Getty

New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh has begun trimming the roster ahead of camp season.

John Harbaugh and the New York Giants have begun trimming their offseason roster, as the team announced news of four early cuts on May 7. The headliner: 2024 undrafted success story Elijah Chatman.

Along with the interior defensive lineman, Chatman, the three other releases were defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu, linebacker Swayze Bozeman, and wide receiver/returner Courtney Jackson. Giants team reporter Dan Salomone relayed the finalized transactions on X.

This news comes after several Giants signings — both rookie and veteran — following the NFL draft.

Elijah Chatman Burst Onto the Scene With the Giants, But Is Not a ‘Fit’ for John Harbaugh’s D-Line

Chatman was a fan favorite straight out of the gates. Anytime an undrafted prospect makes some noise at training camp, NFL fans seem to gravitate toward them. There’s something about a diamond in the rough overcoming the odds that gets people rallying around them, and Chatman was that roster long shot in 2024.

Chatman was an undersized interior defensive lineman with pass-rushing juice. He didn’t hold up well against the run, but his high-effort style resonated with fans.

After appearing in all 17 games as a rookie, it felt like Big Blue may have found a developmental sleeper in Chatman. According to ESPN, he registered his first career NFL sack that season, along with 21 total tackles, 3.5 run stuffs, and a fumble recovery.

Unfortunately, Chatman regressed in 2025, appearing in just 5 games. He didn’t do much statistically speaking, either, recording 3 total tackles.

After his May 7 release, both ESPN’s Jordan Raanan and The Athletic’s Dan Duggan pointed out that Chatman wasn’t a “fit” for Harbaugh’s defensive line.

“Four Giants released to make room on roster, including DL Elijah Chatman,” Raanan commented. Adding: “[Chatman] was a good undrafted story, but [is] severely undersized and doesn’t really fit what John Harbaugh generally looks for from his DL.”

With all the recent additions at defensive tackle, it appears Chatman was the victim of a new scheme and a roster crunch.

More on Giants Roster Cuts Marlon Tuipulotu, Swayze Bozeman, & Courtney Jackson After Release News

As for the other three Giants roster cuts, two were recent reserve/future signings, and one appeared in games with NYG in 2025.

The latter is Bozeman, who played linebacker and special teams for the G-Men last year. The former Kansas City Chiefs contributor suited up for 6 regular season games and was credited with 6 total tackles.

He was likely a staff favorite of the previous coaching regime, so his departure isn’t all that surprising considering Harbaugh’s staff overhaul.

Tuipulotu is another former Chiefs contributor, but he was a Philadelphia Eagles draft pick before that. His release is a minor surprise, if only because he was just signed in January.

That does happen sometimes in the NFL, though, as offseason rosters take shape. It’s possible the Giants liked Tuipulotu as a potential depth piece before they went on a signing spree at the position. The former sixth-round talent has 3.0 career sacks and 5 career tackles for a loss.

Finally, Jackson is another recent addition. The Giants signed him even later than Tuipulotu, bringing him in on a reserve/future contract in February.

Jackson has never appeared in a regular season NFL game, but he only entered the league as a UDFA in 2025. He profiled as a potential punt return option for Harbaugh and the Giants.