With the Giants rookie minicamp underway this weekend, most of the attention will be on Abdul Carter, Jaxson Dart and the rest of the 2025 draft class. However, New York will also be getting its first look at its undrafted free agent signings and will be weighing up whether any of them have the potential to fill a role this season.
The Giants announced 13 signings, which was almost twice as many as last season. However, they still found a couple of useful pieces via their 2024 undrafted free agent class with guard Jake Kubas and defensive tackle Elijah Chatman starting three games each as rookies.
Let’s break down some of the potential contributors from this year’s signings:
Virginia Tech WR Da’Quan Felton
The Giants’ top three receivers from 2024 – Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson – are all back, but beyond that it’s possible nobody has a spot locked down. That might explain why the Giants brought in several undrafted receivers, each of whom bring different things to the table. A few of them could compete for a roster spot, but Felton might have the inside track.
The 6-foot-5 Felton led the Hokies in receiving yards and touchdown catches in 2023 and, despite a drop-off in production last year, is an interesting prospect with 4.5 speed. He was a late developer having mostly been focused on basketball in high school and began his college career at Norfolk State before transferring to Virginia Tech after the 2022 season.
Felton’s contract reportedly contains a $264K salary guarantee, which essentially ensures he is being considered for at least a practice spot. He’s already been making waves at training camp though, with a 45-yard touchdown from Dart on Saturday rounding off that practice in style.
Notre Dame WR Beaux Collins
Collins could be in direct competition with Felton for a role, because he brings a similar combination of size and athleticism. He’s not quite as tall at 6-foot-3 and his 40-yard dash was slightly slower, but he posted outstanding explosiveness numbers at his pro day with a 38-inch vertical and 130-inch broad jump.
Before transferring to Notre Dame, Collins spent three years at Clemson and looked to be on the verge of breaking out in 2022 when he was averaging 17 yards per catch and leading the team with five touchdown receptions only to miss the last few games due to a shoulder injury.
Collins caught a career-high 41 passes in 2024 with the Fighting Irish, including four in the National Title Game. He also scored on a two-point conversion in that game.
Gardner-Webb WR Jordan Bly
Although he’s arguably more of a dark horse to earn a wide receiver role this season, Bly brings a couple of important things to the table that give him a fighting chance. One is his pedigree. Bly is the son of two-time pro bowl cornerback Dre Bly, who is currently a position coach with the Jets. The other is his speed, because he registered a 4.36 in the 40-yard dash at North Carolina’s pro day.
Bly didn’t have the same kind of top-level production as Collins or Felton, with just 46 catches in three years at Old Dominion. He set career marks with 32 catches, 333 yards and three scores after transferring to Gardner-Webb ahead of last season.
Inevitably, the goal for Bly will be to be able to call MetLife Stadium his workplace on Sundays this season, just as his father already can.
Louisiana ST Dalen Cambre
Cambre was also a wide receiver in college, but he only had 10 receptions because he made a name for himself on special teams. In fact, he was so valuable to the special teams units that the Ragin’ Cajuns were reluctant to risk him on offense.
In 2024, Cambre was one of just five players in the nation to play over 300 special teams snaps and was tied for second in the nation with 11 special teams tackles. He could even be in the mix to win a role as the primary punt gunner on the 53-man roster after posting a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash and outstanding agility numbers at his pro day.
He might be a long shot, but Cambre is one of the best stories on the entire Giants roster this year and it will be fascinating if he can carve out a role for himself.
South Carolina CB O’Donnell Fortune
Fortune is the only one of the Giants’ undrafted free agent signings who NFL.com’s Chad Reuter had ranked in the top 10 of available undrafted players at his position at the end of the draft. He made waves during the pre-draft process when he returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown in the Shrine Bowl to earn MVP honors. It may not be a coincidence that Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen was coaching the opposing team that day.
Although he only ran a 4.58 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day, which may lead to speculation that he could be moved to safety, Fortune intercepted seven passes over the past three seasons and could have a bright future ahead of him.
Idaho S Tommy McCormick
Finally, McCormick had some good production last season with 108 tackles, three interceptions and nine pass breakups. He also intercepted four passes in 2022, so he could have some of the playmaking ability that was lacking on the Giants last season. No Giants player intercepted more than one pass in 2024.
At his pro day, McCormick posted solid explosiveness numbers with a 36-inch vertical and 121-inch broad jump. However, it was his bench press which stood out. His mark of 23 reps is a number that has only been bettered once by a safety at the scouting combine since 2021.
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