Most significant moves: Didn't see the New York Giants' release of fullback Henry Hynoski coming, but maybe we should have. The Giants used fullback Nikita Whitlock on special teams and even on defense in Thursday night's preseason finale, capping a strong summer for Whitlock and earning him the one spot the Giants had for a fullback on their roster. Whitlock is only making $435,000 this season, whereas Hynoski was scheduled to make $775,000, but $250,000 of Hynoski's salary was guaranteed, so they're only saving $90,000 with this move. It seems to be more about the fact that Whitlock contributes on all four special teams units, and the team's determination to improve on special teams this season. Similarly at linebacker, veteran Jameel McClain and his $2.5 million salary were cut to make room for linebacker Uani Unga, who is making $435,000. McClain only ever made sense as a backup middle linebacker for oft-injured Jon Beason. After Unga showed he could handle that job this summer, they had no more need for McClain.
Last stands: The Giants' 2012 draft class made out better than I expected, as cornerback Jayron Hosley and defensive tackle Markus Kuhn both made the team. Tight end Adrien Robinson was cut as undrafted Jerome Cunningham deservedly beat him out for the No. 3 tight end spot and ended a failed three-year experiment with a player GM Jerry Reese unfortunately called "the JPP of tight ends" on draft day. So that leaves three players (including Rueben Randle) from that class and a total of four of the 38 players the team drafted from 2008-12 on the 53-man roster. (Though that number will grow to six when Jason Pierre-Paul and Will Beatty return from their injuries.) Also of note, the release of Hynoski leaves the Giants with only five players on the 53-man roster who were on the Super Bowl XLVI title team four seasons ago -- Eli Manning, Victor Cruz, Prince Amukamara, Zak DeOzzie and Mark Herzlich. Pierre-Paul also was on that team, and Beatty was on injured reserve for that Super Bowl run.
Wide receiver depth chart: Uncertainty about the health of Cruz likely helped Preston Parker, who made the team as a backup slot receiver based in part of the fact that he showed an ability to handle that role last season. Veteran James Jones had been a threat to Parker's spot but couldn't make it, and 2014 fan favorite Corey Washington was waived/injured. He was on the bubble to begin with, but the shoulder injury he developed this past week did him in. The Giants are carrying six wide receivers -- Odell Beckham Jr., Cruz, Randle, Dwayne Harris, Parker and 2015 sixth-round pick Geremy Davis.
What's next: The Giants should be active in the coming days, claiming and signing players from other teams. They are still looking to upgrade one or two of their safety spots, so guys like Stevie Brown, Brandon Meriweather and Cooper Taylor could be in trouble if they find help from outside at that position. And the current roster only has eight offensive linemen on it, which is a low number. So expect them to add there. If they need to cut from another position, look at cornerback, where Hosley, Mike Harris or Trevin Wade could be vulnerable, or at defensive line, where Kuhn is one of five defensive tackles who were kept.
Giants moves: FB Hynoski, LB McClain, WR Jones, CB Chykie Brown, S Jeromy Miles, LB Ashlee Palmer (released); TE Robinson, OL Adam Gettis, OT Emmett Cleary, OT Sean Donnelly, WR Julian Talley, RB Kenneth Harper, QB Ricky Stanzi, DL Dominique Hamilton, DE Brad Bars, LB Cole Farrand, CB Chandler Fenner, CB C.J. Conway, K Chris Boswell (waived); WR Corey Washington (waived/injured); S Nat Berhe, C Brett Jones (injured reserve).