Waiver wire: 5 players the Giants should consider

The New York Giants joined the rest of the NFL in trimming their rosters to 53 players as teams prepare for the start of the regular season. A wave of talented players hit the waiver wire; teams will now hope some of their released players clear waivers and can potentially be brought back to their practice squads. A total of 17 players can be held on the practice squad if one of them is an International Pathway Program player.

The waiver period begins Monday at 1 p.m. ET and lasts 24 hours, giving teams an opportunity to claim players released by other clubs. The Giants are fifth in the waiver priority spot, and the waiver wire could provide another opportunity to strengthen the roster before the season opener.

John Harbaugh did not claim many players over the last five years in Baltimore, but their roster was high quality. When Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen took over the team in 2022, they claimed four players off of waivers. The Giants have talent on the roster, but some key areas could be improved, and the initial 53-man roster could see some changes in the coming days:

The Giants were rumored to be in discussions with the Chicago Bears for defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. , who was traded to the Falcons, which is no surprise given the state of the Giants’ defensive line. There are available players who could potentially improve the Giants. Here are five players to consider.

McKinnley Jackson, DT

The Cincinnati Bengals selected the 6-foot-2, 325-pounder in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he’s played 184 total defensive snaps across two seasons. Jackson had four pressures and nine STOPs. Jackson is more of a 1-technique and nose tackle. He recorded 48 STOPs at Texas A&M, with 55 pressures and eight sacks.

The Giants are in desperate need of defensive line depth. New York did trade for C.J. Okoye, who is a similar archetype to Jackson. Still, depth at the position is needed, especially with Darius Alexander struggling to consistently anchor throughout the preseason. The Giants currently have D.J. Reader, Shelby Harris, Chauncey Golston, Darius Alexander, Okoye, and Bobby Jameson-Travis as their six defensive lineman.

Colby Wooden, DT

The Indianapolis Colts traded linebacker Zaire Franklin to the Green Bay Packers for defensive tackle Colby Wooden, and then the Colts released the 25-year-old defender six months later. Wooden played slightly more than 1,000 snaps for the Packers across three seasons.

He had an impressive 27 STOPs last season and had 42 across his career, with 28 pressures and a pair of sacks. Wooden is a 6-4, 273-pound defensive lineman who could fill the role of a 4i-shade or 5-technique for the Giants.

Sam Williams, Edge

The Giants have three edge defenders listed on their final roster, with Chauncey Gholston listed as a defensive tackle. Williams is a productive — physical — edge. The 27-year-old was a second-round pick by Dallas in 2022; he has 85 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and he’s recorded more than 20 pressures in all three of his seasons — 69 total.

Williams missed the 2024 season with a torn ACL, and he was also suspended for three games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. The 6-4, 261-pound Williams is a solid, yet sometimes undisciplined football player, but one who can set the edge and be a rotational player behind the Giants’ starters. I don’t foresee Williams getting claimed by the Giants, to be honest, but his talent, violence, and productivity should warrant interest.

Cobee Bryant, CB

The Atlanta Falcons are hoping to slip Bryant onto their practice squad. Bryant went undrafted in 2025 out of Kansas after posting 18 passes defensed and 13 interceptions through four years as a Jayhawk. He allowed a college career 58% completion rate, but fell out of the draft for various reasons, including his slight 6-1, 175-pound frame. I don’t necessarily think the Giants should sign Bryant, but they should explore young, talented players with potential at the cornerback position, and Bryant fits that description.

Charlie Jones, WR

The Cincinnati Bengals released WR/ST Charlie Jones. The well-traveled college football player had a phenomenal senior season for the Purdue Boilermakers, which resulted in the Bengals selecting him in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Jones has only 21 catches on 40 targets for 226 yards with one score through four seasons.

Jones dealt with injuries through his time in Cincinnati, but the 27-year-old was always a special teams ace, with quality return ability. I doubt the Giants add a receiver, given the state of their wide receiver room, as the Jones addition would come at the expense of Braxton Berrios, who is expected to be re-signed before Week 1. Jones is a talented receiver who deserves another shot.