New York Giants minicamp: Day 1 takeaways (2024)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants held their first of two mandatory minicamp practices on Tuesday at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Here are some of the takeaways.

Play of the day

Wan’Dale Robinson took a slant pass from Drew Lock to the house, which led to a nice celebration.

Defensive player of the day

The Giants kept cornerback Kaleb Hayes on their practice squad for the entire 2023 season, usually a sign that an organization likes something about a player’s potential.

The 6-foot, 195-pound Hayes was a practice standout on Tuesday with a pair of passes broken up. He blanketed Chase Cota on a deep ball from Drew Lock, knocking that away. Cota was injured on the play, ending up being carted off after appearing to land hard on his left shoulder. On the next play, Hayes knocked away a quick throw from Lock to Dennis Houston.

Hayes posted an elite Relative Athletic Score (RAS) in 2023, but went undrafted:

Here is a pre-2023 draft scouting report:

Hayes has long arms with good play strength and is much better suited to play close to his receiver early in the route. He lacks the short-area burst and instincts to play off the ball. His strength and length complement his long speed, which could allow him to utilize a press and trail technique where he can stay close to the wideout. The elite athletic testing will have teams searching for a way to get more out of him than what we see on tape, but there is a lot of work to do from a ball production standpoint.

Could Hayes become a serious challenger for a spot on the 53-man roster? That’s to be determined. Tuesday, though, was a good day for the former Brigham Young University cornerback.

Evan Neal out until training camp

Head coach Brian Daboll said on Tuesday that right tackle Evan Neal, rehabbing from ankle surgery, will not practice until training camp.

Neal, the 2022 No. 7 overall pick whose starting job is in jeopardy after two sub-par seasons, worked during walk-through periods earlier in the spring. During last week’s open OTA and this week, Neal has not taken the field. On Tuesday, all Neal did was ride the stationary bike.

Daboll denied that Neal doing less now than he did a few weeks ago means he had a setback in his recovery.

“He’s kind of about the same. He’s about the same. We’re going to back off him here and hopefully we can get — the plan is right now as of whatever today is, is I think we should have everybody ready to go for training camp, which is important,” Daboll said. “He’s mixed in. He has done some various things. We thought for the next couple days, we’ll back off on him.”

Andru Phillips sighting

The rookie cornerback, selected in the third round by the Giants, intercepted a Tommy DeVito pass on Tuesday.

Phillips snagged a pass that should have been caught by wide receiver Dennis Houston but caromed off his hands.

Phillips, who has worked as the backup slot cornerback to Nick McCloud this spring, did receive a handful of first-team reps.

What’s up with Bellinger?

Daniel Bellinger did not participate in 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 work during the Giants’ open OTA last week. He did not take part in 11-on-11 work on Tuesday, either, but shrugged off questions about whether or not he is dealing with an injury.

“Nothing physically. Just staying locked in mentally and watching Theo [Johnson] and Cage [Lawrence Cager] grow,” Bellinger said. “I wouldn’t say rest. Just kind of like letting Theo grow and getting more mental growth to Theo and Cage and everybody to take a step as a whole tight end room instead of just myself taking all the reps.”

If you are scratching your head reading that and trying to figure out what Bellinger was trying to say (or not say), you aren’t alone. Media members, myself included, were befuddled by that response.

Bellinger rode a stationary bike for part of practice.

Most improved Giant?

Even after the retirement of Darren Waller, Lawrence Cager might be looked at as an afterthought among Giants’ tight ends. Cager had just four receptions in five games last season, spending most of the year on the practice squad.

The Giants added Theo Johnson in Round 4 of the 2024 NFL Draft, and free agents Jack Stoll and Chris Manhertz. That might make Cager seem like the odd man out. Perhaps, though, we shouldn’t jump to that conclusion.

“I’ve been very happy with Cage,” said head coach Brian Daboll. “Probably one of the most improved players throughout the offseason that we’ve had relative to playing fast, being able to use his speed, not thinking, being in the system here for a little bit.

“I’ve been very happy with his progress. He’s got a great schedule. He has come in really early. He’s taken to the coaching from [tight ends coach] Tim Kelly. He has had a really good camp.”

Malik Nabers and Daniel Jones

Malik Nabers had some curious things to say about Daniel Jones and the Giants’ quarterback situation before the 2024 NFL Draft. Partially because of that, and partially because of Jones being limited this spring as he rehabs from a torn ACL, the development of the relationship between Jones and Nabers is one that is worth paying attention to.

Nabers, for his part, did not seem overly concerned on Tuesday about any time being missed with Jones due to the quarterback’s limited workload. If you want to go so far as to consider the comment below dismissive, that’s up to you.

“When Daniel comes back, I’m sure he’s going to be helpful to the offense, but right now we just focus on the guys we’ve got in right now,” Nabers said.

Jones, on the other hand, praised the rookie wide receiver.

“I think he can be a tremendous weapon for us. He’s had a good spring. He’s looked good and made a lot of plays. You know, it takes time and work and we’ll put that in,” Jones said. “I mean, he [Nabers] can do everything. There is not much that he can’t do really from a route running standpoint. He is dynamic with the ball in his hands and strong, fast, explosive, catches the ball well. Yeah, he does a lot well.”

Jones will organize workout

The Giants’ quarterback traditionally brings pass-catchers together to work out for a few days between minicamp and training camp. The quarterback said Tuesday that his knee will not force him to cancel that annual event.

“We’re going to get together like we always do and work out for a few days,” Jones said.

Jones said this year’s workout will be held outside of Charlotte, N.C.

Quarterback stats

Here are the unofficial numbers for the Giants’ quarterbacks from Tuesday:

• Drew Lock: 10 of 17 ... Lock went 1 of 5 during one of his periods, but two of those incompletions came because receivers fell.
• Tommy DeVito: 12 of 16
• Nathan Rourke: 4 of 6

Punt and kickoff return

Which players are taking reps returning punts and kickoffs during special teams periods is always a topic of interest. Here were Tuesday’s returners:

Punts

Ayir Asante, Isaiah McKenzie, Dante Miller, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson

Kickoffs

Devin Singletary, Tracy, Robinson, Miller, Asante

An interesting note about kickoff return is that the Giants are practicing with two return men aligned ready to accept the kickoff.

Wishing Waller the best

The Giants had nothing but nice things to say about Darren Waller, who retired from the NFL on Sunday after playing for the Giants in 2023.

“I would say the first thing with Darren is my concern for him as more of a person than anything. I’m glad he’s doing well. Spoke to him yesterday. Communicated with him throughout the offseason,” Daboll said.

“That’s his decision, we were going to respect the decision and give him as much time as he needed. Wish him well. Here for him if he needs anything. That’s what happens in the NFL sometimes.”

Daniel Bellinger said:

“I wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but I was happy for him and happy that he was happy with his decision.”

Daniel Jones said:

“Darren obviously was a great player and wish him the best in his retirement.”

Wrapping up

The Giants will hold another practice on Wednesday that is open to media. On Thursday, they will get together for a barbecue before breaking for the summer.