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New York Giants' Popular Draft Pick is in Serious Danger
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- New York Giants' Popular Draft Pick is in Serious Danger
The New York Giants knew they had to thoroughly address their defensive tackle room after trading away Dexter Lawrence shortly before the NFL Draft.
The Giants had a need on the interior before moving Lawrence; afterward, the emergency glass was understandably shattered.
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New York soon picked up several veteran defensive tackles, signing DJ Reader, Shelby Harris and Leki Fotu in free agency. It also selected Bobby Jamison-Travis in the sixth round of the NFL Draft while adding undrafted rookie Anquin Barnes.
Jamison-Travis gained popularity from the second he was drafted.
Not only did he display an incredibly likeable personality in early interviews, but he was viewed as one of the best run-stopping defenders in the draft class.
The 6-foot-3, 328-pound behemoth seemed to be exactly what the Giants needed: a monster who could clog up the middle and help a Big Blue run defense that ranked toward the bottom of football last season.
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But early indications are that Jamison-Travis might not even make the roster.
New York Giants defensive tackle DJ Reader talks with Bobby Jamison-Travis. Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.
New York released its unofficial depth chart in the lead-up to its first preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings this Saturday, and let's just say that Jamison-Travis was buried.
Reader, Harris and Darius Alexander are the top three defensive tackles, which should not come as any surprise whatsoever. But Jamison-Travis isn't even on the radar, as he been placed as the third-team nose tackle behind Fotu. Barnes and Marlon Davidson are alongside of Jamison-Travis on the third team.
Clearly, the Auburn product has not made a significant impact in training camp, and if he wants to secure a spot on the 53-man roster, he will need a very strong showing in preseason — and even that may not even save him.
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While this may seem surprising on the surface given all of the hype that surrounded Jamison-Travis after the Giants selected him, this actually should not come as much of a shock to anyone.
Jamison-Travis was a relatively late Day 3 pick, after all, and it's rare that sixth-rounders forge any type of extended NFL career.
It should also be noted that Jamison-Travis is already 25 years old, so the fact that he is this far behind at such an old age (for a rookie) is not a good sign.
Of course, this doesn't necessarily signal the end for Jamison-Travis. New York could just stash him on the practice squad, and perhaps he would get an opportunity to play at some point during his rookie campaign.
But the idea of Jamison-Travis being an impact player right off the bat and significantly helping the Giants in the trenches this fall now seems like a pipe dream.
