Few groups improved extra within the 2025 NFL offseason than the New York Giants, who attacked free company and the draft with an equal quantity of aggression. With a number of new additions to the roster, the Giants’ depth chart will likely be an attention-grabbing scenario to watch over the ultimate weeks of the preseason.
With younger stars like Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart coming into the image, a handful of the group’s high-profile veterans discover themselves in unfamiliar territory and compelled to defend their place atop the Giants’ depth chart. New York launched its preliminary preseason depth chart on Friday. Carter, specifically, joins a loaded edge-rushing expertise group and is already nipping on the heels of starters Rakeem Nunez-Roches and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Whereas the group’s focus rightfully stays on its stellar incoming class, a number of different organizational veterans have quietly improved over the offseason. Of them, former draft bust Evan Neal has been certainly one of New York’s most attention-grabbing headlines as he transitions from sort out to protect. Neal’s place change abruptly positioned him in a positional battle with incumbent starters Jon Runyan and Greg Van Roten.
Coming into his fourth yr on the helm, Brian Daboll’s plate is stuffed to the brim following a franchise-worst 14-loss season in 2024. With proprietor John Mara persevering with to vary his view of the Joe Schoen-Brian Daboll regime, strain is on the present management to ship speedy outcomes.
In accordance with the Giants’ preliminary depth chart, they anticipate to return 22 of their 25 starters from the 2024 season, not together with injured All-Professional sort out Andrew Thomas. But, with all 4 of their preseason video games nonetheless on faucet, quite a bit can change earlier than the group’s Week 1 matchup with the Washington Commanders on Sept. 7.
DE Rakeem Nunez-Roches
Given the abundance of expertise within the Giants’ line of defense room, it was considerably of a shock to see Rakeem Nunez-Roches atop the group’s preliminary depth chart launch. New York is starting the preseason with Nunez-Roches as a starter over Abdul Carter, Darius Alexander, Chauncey Golston and Elijah Chatman.
Nunez-Roches began 15 video games in 2024 and had simply the perfect yr of his profession. He recorded a career-high 52 tackles on the yr, doubling his earlier private better of 26, which he attained in his first yr with the Giants in 2023. He has actually exceeded expectations since signing with New York in 2023, however the basic assumption is that he would take a backseat to the latest signings.
Carter is listed as a backup for now, however no person expects that label to final very lengthy. New York lists its No. 3 choose of the 2025 NFL Draft behind Brian Burns, whom no person expects Carter to surpass. As a substitute, the Giants drafted Carter for his versatility and teased utilizing him as an inside lineman and center linebacker. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen will spend the primary few weeks experimenting, however Nunez-Roches is by far probably the most weak starter.
Even when it isn’t Carter, Nunez-Roches must fend off Golston and Chatman, who began a mixed 16 video games in 2024, along with third-round rookie Darius Alexander. All three have impressed in coaching camp, however Alexander appears to be the most important risk to Nunez-Roches. Spectators have accomplished nothing however reward Alexander’s burst, energy and depth all through the offseason.
Nunez-Roches proved that he can thrive in a full-time beginning position, however nonetheless finds himself in a aggressive Giants’ 2025 depth chart. Maybe he can proceed reaching new heights with Bowen, however there may be an excessive amount of surrounding expertise to disregard.
OG Greg Van Roten
Maybe Evan Neal ought to have been a guard all alongside. When the Giants initially confirmed the swap forward of the 2025 offseason, it appeared like a determined transfer. But, Neal has virtually seamlessly made the transition, almost making it appear as if he had been taking part in the fallacious place his complete profession.
Whereas Neal’s athleticism was certainly one of his largest strengths coming into the 2022 NFL Draft, he struggled to take care of his footwork sufficient to maintain up with the league’s finest edge-rushers. That velocity deficiency is now not a problem at guard, the place Neal has constantly been capable of wall off the Giants’ inside defensive linemen all through coaching camp.
Evan Neal is a wall at guard. pic.twitter.com/KUc2xctlrB
— Gridiron Media (@Gridiron_Media_) July 29, 2025
Neal’s development has been so spectacular that it has him within the dialog to doubtlessly struggle his manner again into the beginning lineup. The Giants listed him as a backup on their preliminary depth chart launch, however the group continues to tout him as a possible starter. If that’s the case, 35-year-old veteran Greg Van Roten figures to be probably the most weak of the 2 returning starters.
Van Roten has been stable and constant all through his profession, which is all of the Giants want from him in 2025. But, he almost retired within the offseason, however as a substitute opted to return to the group on a one-year deal. On all accounts, it looks like a “one final dance” scenario for Van Roten, who’s making ready for his eleventh season within the NFL.
Van Roten is not going to be competing for a Professional Bowl slot, however he was the Giants’ solely offensive lineman to start out all 17 video games in 2024. Regardless, New York wants a long-term reply at guard, and it doubtlessly has one with Neal. No person would have predicted that simply three months in the past.