New York Giants Announce First Wave Of Cuts

The New York Giants made their first cut down from the 90-man roster they have been carrying all summer, as today, September 1st, was the first deadline. The Giants needed to cut their roster down to 75-players; they did that and more as they cut an extra player, putting their current roster at 74 players. Having the extra roster spot now was a smart move, as they can look to add someone that other teams released from their rosters.

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That means other teams will be able to do the same with the Giants players that were released. Just who was released you ask? It was a pretty mixed bag, as the Giants moved on from players at a number of different positions. The two most recognizable names are both along the offensive line, where the Giants released 2012 fourth round pick Brandon Moseley and 2013 seventh round pick Eric Herman.

Moseley was one of the last survivors from the 2008-2012 NFL Draft classes for the Giants. The poor success rate the Giants saw from those drafts is a big reason the roster and team is in the state that they are now. With Moseley now gone, it leaves the Giants with only five out of 38 selections made in those five years still remaining with the team.

A majority of them are from the 2012 draft, as Rueben Randle, Jayron Hosley, Adrien Robinson and Markus Kuhn are left from that draft class. But, when the roster is cut down to 53 players, there is a good chance everyone except Randle from that group is let go, with Robinson and Kuhn being the most likely to be sent packing.

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The only other remaining players from that stretch of drafts is Will Beatty from 2009, Jason Pierre-Paul in 2010 and Prince Amukamara in 2011. They are the only players remaining on the roster remaining from their respective draft classes as well.

The decision to get rid of two offensive linemen is an interesting one, since Beatty was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list, meaning he will miss at least the first six games of the season. The Giants will then have up to three weeks to decide if he is healthy enough to play, place him on season ending IR, or release him outright. With uncertainty surrounding when he will be available, the Giants must feel confident about the other options they have; seemingly going forward with a starting unit with rookie Erick Flowers, Justin Pugh, Weston Richburg, Geoff Schwartz and Marshall Newhouse.

Also on the list of players cut at the first deadline was punter Robert Malone. This will come as a surprise to some people, as Malone was thought to be in an open competition with Steve Weatherford for the position. With Malone being released, it would be fair to think that Weatherford locked up the job, but that does not seem to be the case. Head coach Tom Coughlin said that Weatherford was not only in a competition against Malone, but the waiver wire as well, making it known that he is far from guaranteed a roster spot.

None of the other players released will come as much of a surprise, as they entered camp as long shots or were moved on from because of injury. The rest of the players released were wide receiver Juron Criner and Derrick Johnson, offensive lineman Michael Bamiro, tight end Will Tye, defensive linemen Jordan Stanton and Jimmy Staten and safety Justin Halley. Running back Akeem Hunt was waived because of an injury, while Beatty is on the PUP list and Bennett Jackson and Josh Gordy were put on injured reserve.

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