Chatman’s Journey in the NFL
In the NFL preseason, Elijah Chatman took center stage, starting both offensively and defensively, unlike Travis Hunter. Hunter, a promising Jaguar rookie known for his two-way skills, is eagerly awaited in his week one debut. Meanwhile, Chatman is hoping for a promotion from the Giants’ practice squad after his surprising cut from the initial 90-man roster down to 53.
“He does what he does,” Chatman chuckled when reflecting on the attention he received during the draft alongside Heisman Trophy winner and a top pick.
Initially, it seemed as though Chatman had found his niche, transitioning back to fullback from defensive tackle, showcasing his growth beyond merely surviving the preseason roster bubble. As an undrafted rookie last season, he handled 38% of his regular season snaps on defense.
Chatman stands out as one of the rare two-way players in the NFL, showcasing his readiness to compete as a lead blocker, while also sharing a room with a defensive teammate. “I just flip the switch over,” he said. “I’ve been doing it for a lifetime, so it feels normal to me. When I’m on offense, I think, ‘I’m going to run through this person.’ On defense, it’s about pushing that guy back.”
In the preseason finale, Chatman found himself between Jackson Dart and Camsquattebo during his first play, making a solid four-yard gain against the Patriots, and playing on the defensive line for his initial snap. Last year, he was working next to Dexter Lawrence II during the first week.
However, with the Giants adding three new defensive linemen in the offseason, Chatman found himself deeper on the depth chart. His potential contributions as an interior pass rusher seem minimal now, given rookie Abdul Carter’s emergence in that role. Ultimately, it appears that DJ Davidson’s effectiveness in stopping the run led to Chatman retaining his roster spot.
This situation is particularly interesting since the Giants haven’t utilized fullbacks during their first three seasons under head coach Brian Daboll. It’s not that fullback roles are dismissed entirely.
“You’ve got this 278-pound guy charging at a linebacker, and we know who’s likely to win that matchup,” Scattebo commented after a play against the Patriots. “I had a feeling I would get the ball because I trusted that Chatman would hit someone. I told him, ‘Let’s go. We’re going to take someone down.’”
Before the 2024 draft, many NFL teams viewed Chatman as a fullback, but the Giants took a chance on him as a defensive tackle, despite his smaller frame during rookie minicamp. A scout’s vision for Chatman’s versatility emerged this offseason, based on his college profile.
“He has speed and explosion,” Daboll remarked early on. “Whenever he plays fullback for us—whether in practice or games—he’s breaking helmets. He’s tough.”
“Is that true?”
“If they weren’t broken,” Chatman joked, “the damage was obvious.”
Last season, the Giants converted only 66.6% of their third and short attempts. Chatman has the ability to be promoted from the practice squad three times before needing to secure a 53-man roster spot, and his physical play could be valuable.
“Anyone who goes in there looking to run through guys, I’m always a fan,” remarked former halfback coach Ladell Betts. “It’s good.”
Chatman wrapped up his last season with 21 tackles, one sack, and a fumble recovery.
“Honestly, I still feel like a rookie who hasn’t been drafted. I have one year under my belt, but there’s plenty more I need to show,” he shared.
And what if the Giants get creative and decide to hand the ball to Chatman like they did with linebackers Mike Vrabel and J.J. Watt in unexpected goal-line situations?
“I can catch it, I can run the ball, but I enjoy running it because I know I can control it,” Chatman said. “They know I’ll find space in the end zone, so my back is always eager to see me. Whether it’s for a yard or six, we’re going to get something.”
