The New York Giants are getting close to the point where practice performances, two preseason games and a joint session with the Miami Dolphins all have to be weighed against one another. Less than a week before the roster has to go from 90 players to 53, one notable projection has Odell Beckham Jr. on the outside looking in.
That outcome would not be based on one moment alone, but Saturday's dropped touchdown pass in the preseason game against the Miami Dolphins did not help his case. Beckham had reportedly looked sharp in camp before that play, which is why the projection stands out. Even so, roster decisions are often made on the full body of work, and the Giants still have one more preseason game to sort through the final receivers.
Which receivers are projected to stick?
In this projection, the Giants' receiving group would still be led by Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton, with Jalin Hyatt, Xavier Gipson, Ryan Miller and Gunner Olszewski also making the 53-man roster. That is a mix of established production, young upside and special teams value, which is usually how the final receiver room comes together this time of year.
Beckham's omission is the most attention-grabbing part of the group, but it also reflects how crowded these decisions can be. The Giants have spent camp evaluating every part of the roster, and when a team is trimming from 90 players to 53, even a recognizable name is not guaranteed a spot if the overall fit is not there.
Why Beckham is projected to miss
The simplest answer is that the dropped touchdown pass came at a bad time. Beckham was already facing a difficult path, and while one preseason mistake does not define a camp, it can matter when the margins are thin. A player can look good in practices and still end up on the wrong side of a roster projection if the final game and the depth chart both tilt the other way.
The Giants are expected to make their roster decisions on Sunday after the final preseason evaluation, so this remains a projection rather than an official cut list. Still, it provides a clear look at where the wide receiver room could land: Nabers and Slayton appear safe, the younger options have a case, and Beckham Jr. is now viewed as the veteran who may be squeezed out.
For a Giants team that has spent the summer sorting through quarterback play, backfield roles and receiver depth, the final cutdown will bring those decisions into focus. Beckham's preseason camp may have included strong moments, but the combination of roster numbers, competition and that Saturday drop has made the New York Giants wide receiver cuts picture much more complicated for him than it looked a few days ago.
