EAST RUTHERFORD - Elijah Chatman arrived for New York Giants rookie minicamp three months ago with promise of untapped potential and a promise from renowned defensive line coach Andre Patterson that he would get a fair look.
Too many times throughout the NFL Draft process, the powerful defensive tackle from SMU had this sentiment attached to his resume and scouting report: "Yeah, but he's barely 6-feet, that really doesn't play in the NFL."
So when Chatman agreed to come to the Giants without a contract as a tryout, just hoping to open some eyes and perhaps more doors to the league as an undrafted rookie down the road, imagine his surprise when Patterson offered a challenge he did not see coming and a chance to prove he belonged.
"First day I got here for rookie minicamp, Coach Patterson brought me into his office and he told me, 'Look, I don't care about your height. I've seen your film, I know you can play, you've got pop to you,'" Chatman recalled for NorthJersey.com at his locker Thursday night following the Giants' 14-3 preseason victory over the Lions. "He was letting me know, reassuring me that I was not here just to be a body. He was actually evaluating me and from that point on, I trusted him. Because I didn't have many opportunities - I really didn't have any opportunity like this one at all. I had to earn this, and the Giants were true to his word."
Chatman has been one of the winners in the chase for a roster spot with the Giants since the spring, and he tops the rest in our weekly Stock Watch following a week in which the Giants proved their mettle against the Detroit Lions - legitimate Super Bowl contenders - in a pair of joint practices and the preseason opener.
Listed at 6-foot and 278 pounds, Chatman has been making waves while seizing the moment in reps with the Giants' starting defensive line. He has worked throughout the rotation, displaying great change of direction and burst in snaps at times that have come next to All-Pro Dexter Lawrence. His motor is non-stop, as evidenced by the sack Chatman recorded Thursday when he kept coming for Lions quarterback Nate Sudfeld, working off his own initial pressure and then that of linebacker Boogie Basham to finally drop him behind the line.
"I didn't expect to be in the position I'm in, but I got my shot and I'm confident in who I can be as a player," Chatman said. "Coach Patterson has been bringing things out of me that I didn't know I had, and there's much more work to do."
STOCK UP
Eric Gray, RB
Payback.
Gray admitted that his juke of Lions defensive back Morice Norris on the way to his 48-yard touchdown run, the first of two scores on the night, had a revenge factor to it. In the first joint practice between the two teams earlier in the week, Norris took a big shot on Gray, popping his helmet off in the process, a usual no-no in joint practices.
What Gray did is finish with 98 total yards, decisively announcing his presence in the competition for playing time (and a roster spot) behind Devin Singletary. A year after looking incredibly uncomfortable as a punt returner, eventually losing the job, Gray ran confidently and showed he might be ready to contribute in a much bigger way than anticipated.
Tyrone Tracy, RB
There's no questioning this rookie's spot right now. Love the way he picks his way through traffic on runs, showing instincts that you wouldn't think a converted WR would have. Like Gray, Tracy is a true rushing and receiving threat. Suddenly, this backfield looks a lot deeper with young talent than many thought.
Dyontae Johnson, ILB
Johnson has been quietly putting together a strong summer at a position that lacks proven depth, and he took advantage of running the defense in the huddle with Bobby Okereke sitting this one out. He made several splash plays, then turned what was a scare when he limped off due to an ankle injury into a positive in the coaches' eyes, pushing to get back in the game in the fourth quarter. It's hard envisioning this 53-man roster without Johnson right now, even if the ankle injury keeps him sidelined for a bit.
Dru Phillips, CB
Feisty. That's the best way to describe Phillips, who mixed it up with Lions star WR Amon-Ra St. Brown in joint practices, then showed his toughness and physicality with a run stop in the backfield Thursday night. He also took a turn as gunner in punt coverage, coming exceedingly close to recovering a muff in the first quarter.
Tyler Nubin, S
The second-round rookie made the kind of play Thursday night that screams out why the Giants see him as an integral part of their defense. Nubin came charging downhill and blew up Lions right guard Michael Niese, who was pulling to the left side on a running play. His jarring hit prevented the front side block, leaving running back Craig Reynolds with nowhere to go. That allowed Jordon Riley and Dyontae Johnson to combine for the tackle for no gain.
STOCK DOWN
Azeez Ojulari, OLB
Ojulari would seem to be in prime position as a pass rush specialist behind Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. He's had injuries, but has always flashed talent when healthy. So with limited reps, perhaps Ojulari could boost his production while avoiding the wear and tear that has always caught up to him. Playing against backup linemen Thursday, Ojulari did not wreck the game the way I expected him to. He appeared tentative when, given the circ*mstances, he should have been dominant. The Giants don't have great depth on the edge, and Burns and Thibodeaux will log a ton of snaps. But Ojulari sure could use some big moments to cement his place. More is expected.
Drew Lock, QB
Lock was out of sync from the outset. Part of that was the protection of his line early on, and you could see the lack of trust to stay in the pocket and wait for routes to open downfield. He missed Malik Nabers on the first play from scrimmage, and the night of missed chances continued until Lock tweaked his left hip and had to leave the game. His $5 million guaranteed salary will likely force Tommy DeVito not to compete with Lock to take his backup job, but to force the Giants to keep three quarterbacks. Lock is not losing his spot after one shaky preseason performance, but you'd expect to see steadier play from the veteran to feel good about him behind Daniel Jones.
Cor'Dale Flott, CB
Flott is dealing with a quad injury, according to Brian Daboll, or else he would have played Thursday night. He's had his ups and downs this summer in trying to stick with Malik Nabers, Jalin Hyatt and Darius Slayton, but is still a young player who will get more chances. Yet those chances can only come if Flott is healthy, and the longer he is on the sideline, the door will stay open for someone like Nick McCloud to compete for that CB2 job and take it.
Joshua Ezeudu and Joshua Miles
The Giants' second team offensive tackles did not distinguish themselves. With Evan Neal on PUP (physically unable to perform) and free agent signee Matt Nelson still working with the third team, the opportunity is there for either one of these guys to step up and take the swing tackle role. That's yet to happen, and for Ezeudu, the Giants desperately want the 2022 third-round pick to take advantage of the opportunity.
