The Giants are lucky. As a team, they have put themselves in a position where there aren’t too many holes they need to fill on a year to year basis. The core that they have built continues to be one of the strongest in the NFL, and if you really think about it, the only reason they have any holes on their team whatsoever is because Plaxico shot himself in the leg.

That being said, The Giants front office are some of the best talent evaluators in the league. They have routinely dug deep in the draft and had success finding players of a high caliber. This year, yet another one of these players will come to light as Ahmad Bradshaw is a more integral part of the offense than ever before. That makes cutting players pretty difficult, but let’s play Jerry Reese for a moment and see if we can cobble together a roster.

Guaranteed to Make the Team

QB: Eli Manning, David Carr

RB: Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Danny Ware

FB: Madison Hedgecock

WR: Domenik Hixon, Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, Ramses Barden, Mario Manningham

TE: Kevin Boss, Travis Beckum

T: David Diehl, William Beatty, Kareem McKenzie, Guy Whimper

G: Rich Seubert, Chris Snee, Kevin Boothe,

C: Shaun O’ Hara, Tutan Reyes,

DE: Osi Umeniyora, Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka,

DT: Fred Robbins, Chris Canty, Rocky Bernard, Barry Cofield

OLB: Michael Boley, Danny Clark, Bryan Kehl, Clint Sintim

MLB: Antonio Pierce, Chase Blackburn, Jonathan Goff

CB: Corey Webster, Aaron Ross, Terrell Thomas

S: Michael Johnson, Kenny Phillips, C.C. Brown

K: Lawrence Tynes

P: Jeff Feagles

LS: Zak DeOssie

Using some simple math, we end up with 45 players who are locked to make the team. That gives the Giants nine guys to add to their active roster. Let’s take a look at the possibilities. Players in bold.

QB: Andre Woodson, Rhett Bomar

After a season of Andre Woodson on the practice squad, the Giants still really don’t know what they have in him. They completely reworked his mechanics due to his long throwing motion. He still struggled this preseason, and because of that, Bomar will probably make the team.

RB: Allen Patrick, Dwayne Wright

Patrick has played most of the fourth quarter snaps, and will likely get a long look in the final preseason game. However, Since the G-men are so deep at running back that neither might make the team.

WR: Sinorice Moss, David Tyree, Derek Hagan

This is probably the toughest spot on the roster to project. All three of these guys have been pretty awful, but Hagan likely has the most upside. People might be upset to see Tyree go, but he is what he is: A special teams player.

TE: D’Arcy Johnson, Michael Matthews

Johnson is an athlete who is learning to play tight end; Matthews is the bane of my existence.

T: Adam Koets, Andrew Carnahan

The Giants invested a draft pick in Koets a couple of years ago, and he can play inside if he has to, which will likely be why they choose to keep him.

G: None

C: None

DE: Maurice Evans, Dave Tollefson, Tommie Hill

It may look weird, but if any team is going to keep five defensive ends, it’s going to be the Giants. The plan is to keep them all in rotation, and both Evans and Tollefson have shown pass rush ability.

DT: Anthony Bryant, Leger Douzable

Neither will come close to making the team.

OLB: Gerris Wilkinson

Wilkinson has never been able to stay healthy, but the Giants have always liked his speed coming from outside linebacker. He’ll have to play special teams to stick, but I think he will the last man to be cut.

CB: Kevin Dockery, Bruce Johnson, DeAndre Wright

The secondary situation is interesting. Wright was drafted this year and has gotten a bunch of run in the preseason. He has upside, which is more than you can say for Johnson, who unequivocally sucks.

S: Ra’sheed Shareef

Sorry, buddy. Great name, great dreads, not such a great name.

That was really hard. Wilkinson is the last man out as it took a half an hour to pick him. I think he’s the kind of player that can latch on with another team, but just can’t make one of the leagues best rosters.