Giants OTAs: 9 takeaways from Day 5

The Giants offense relies heavily on their tight ends and versatility is a must. Tight ends coach Tim Kelly believes it’s an undervalued position (like running back) and a lot of what the players do gets overlooked unless they’re making big plays down the field.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll said the decision on who calls offensive plays will not be made until the end of training camp. However, he admits to handling those duties thus far throughout OTAs.

Speculation persists that assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will be stripped of those duties as he was, at times, last year.

Giants wide receivers coach Mike Groh says he met with Malik Nabers three times during the pre-draft process and sees a high upside.

“Has all the tools (and) is very dynamic with the ball in his hands,” Groh said.

Perhaps pumping the brakes a little, Groh also said that the rookie has a lot left to learn.

Giants assistant Carmen Bricillo confirmed on Thursday what was already known: The team wants versatility along their offensive line in the event injuries happen and players get shuffled around.

However, Bricillo adds, Evan Neal will remain working specifically at right tackle. For now.

When wide receiver Darius Slayton returned to the team earlier this week, he became the 90th player to attend offseason workouts (one of those on a roster exemption). The 91st player on the team’s roster — and the only one not to show up this spring — is tight end Darren Waller.

Daboll says no decision on Waller or by Waller has been made yet.

Long-time NFL wide receiver Steve Smith Sr., for the second time in his post-playing career, is in East Rutherford. In 2022, Smith Sr. showed up in May to play a late April Fool’s prank that briefly stirred the Internet.

This time around, Smith is serving as a sounding board for the team’s wide receivers.

Quarterback Daniel Jones continues to recover from a torn ACL and remains on schedule. He expects to return in time for training camp but Daboll suggested on Thursday that he could soon participate in 11-on-11 drills.

That would actually suggest Jones is ahead of schedule.

Wide receiver/return man Gunner Olszewski left the practice field with a limp after slipping and falling during a route.

The Giants did not immediately offer an update.

Veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton returned to the Giants earlier this week after a brief holdout over a contract dispute.

Although Slayton did not receive an extension or any additional guaranteed money, he did reveal on Thursday that general manager Joe Schoen added some additional incentives to his deal.