The preseason has gone for the New York Giants and teams across the NFL. Now, all eyes are set on the start of the regular season which is less than two weeks away. The Giants are looking to bounce back after a downright disappointing 2023 season after making the playoffs in 2022.
It will not be easy for the Giants to do, especially after seeing some key players and fan favorites leave in free agency, and teams around the NFC East only getting better. So, are the Giants in for another difficult season? The Giants seem happy with the roster that they have put together as the team and fans wait anxiously to take on the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1. There are still three lingering issues “Big Blue” must contend with before they kick off their 100th season as an NFL franchise.
Evan Neal’s Future In Doubt
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After making his first and only preseason start last Saturday against the New York Jets, Right Tackle Evan Neal immediately left the game in the second quarter with yet another injury. This has become a common theme for the young right tackle. This injury was to his ankle as he missed the final 12 games of last season due to an ankle problem. Now with his latest injury and his absence from the majority of training camp, does Neal have a future on this team?
The Giants drafted Neal with the seventh overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and he just has not panned out for the Giants since he arrived. From injuries and just a lack of protection he provided, is his time in New York running out? It is a fair question to ask because the Giants have added some key veteran O-line pieces to their roster.
From adding linemen like Jermaine Eluemunor, Jon Runyan Jr, and Greg Van Roten, does Neal have a spot on this offensive line for this season and beyond? The Giants led the NFL in sacks allowed with 85 a year ago, and they want that to change this season if they want to avoid another 10-plus loss season. It just does not seem like Evan Neal has a place on this roster which is why either cutting him or trading him would not be a shock at all.
Daniel Jones With Concerning Preseason
The Giants opted not to start Daniel Jones in their preseason finale on Saturday, was that a mistake? 2024 is going to be a crucial season for Jones after getting a four-year, $160 million deal, Jones played in just six games last season. Plus, his first and only preseason action was not pretty either, should the Giants be concerned with his lackluster preseason game heading into Week 1?
Jones suited up against the Houston Texans on August 17 and despite throwing for 137 yards and leading the Giants on two touchdown scoring drives, he wasn’t that sharp. Jones had two interceptions, one of them being a bad decision that turned into a pick-six for the Texans, and another throw that was underthrown to Wide Receiver Jalin Hyatt. Sure he looked healthy and mobile coming off a torn ACL he suffered last November, but turnovers continue to be a problem for him.
The Giants have to ask themselves if they see a future with Daniel Jones beyond this season. The turnover bug and lack of scoring for the Giants offense have been a common theme for them for quite some time. New York didn’t even have a passing touchdown this preseason, which is quite alarming. Jones has to prove that his rocky preseason debut was just a fluke and that he will work on his turnover problems before the Giants suit up against the Minnesota Vikings.
NY Looks To Compete In NFC East
Defeating their NFC East rivals has been a problem for the New York Giants for a while. Even though they went 3-3 last season defeating the Washington Commanders twice and the Philadelphia Eagles once to close out the season, both of these teams and the Dallas Cowboys have gotten far better. This is why you have to ask, did the Giants do enough this offseason to be competitive against their NFC rivals?
New York said goodbye to arguably their two best players on both sides of the ball this past offseason. With Running Back Saquon Barkley leaving for the Eagles and Safety Xavier McKinney now playing in Green Bay, are the Giants a tier down from their rivals? With the aforementioned Commanders having former Heisman winner Jayden Daniels as their new starting quarterback, Philly taking the Giants’ former Pro Bowl running back to an already loaded offense, and the Cowboys finally getting a deal done with wideout CeeDee Lamb, the Giants could have a rough season.
Especially with the Giants not being able to beat the Cowboys since 2020 and not winning in Philadelphia since 2013, can this roster that the Giants have right now be good enough? It is a question that remains to be unanswered.
