The New York Giants’ first preseason game is looming at the end of the week, and the depth chart is starting to take shape. Training camp has provided clarity at some spots and raised red flags at others. Dan Duggan of The Athletic recently broke down how certain position battles have transpired during camp, and three groups stand out as the biggest concerns heading into the preseason opener: defensive tackle, wide receiver, and safety.

These are the positions with the most potential for a shakeup, the least clarity on roles, and the most at stake for the Giants’ 2025 roster construction.

Darius Alexander’s emergence at defensive tackle

The most encouraging development out of camp might be the progress of second-year defensive tackle Darius Alexander. Per Duggan, Alexander has had a strong start to camp alongside Shelby Harris and DJ Reader.

This is a major positive, and it’s something I’ve been harping on the entire offseason. I harped on it when Alexander was picked last year. If he couldn’t crack the starting rotation by year two, given how high he was selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, it would have been a concerning red flag for an older prospect. Instead, he has established himself, and we’ll get a chance to see how he performs in the preseason. His potential is immense. I loved him coming out of Toledo, and I think he needed patience. The fact that he, Reader, and Harris have figured out where they fit in the fold is encouraging.

Malachi Fields staking his claim at wide receiver

Duggan indicated that third-round pick Malachi Fields is emerging as the second receiver behind Malik Nabers for the Giants. 

Malachi Fields working his way into the No. 2 role is a lot sooner than I was expecting. As a Notre Dame fan, I liked Fields in college, but I had concerns about his lack of speed and separation at the next level. I worried he’d end up as the fourth receiver on this team, especially with the additions the Giants made. For him to already be there, ready to be that second outside receiver and the contested-catch bailout option Jaxson Dart needs in a pinch, is promising.

There’s also a negative way to interpret this development, though. I think it’s an indictment on Darius Slayton. It’s the clearest indication that his time with the Giants is over. Slayton has been here for so long; he’s getting paid more money than most people think he deserves considering his underperformance, and a third-round pick is already unseating him from what could have been the No. 2 role. They’re different styles of players, but the fact that Fields is already ahead of him is a problem.

I also wonder what this means for Darnell Mooney and Kelvin Austin. There hasn’t been much clarity on where they fit into the mix. Were all these veteran additions to the receiver room a waste? I don’t think that’s the truth of what’s going on, but it’s a perspective worth acknowledging. I’m looking at this optimistically. I think this is a signal that Fields is ahead of schedule and could emerge as an underrated rookie receiver with 600-plus yards once Malik Nabers gets back on the field.

Tyler Nubin’s hold on safety slipping

This one concerns me. Duggan reported that Jason Pinnock suddenly has been rotating with Tyler Nubin on the first team. It’s conceivable that he could push Nubin for the starting job given his past experience starting for the Giants.

I was hoping that Nubin would thrive under the new coaching staff, that they’d figure him out and tap into his tools. It’s quite disappointing that he’s already being pushed by a player who was a backup for this team. Pinnock has made 37 starts for New York, but that was out of desperation, not accomplishment. If Nubin gets beat out by Pinnock, it’s time to turn the page, and safety will be regarded as the Giants’ biggest need heading into next year’s draft.