The Giants need these 3 sophom*ores to take a big step forward to make 2024 a better season (2024)

The shiny and new (i.e. rookies and free agents) are always going to steal the spotlight during the preseason, but offseason acquisitions aren’t the only avenue for teams to improve year-over-year. Development is a huge part of the NFL, which is why we wanted to check in on the New York Giants’ sophom*ore class.

A year older and wiser, these second-year players are poised to play key roles in what the Giants hope is a rebound season. With that in mind, let’s take a closer at the three sophom*ores the Giants need to take the next step this year:

CB Deonte Banks

Since he arrived in New York as a first-round pick, Banks has exuded confidence. It’s a necessary trait for an NFL cornerback, especially one who was routinely expected to get in the face of receivers in a man-heavy scheme during his rookie campaign. He endured an up-and-down 2023 season, but his confidence never seemed to waver. And despite changing schemes entering his second season — the Giants replaced defensive coordinator Wink Martindale with Shane Bowen — Banks is feeling even more confident these days.

“I feel more way more confident … and comfortable,” Banks said at the start of camp. “Everything comes to me way easier.”

The Giantsneed that increased confidence to lead to increased production, as Banks is now stepping into the No. 1 corner role vacated by Adoree’ Jackson.

So far this summer, however, Banks hasn’t proven on the field he’s ready to take that step. With a lot of attention paid to competition for the job opposite him, Banks’ struggles have largely flown under the radar. But against top competition, of which he’ll face plenty of early this season — Justin Jefferson (Week 1), Terry McLaurin (Week 2) CeeDee Lamb (Week 4) DK Metcalf (Week 5), Ja’Marr Chase (Week 6), A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith (Week 7) — Banks has struggled.

Houston Texans receiver Nico Collins burned Banks badly on a comeback route during their preseason game. Collins easily shook off Banks’ coverage, made the catch and then slipped through Banks’ tackle attempt en route to a first down.

1️⃣2️⃣ NICE WITH IT 😮‍💨

📺: ABC13 pic.twitter.com/mTHXwRPkns

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— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) August 17, 2024

A few days later, Garrett Wilson and the New York Jets gave Banks — and the entire Giants secondary — fits during a joint practice. Banks was targeted repeatedly by QB Aaron Rodgers as the Jets marched down the field during a two-minute period.

Despite the discouraging recent performances, neither Banks’ confidence nor the Giants’ confidence in him has wavered.

“Tae is up for the challenge of wanting to prove that he can be a No. 1 corner in this league,” assistant GM Brandon Brown said last week. “He knows that he’s got to earn it and that’s not going to be given to him.”

C John Michael Schmitz

Last year was a historically bad season for the Giants offensive line, enough to force a coaching change and a room overhaul with the unit prioritized during free agency. Those things are important to keep in mind when trying to contextualize Schmitz’s underwhelming rookie season.

The No. 57 overall pick made 13 starts, second-most among offensive linemen, but missed four games with shoulder and shin injuries. Schmitz allowed 24 pressures (third-most among Giants linemen), 25 hurries (tied for third-most) and five sacks, per TruMedia. For comparison, fellow 2023 rookie Joe Tippmann — the Jets’ second-round center selected 14 spots ahead of Schmitz — allowed 19 pressures, 16 hurries and three sacks in 16 games.

Again, it’s important to remember Schmitz was thrust into a starting role on a historically bad unit, meaning he had little in the way of support. Things should be much different this year as he’ll play next to a pair of solid veterans in left guard Jon Runyan Jr. and right Greg Van Roten. With All-Pro Andrew Thomas at left tackle and Jermaine Eluemunor at right tackle, the line should have far more stability, easing the burden on Schmitz.

“I think his confidence has definitely grown,” Thomas said. “He’s going against (defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence) every day, so I don’t think it gets much harder than that. I think he’s going to be ready.”

Unfortunately, Schmitz has had less time to get ready than the Giants would have liked. The center missed eight practices this camp with a shoulder injury and then exited the final preseason game early with a right ankle injury after getting rolled up. In terms of building chemistry with his new linemates, the intended starting line only practiced together for the first time this week.

So, from a development perspective, this wasn’t the ideal summer for Schmitz. However, if he’s healthy Week 1 and playing alongside an improved unit, there’s good reason to expect he can take a step forward in Year 2.

RB Eric Gray

With Saquon Barkley off to Philadelphia, the Giants brought in Devin Singletary to take the reins in the backfield. But New York needs a back to emerge as a reliable option behind Singletary, because he probably won’t dominate touches like Barkley did last year.

Maybe that back can be Gray.

Early in camp, that didn’t seem likely as the 2023 fifth-round pick slipped down the depth chart behind Singletary, this year’s fifth-round selection Tyrone Tracy Jr. and undrafted free agent Dante Miller. But a strong preseason game against the Lions reversed Gray’s fortunes, helping get him back on track. Gray finished the game with four carries for 52 yards and two touchdowns to go along with four receptions for 46 yards.

Eric Gray to the HOUSE! 🏠

📺: FOX5 pic.twitter.com/WiJDanLkqt

— New York Giants (@Giants) August 9, 2024

Those 52 rushing yards were more than he accumulated in 13 games last year (17 carries for 48 yards), as he also tried — and failed — to establish himself as a reliable return option.

This year, he won’t be pressed into a role he’s not suited to and can focus on developing as a running back.

Gray said he mistakenly made football “more than it is” last season but that he has grown past that. His focus is on being himself. The Giants coaches are noticing his improvements, with assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Kafka saying earlier this summer that Gray was progressing well.

“He’s certainly really confident right now in his running, his pass-pro, his routes, and that was an aspect of his game that we saw at Oklahoma when we drafted him,” Kafka said. “So he’s going to continue to grow and continue to develop, and he’s a bright young player we’re excited about.”

If he could emerge to ease some of the burden on Singletary, it would be a nice development for an offense that needs as many playmakers as it can get.

(Photo of Deonte Banks and John Michael Schmitz Jr.: Adam Hunge and Ryan Kang / Getty Images)

Charlotte Carroll covers the New York Giants for The Athletic. She previously covered the University of Connecticut basketball and the WNBA's Connecticut Sun for The Athletic and wrote for Sports Illustrated. She interned at The Denver Post and Field & Stream magazine. Follow Charlotte on Twitter @charlottecrrll