency

 

[New York Giants]

Shedeur Sanders knew he ‘didn’t hit it off’ with New York Giants coaches

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

QB seems to have known before the draft that he wouldn’t land with the Giants

Once upon a time, Shedeur Sanders wore New York Giants-themed cleats before a game to indicate that was the NFL team he thought he would be drafted by.

By the end of the pre-draft process, though, it seems like Sanders and the Giants had gone their separate ways.

Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Sanders acknowledged he “didn’t hit it off” with Giants coaches. Fowler wrote:

While the Giants worked out Shedeur Sanders the week before the draft, Sanders sensed much earlier that New York probably wasn’t in the cards for him. Sanders openly acknowledged during the predraft process that he didn’t hit it off with Giants coaches, per a source.

Draft insider Todd McShay of The Ringer had said in the days before the draft that Giants coach Brian Daboll was “not a Shedeur guy.”

Paul Schwartz of the New York Post wrote recently that there was no “bomb meeting” that soured the Giants on the former Colorado quarterback. Schwartz wrote:

What seems true is that there was no one incident or moment where the Giants soured on Sanders. That much-reported terrible Sanders meeting with head coach Brian Daboll? The one where Sanders was unprepared for an install test Daboll gave him and then balked at Daboll’s criticism? That is likely either untrue or overhyped. There was no “bomb” meeting. There were less than ideal interactions. There were touch points all along the line that provided check marks for the Giants to assign to the pro and con columns. The conclusion was that the “con” column was too overflowing to accept.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/5/...didnt-hit-it-off-with-new-york-giants-coaches

 

[New York Giants]

New York Giants roster move: DT Casey Rogers waived

Casey Rogers | Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Rogers made the practice squad as an undrafted free agent last season

The New York Giants have begun trimming their 90-man roster to make room for undrafted free agent signings and potential rookie tryout signings. The team announced on Thursday that second-year defensive tackle Casey Rogers has been waived.

Rogers made the Giants’ practice squad as an undrafted free agent last season. He was promoted to the active roster late in the season and appeared in two games.

After cutting Rogers, the Giants have 78 players on their roster not counting undrafted free agent signings. While all of those are unofficial and the actual number could be different , 14 signings have been reported. That would mean two cuts still have to be made in order to stay at the 90-man limit.

Rookie mini-camp begins on Friday.

First injury of the year​

Edge defender Victor Dimukeje, signed as depth after the Giants lost Azeez Ojulari in free agency, has reportedly suffered a torn pectoral muscle and will miss time.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/5/8/24426474/new-york-giants-roster-move-dt-casey-rogers-waived

 

[New York Giants]

Giants rookie minicamp: No. 51 will have to ‘grow’ on Abdul Carter

Abdul Carter and Brian Daboll enjoy a light moment during Friday’s practice. | Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images

First practice in the books for rookies

There was, of course, a lot of fuss about what number New York Giants rookie Abdul Carter, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, would wear.

Carter asked Lawrence Taylor if he could don the retired No. 56, and got rejected. Phil Simms broached the idea of letting Carter wear No. 11, which Carter had worn at Penn State. Simms’ wife and daughter put the kabosh on that.

Carter took the field on Friday for the first practice of rookie minicamp wearing No. 51, worn last season by Azeez Ojulari.

“It’s gonna have to grow on me a little bit,” Carter said, admitting that he didn’t necessarily “choose” it.

“Pretty much what we had available,” he said. “It’s pretty much set.”

Much was made of Carter versatility, and the Giants will likely move him around on defense. He is, for now, though working exclusive with the outside linebackers.

“iIt’s so early right now he’s just learning the beginning stages of the playbook,” said head coach Brian Daboll. “We’ll do whatever we think is best for the team.”

Michael Strahan visits practice​

Hall of Famer and legendary Giant Michael Strahan attended Friday’s practice. Strahan broke down practice at the end with a short speech.

“That was dope,” Carter said. “I just want to be a part of bringing that legacy back, bringing that greatness back to New York.”

Rookie defensive tackle Darius Alexander, the team’s third-round pick, said “it was great seeing a Hall of Famer out here on the first day ... it was awesome.”

Cam Skattebo’s chip​

Don’t tell rookie running back Cam Skatttebo he doesn’t have anything left to prove.

“How many snaps of the NFL have you seen me play? Zero, right? I’ve proved nothing,” he said. “I’ve proved what I am in college, but I’ve proved nothing at this level. So now where I’m at, I have to prove myself and if that’s for five years or if that’s for 10 years, I’m going to continue to prove myself.”

Skattebo is, of course, known for his physicality. He was asked what he loves about playing that way.

“Getting in the end zone. I mean it feels good when you run somebody over and then get in the end zone. I mean it feels good when you get in the end zone, but imagine running someone over and then running another person over and then getting in the end zone,” he said. “It’s that much better (laughs). So, it just shows that when you’re physical, it shows the work you put in in the weight room and how much you do to make your game better.”

Darius Alexander’s loyalty​

Alexanders spent six years at Toledo despite opportunities to cash in on NIL money at bigger schools.

“I don’t think the grass is always greener on the other side,” Alexander said. “I didn’t want to chase the money. I wanted to chase the goal of playing in the NFL ... I just wanted to stay true to myself and stay true to where I was at.”

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/5/...icamp-no-51-will-have-to-grow-on-abdul-carter

 

[New York Giants]

Giants’ coach Brian Daboll appreciates Jaxson Dart’s handling of rookie minicamp

Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images

It looks like a good beginning for the Giants’ rookie quarterback

It has not taken New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll long to gain an appreciation for how rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, drafted No. 25 overall, works.

“He did what he was supposed to do. He was prepared. He put a lot of time and effort into it,” Daboll said of how Dart handled the two days of rookie minicamp. “I got a lot of appreciation for how he’s gone about short amount of time his business, and that’s what’s most important is how we can get him to a routine meeting with players extra, having walkthroughs at the hotels, communication, that’s part of playing quarterback is being on top of all those little things and if he can’t be on top of him, then the other guys, if they don’t know him, he can’t direct him in the right direction ... how he’s gone about his business as a young pro at that position is important.”

Big Blue View was not in attendance for Saturday’s practice, but Dart reportedly also had a second straight solid day on the field. On Friday, he went 8 of 10 in 7-on-7 drills with a couple of excellent throws.

#Giants QB Jaxson Dart finished 7 of 13 passing today with the highlight a 45-yard TD on go ball. He was much better than the numbers indicate.

Two pretty clear DPIs. One drop. Wideout just missed one down seam. Only one true miss — underneath route that got tipped.

Good day…

— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) May 10, 2025​

For a second straight day, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka called plays. Kafka called plays for two years, but head coach Brian Daboll took that role last season. Daboll said only “good observation” when asked about Kafka calling the plays during camp and did not commit to how that would be handled during the season.

Daboll has been giving Dart a lot of personal attention.

This has been the scene throughout practice: Daboll closely watching Jaxson Dart in drills and then conversing with the QB after every series of reps pic.twitter.com/UdsatpIyvy

— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) May 10, 2025​

Thomas Fidone on his knee injuries​

The rookie tight end missed back-to-back seasons at Nebraska with ACL tears in his left knee.

“It was definitely difficult, but I’ve always said this from college, and I wouldn’t take them back,” Fidone said. “I think that they’ve made me who I am mentally and physically, and it made me train harder in terms of just physically and being able to get back better than I was before. So that’s always the kind of goal that I had when it came from getting back from the injuries.”

“Learn, learn, learn”​

That is what offensive lineman Marcus Mbow said he was aiming to do over the weekend.

“It’s definitely not going to change when the veterans get here. I just want to continue to be the best version of myself each day and I want to be the best one day,” Mbow said. “I’m going to keep striving until I get to that one day and just learn as much as I can. Keep going each day.”

A surprise call​

Cornerback Korie Black has friends in the NFL, so most of the draft process did not surprise him. One thing that happened after the Giants selected him in the seventh round, though, did.

“On draft day, I did get a call from (quarterback) Russell Wilson, so that was a big thing,” Black said. “You get a call from a random number, a FaceTime call, and then you see him pop up on the screen. So, it was a cool experience. I even put my little brother on the phone.”

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/5/...ates-jaxson-darts-handling-of-rookie-minicamp

 

[New York Giants]

New York Giants rookie OL Marcus Mbow embracing his versatility

Marcus Mbow | John Jones-Imagn Images

Fifth-round pick confident he could play anywhere on the line

New York Giants rookie Marcus Mbow is playing right tackle. For now. He said Saturday that he knows he will “probably be moving everywhere.”

The versatility to play multiple positions is one of the reasons the Giants drafted Mbow in the fifth round. He’s fine with moving around.

“I like to know every position on the line, like what each role is, no matter what’s going on,” he said. “Being able to play all positions would be better for myself at tackle or at guard or at center. Just being able to know everything, know what everybody’s doing, I’ll be good. I wouldn’t say it’s too stressful.

“I feel like I can succeed at all five positions to be honest.”

As an offensive lineman practicing in shorts and t-shirts and not doing any team drills, the physical part of the work is missing at this time of year. So, what is Mbow focused on?

“For the most part, learn, learn, learn, learn,” he said. “It’s definitely not going to change when the veterans get here. I just want to continue to be the best version of myself each day and I want to be the best one day. I’m going to keep striving until I get to that one day and just learn as much as I can. Keep going each day.”

Rookies were treated to seeing Giants legends Michael Strahan on Friday and Eli Manning on Saturday.

“I mean, it’s crazy. Growing up hearing stories about them all [of the] time, watching them on TV,” Mbow said. “Everything about Strahan, the New York Giant greats – if you know about football you know those guys and a lot of those guys came through this building and it’s just phenomenal to be a part of that.”

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/5/...okie-ol-marcus-mbow-embracing-his-versatility

 

[New York Giants]

New York Giants rookie TE Thomas Fidone wouldn’t change his path to the NFL

Thomas Fidone chats with Brian Daboll during rookie minicamp. | Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images

Seventh-round pick missed two seasons because of knee injuries

Thomas Fidone lost two full seasons of his college career to back-to-back ACL tears in his left knee. Despite that, Fidone did enough at Nebraska to be drafted in the seventh round by the New York Giants.

On Saturday, Fidone told New York media that he would change his path.

“It was definitely difficult, but I’ve always said this from college, and I wouldn’t take them back,” he said. “I think that they’ve made me who I am mentally and physically, and it made me train harder in terms of just physically and being able to get back better than I was before. So that’s always the kind of goal that I had when it came from getting back from the injuries.”

Fidone leaned on his experience from the first knee injury to recover from the second.

“I have a very close, tight family with lot of support and good friends, good friend group, but I knew I made it through the first one, came back strong, fast and explosive, so I knew I could do the second one even better,” he said. “I almost had some experience unfortunately in a way, but just kind what to do and what it takes helped me push myself and get back to where I wanted to be.”

The 6-foot-5, 243-pound rookie is not just a football player, he is a self-taught tattoo artist. He has even done some of his own tattoos.

“It was hard just because it hurts doing it to yourself,” Fidone said. “You can’t really tell the artist no, but when you’re doing it, you have control. So being able to get through it, I guess.”

Fidone said he learned to tattoo because he “got kind of bored” during COVID.

“Once I got done training and stuff like that, we couldn’t do anything. I’d go train and lift at like seven, eight a.m. get done at probably 10, have all day, everything’s closed,” Fidone said. “It was winter, so it was like I got to do something. I just kind of picked up tattooing.

“I definitely watched on YouTube kind of just how to do it and select depth and needles and how not to get someone’s arm taken off because of an infection or something.”

Fidone played for former Giants assistant and Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule at Nebraska, which he said was an advantage coming to the NFL.

“He brought a lot of very similar things in terms of just the formations and how they family things up and stuff like that,” Fidone said. “We didn’t do one word play calls. It was long wordy, play call, and a lot of verbiage in the offense. So just being able to compartmentalize a lot of things with Rhule’s offense has helped definitely with this one.”

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/5/...mas-fidone-wouldnt-change-his-path-to-the-nfl

 

[New York Giants]

New York Giants sign CB T.J. Moore after rookie minicamp tryout

T.J. Moore tackles Alabama’s Jalen Milroe. | Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images

Can Moore challenge for a roster spot?

The New York Giants have signed Mercer cornerback T.J. Moore to an undrafted rookie free agent contract following a rookie minicamp tryout, per Aaron Wilson.

Moore, 6-foot, 187 pounds, was an All-American at the FCS level in 2024 after intercepting seven passes and compiling 20 passes defensed. Here is a scouting report from Dane Brugler of The Athletic on Moore:

A good-sized athlete, Moore maintains good positioning in zone and aggressively plays the football with timing (zero penalties in 2024). He flashes a burst to close in coverage and run support, although his attempts to bait throws will backfire at times, and you’d like to see more disciplined technique. Overall, Moore will get in trouble freelancing, but he is a twitched-up athlete with physicality and ball skills. He will have a chance to compete for an NFL roster spot.

The Giants drafted cornerback Korie Black in Round 7. They signed cornerbacks Ronald Delancy III and O’Donnell Fortune as undrafted free agents.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/5/...sign-cb-tj-moore-after-rookie-minicamp-tryout

 

[New York Giants]

New York Giants’ Russell Wilson ranked 28th among starting quarterbacks

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Can the Giants’ new starter prove the skeptics wrong?

The New York Giants have brought in three quarterbacks since the end of the 2024 season.

Over the course of free agency and the draft, the Giants added Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Jaxson Dart. There won’t, however, be a dramatic quarterback competition in training camp. The Giants have already said that Wilson — a former Super Bowl champion, All Pro, and 10-time Pro Bowl selection — will be their starter for 2025.

That decision has been met with a certain amount of skepticism from around the media landscape.

The skepticism was crystalized by Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports, who ranked Wilson 28th out of 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL.

Benjamin writes,

28. Russell Wilson, New York Giants QB

The favorite to headline the Giants’ rebooted quarterback room to start 2025, Wilson flashed his trademark play-action heaves in Pittsburgh before reverting to a more sluggish form befitting his age (36). His presence at least means New York shouldn’t have to rush Jaxson Dart into action.

It’s true enough that Wilson isn’t what he used to be. There was a time, not all that long ago, when Russ was one of the very best quarterbacks in the NFL

But 28th in the NFL? Behind J.J. McCarthy (20th) or Cam Ward (25th), neither of whom have played a snap of regular season football in the NFL?

28th? Behind Kyler Murray (23rd) and Justin Fields (24th), who have flashed potential but have yet to play anything like consistent football?

28th, behind Caleb Williams (16th), Drake Maye (19th), Bryce Young (26th), and Michael Penix Jr. (27th), none of whom have done much of anything in the NFL.

C’mon man!

Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are apparently far higher on their offensive talent than pretty much anyone else, and seem to believe that the quarterback position has limited the offense. The general belief seems to be that their offense, which scored a paltry 14.25 points per game outside of their outburst against the Colts, is really just a quarterback away from catching fire.

The Giants don’t need Wilson to be as great as he was in the first two thirds of his career. They just need him to be consistent and competent, which he’s certainly still capable of being. There’s also evidence that Wilson is still capable of pushing the ball downfield, as both Next Gen Stats and PFF rank him among the best and most efficient quarterbacks when throwing more than 10 yards downfield.

Those plays are what the Giants’ offense has largely lacked over the last few years. We’ve seen flashes of potential when they’ve been there, but never consistently. Perhaps letting Russ cook will vindicate the Giants’ faith in their skill position players.

Really, it doesn’t matter what CBS Sports — or anyone else — thinks of Wilson in May, June, or July. What matters is whether he’s able to allow the offense to function as intended, and keep the pressure off of Jaxson Dart.

If so, he’s doing exactly his job and we might finally get to see this offense consistently play up to its potential. And Wilson will prove the doubters wrong in the process.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/5/...ilson-ranked-28th-among-starting-quarterbacks