The New York Giants concluded their preseason on August 24 with a narrow 10-6 loss to the New York Jets. With the deadline to trim their roster to 53 players approaching on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Eastern time, head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen have begun making the necessary cuts. On August 25, they made their first round of roster reductions, releasing 10 players, including 2022 draft pick Marcus McKethan.
Marcus McKethan Among Roster Cuts
During a Zoom call with the media on Sunday, Daboll announced the roster cuts. McKethan, an offensive lineman selected in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, was the most notable name among those released. He had missed his rookie season due to a torn ACL suffered during training camp but returned to play in 16 games last season, starting five.
In the 2023 season, McKethan logged 378 offensive snaps and received a Pro Football Focus grade of 45.4, with a 26.8 grade in 245 pass-blocking snaps. There is a possibility that McKethan could be re-signed to the practice squad, similar to the 2022 sixth-round pick Darrian Beavers. If McKethan is let go entirely, he will be the first draft pick from Schoen’s tenure to be released.
Alongside McKethan, the Giants cut DL Kyler Baugh, CB Breon Borders, CB Christian Holmes, DB Clayton Isbell, WR John Jiles, RB Joshua Kelley, LB Trey Kiser, RB Lorenzo Lingard, and WR Ayir Asante. Later in the day, DT Timmy Horne and DB Jonathan Sutherland were also added to the list of cuts.
Daboll also revealed during the Zoom call that defensive tackle Timmy Horne suffered a torn Achilles tendon during the preseason game against the Jets.
Marcus McKethan’s Performance with the Giants
McKethan’s time with the Giants included 16 games played last season, providing a glimpse into his NFL capabilities. According to Gene Clemons of Sports Illustrated, McKethan’s strengths were particularly evident in run blocking.
Clemons noted, “McKethan’s experience in a run-heavy program translated well to the NFL. He has the tools to be an effective road grader, with sufficient athleticism to pull and move to the second level. His power and explosiveness allow him to make a significant impact when engaging defenders.”
However, McKethan also had weaknesses, particularly in pass protection. Clemons pointed out, “McKethan’s punch can disrupt defenders, but if it’s ineffective, he struggles with balance. His inconsistent weight distribution can lead to issues, allowing defenders to exploit his momentum and get him off balance.”