The last leg of the Giants’ season is about dealing in extremes.
Not only is every win or loss framed in terms of determining if they are a serious playoff contender or a candidate for a top draft pick, the path to those outcomes could determine the futures of several individual players.
Here are seven Giants with a lot to gain or a lot to lose over the final five games starting with Monday night against the Packers:
QB Tommy DeVito
What a huge salary-cap benefit it would be to go into next season with DeVito penciled in as the backup – and maybe Week 1 starter if Daniel Jones isn’t yet fully healthy – for $915,000.
DeVito is aggressive in the right spots, hitting 12 20-yard completions while throwing just one interception in his last 78 attempts. He needs to improve his reads progression to become more than a third-stringer who enjoyed a moment in the sun.
WR Isaiah Hodgins
Rookie Jalin Hyatt’s role is only going to expand. So, Hodgins would be wise to show coaches that he can play other spots in the receiver rotation rather than have his path blocked.
The Giants can re-sign him for a non-guaranteed $985,000. That’s a bargain for the 2022 Hodgins (33 catches for 351 yards and four touchdowns in eight games) but not for the 2023 version (15 catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games).
RB Eric Gray
If the Giants fall out of the race, Gray supplanting veteran Matt Breida as the No. 2 needs to happen.
The rookie flopped as punt returner, but can he make plays out of the backfield? Can he pick up a blitz?
He only has three offensive snaps and one touch outside of the Oct. 8 game, so it’s hard to say he can be the top complement to Saquon Barkley (assuming Barkley returns).
OG Ben Bredeson
There is value in Bredeson’s ability to play the three interior positions. For a line in constant flux, he has played all but three offensive snaps since Week 3. Among free agents Bredeson and Justin Pugh, as well as Mark Glowinski (signed through 2024), Bredeson probably is most likely to return if he finishes strong.
OLB Azeez Ojulari
It used to be that you knew Ojulari would produce when on the field, with 13.5 sacks in his first 24 career games.
But this year has been a total loss of seven games missed with injuries and zero sacks in the other six, giving away snaps to journeyman Jihad Ward. The Giants won’t ignore edge rusher for a second straight offseason but Ojulari’s play will decide if he is still seen as a starter.
S Xavier McKinney
After Barkley, he is the Giants’ biggest free agent. Will he be franchise tagged? Will another draft pick-turned-captain be allowed to leave?
McKinney told The Post that making the Hall of Fame – not making the most money – is his career goal. His three-game tackling and takeaway surge is adding to his value. Are the Giants ready to trust Jason Pinnock as their top safety?
CB Cor’Dale Flott
A healthy scratch earlier in the season after a failed experiment playing on the outside, Flott is the Giants’ best option in the slot. That’s not saying much, admittedly. He was benched three games ago (despite an interception) but played the third-most cornerback snaps – at rookie Tre Hawkins’ expense – last game. The Giants already need to shop for one top corner because Adoree Jackson is a free agent.
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