As soon as the last pick is drawn teams begin forging deals with prospects who did not hear their names called. Every team hopes to find the next Kurt Warner or Tony Romo. Players who were overlooked during the draft are then given a single opportunity to succeed.

Teams are limited during the draft to the picks they have in each round, along with the picks acquired through trades and the compensatory system. As a result, NFL teams sign anywhere from 5 to over 20 undrafted free agents on top of their draft selections. Although the majority of these players fizzle out before the regular season, occasionally teams find a diamond in the rough.

New York Giants signings

In 2018, the New York Giants signed 11 total undrafted free agents, with 4 ultimately making the 53-man roster. This year, following their draft, the Giants have signed 13 undrafted free agents. Not all these selections will make it to the 53-man roster.

So below are the players I believe have the best chance of proceeding.

James O’Hagan, Center, Buffalo

James O’Hagan earned the #1 pass blocking grade among draft-eligible centers in 2016 and 2017. Furthermore, he was ranked #4 in pass blocking, while also ranking #1 in run blocking among centers in 2018. With only 6 centers being drafted in this year’s draft, O’Hagan fell beyond the 7 rounds. O’Hagan was eruptive on the offensive line, but his struggles to finish blocks were exposed. Nevertheless, he finished tied for first with the lowest pressure rate allowed among draft-eligible centers.

O’Hagan will compete against Evan Brown, who has yet to play in a regular season game. Considering O’Hagan has held his own during minicamp while being aligned against first-round pick Dexter Lawrence, I’d say he has the upper-hand so far.

New UDFA signing and New York Giants center James O’Hagan finished tied last season with the draft class’ lowest pressure rate allowed among centers. pic.twitter.com/YvgjCIfciP — Pro Football Focus (@PFF) May 1, 2019

Paul Adams, Offensive Tackle, Missouri

Looking for further depth on the offensive line, the Giants signed offensive tackle Paul Adams out of Missouri. Adams, a three-year starter at right tackle, was projected to be selected in the third day of the draft. Adams provides strong blocking and effective movement skills. However, inconsistencies in pass protection lead analysts to believe Adams should shift over to guard. While he battles for a roster position, look for Adams to give both spots a shot. With this flexibility, Adams can provide depth to two positions of need for the Giants.

Josiah Tauaefa, Linebacker/Defensive End, UTSA

This prospect could benefit from being in the right place at the right time. With only two defensive ends currently listed on the roster, look for the Giants to address this need in late free agency. However, if no top players sign, look for Josiah Tauaefa to compete for a roster spot at DE. Tauaefa has collegiate experience both at linebacker and DE, providing an asset to Bettcher’s 3-4 defense. Although Tauaefa was limited his sophomore season due to a knee injury things changed during his junior year. He earned Freshmen All-American Honors and was an honorable mention in the All-Conference USA. What the USTA linebacker lacks in discipline and confidence, he makes up for in physicality and movement. If he cleans up his game during minicamp, he can take advantage of a lack of depth on the roster. Look for him to at least make the practice squad.

CJ Conrad, Tight End, Kentucky

CJ Conrad was projected as an early day 3 draft pick prior to his health concerns. Doctors have cleared him. However, some teams preferred not to take the risk. As a receiver, Conrad had an 81% completion rate. However, Conrad struggled with runs after the catch, separation skills, and quickness down the field. Conrad could be effective as a #2 tight end, as well as in an H-back and fullback role. If Conrad can outperform current fullback Elihjaa Penny in the preseason, he could contend for a roster spot.

Eric Dungey, Quarterback, Syracuse

I can already hear the screeches of Giants fans freaking out if they spend another roster spot on a quarterback who may not be a proper successor to Eli Manning. But hear me out. Eric Dungey (NOT the son of Tony Dungey) was an effective mobile QB in Syracuse. Although he had 9 interceptions to go along with his 18 touchdowns his senior year, Dungey also had 15 rushing touchdowns. Furthermore, Dungey has drawn several comparisons to Taysom Hill out of the New Orleans Saints as a utility player.

This idea is not very far-fetched once you consider the success of the Saints’ offense in recent years. While the Saints are using Hill in about 10% of their offensive plays, do not look for Dungey to have a similar presence. However, what if Head Coach Pat Shurmer wanted to bring in some offensive ingenuity? With the loss of Odell Beckham Jr., the Giants have to find other ways to spark their offense. In comes Dungey, who could fill that third QB roster spot. If Shurmer and Giants offensive coordinator Mike Shula decide to get creative, they could consider using Dungey for utility roles. Shula preaches not wanting to be predictable when calling offensive plays. If creativity is what he wants, Dungey could by a key source of ingenuity for the offense.

Side Notes

It should be noted UFAs Nate Harvey and Jacob Thieneman have been placed on the reserve/injured list. Both players suffered non-contact knee injuries during the rookie minicamp.

I was a huge fan of Thieneman, especially considering he was effective while blitzing. With defensive coordinator James Bettcher often using his defensive backs for the blitz, he would have liked a defensive back with previous success in a system similar to his own. I hope he gets a chance to show the skills he has once he recovers from his injury.

Both Reggie White Jr. and Alex Wesley are intriguing wide receiver prospects. However, considering the current depth at wide receiver, it’s hard to imagine either making the 53-man roster without the help of injuries. If that’s the case, I’d consider White Jr. first, due to the upper-hand, he has on Wesley in size and ball-handling skills.

For a quick summary regarding the New York Giants’ undrafted free agents, check out TempTheRat’s recent podcast.