The New York Giants released their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday. That exact roster did not last too long, as the Giants were very active on the waiver wire, making three claims after the initial round of cuts. New York added three young players to bolster depth, and might have gotten a steal with one of their new additions. With Week 1 on the horizon, the Giants are hoping these three new players will help the program excel this year.
No team was more active on the initial round of waivers than the Giants, who added LB Justin Hilliard, WR Collin Johnson and LB Quincy Roche.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 1, 2021
New York Giants Awarded Three Players Via Waiver Claims
Quincy Roche is a Potential Steal
The Pittsburgh Steelers released their sixth-round pick Quincy Roche and he proceeded to hit waivers. The Giants snagged him immediately, and he could potentially help set the edge and be a factor in a rotational pass-rushing room.
Roche was one of the top edge rushers coming out of the draft back in April. In 49 collegiate games, Roche had 30.5 sacks and 54 tackles for a loss, splitting his time between Temple and Miami. The rookie has turned heads this preseason, adding two sacks and showing his arsenal of pass rush moves.
Through two preseason games, Roche was third in rookie pass rush win rate with 21%. Being added to an edge group with Lorenzo Carter, Oshane Ximines and fellow rookie Azeez Ojulari, Roche has the potential to see the field a good amount this year.
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Justin Hilliard Brings Versatility to the Linebacker Position
Hilliard signed with the San Fransisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent this offseason. The rookie dealt with three serious injuries in college at Ohio State, but luckily made it through the summer healthy. He had an underwhelming 84 tackles in college, with nine tackles for a loss.
Hilliard is not the type to shy away from contact however, as he lead the 49ers in tackles this preseason with 18. The potential is there for Hilliard, he just has to stay healthy.
Collin Johnson Offers a Big Frame in Wide Receiver Room
Second-year wide receiver Collin Johnson is 6’6″, 222 pounds. He is by far the tallest wide receiver on the Giants, and could potentially be a downfield threat in this offense along with Kenny Golladay.
Johnson came over from the Jacksonville Jaguars, and played a few games last year with now-Giants backup quarterback Mike Glennon. In 2020, Johnson had 272 receiving yards and two scores on 18 catches. His best game came in Week 11, where he had 96 yards on four catches and one touchdown, averaging 24 yards per reception.
Johnson has some speed to him, and despite his height, can change direction quite well. He averaged 15 yards per reception last year. He did have three drops however, so he needs to work on that, but he also has potential to be a threat on this offense if used correctly.
The Giants Have More Moves to Make
The Giants have been very active on the trade market and waiver wire. Over the last two and a half weeks, they have made five trades, adding two offensive linemen and two cornerbacks. Now after final cuts, they added three more players, all young who could potentially contribute in 2021.
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