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New York Giants: Waiver Wire Additions

By Michael Stewart

The New York Giants have trimmed their roster down the league requirements of 53 players on Saturday. However; this roster will most likely not be the final roster by opening day as GM Jerry Reese will be searching the long list of players who fell victim to Saturday’s cuts.

The Giants will be on the lookout for certain players that will fill a need at a certain position and also within their salary cap. Two notable positions that seem to be a current weakness at this moment for the Giants are OL and the TE positions. .

I have compiled a list of possible targets below that the Giants might have interest in.  If the Giants want to claim any players waived on Saturday (those with less than four years of experience) they have to do so by noon ET Sunday. That is when the claiming period for those players expires.

Simply because the Giants claim a player does not mean they will be awarded that player. The Giants are, for now, 10th on the waiver priority list. That’s the same spot they drafted in during the spring.

Clubs are assigned players on a priority basis. From the first business day after the Super Bowl until the day after the third regular season week, assignments are based on a claiming order that is the same as the order in which clubs selected in that year’s Draft. From the beginning of the fourth regular season weekend through the Super Bowl, assignments are based on the inverse order of their win-loss record. For example, a team with fewer wins will be awarded a player off waivers ahead of a team with a better record.

Therefore, if the Giants claim a player and none of the nine teams ahead of them claim that same player he will be awarded to them. If someone ahead of them claims the player, the Giants will miss out. So basically; Players who aren’t vested veterans go to the waiver wire, where teams put in claims. If two teams put in a claim on the same player, the team that was had the worst record the year before is awarded the player

  1. Josh Sitton (OG-Green Bay Packers): Most likely one of the most sort after player being placed on waivers. Head Coach Ben McAdoo is very familiar with Sitton and if he can make it when the Giants select; there is a strong possibility that he’s a Giant and replaces John Jerry at OG. However; I don’t think he will be available by pick 10.
  2. Jeremiah Poutasi (OG-Tennessee Titans): Very big and powerful OG who played OT in college. Poutasi would be an upgrade over Jerry and would give the Giants additional help in the running game as he is a solid run blocker.
  3. David Yankey (OG-Carolina Panthers): Very talented OL that would help the Giants immediately. Can play either OG spot and he is an excellent run blocker.
  4. Akeem Ayers (OLB-Los Angeles Rams): Despite the Giants having 8 LBers on their 53 man roster, Ayers is just too good to pass up. Ayers is better suited in a 4-3 defensive scheme and would add depth for the Giants at the weak side LBer spot or possibly end up being a starter.
  5. Travis Feeney (OLB-Pittsburgh Steelers): Feeney was a safety in college and converted to an OLB in the NFL. Very quick and has excellent cover skills. Has a high ceiling for improvement and could be a steal for the Giants as a weak side LBer.

Final Thoughts: GM Jerry Reese may not be one of the best GM’s in the league on draft day, however; he has a knack for finding quality players either through UDFA and through the waiver wire. One position that didn’t offer much in terms of an upgrade through the waiver wire was the TE position. Really didn’t see much there for the Giants to invest in. Hopefully; he can find another missing of the puzzle that will give the Giants a chance to be a legit playoff team.