Giants add LB Anfernee Orji, waive DL Ben Barten in corresponding roster move

The New York Giants announced a pair of defensive roster moves on Thursday afternoon, signing linebacker Anfernee Orji to their 90-man roster and waiving defensive lineman Ben Barten in a corresponding move.

The transactions reflect how NFL teams use their offseason roster flexibility to reshape depth, evaluate fits, and adjust the mix of pass rush and coverage options heading toward later preseason work. Adding a linebacker can increase competition for snaps across special teams roles and nickel or dime packages, while waiving a defensive lineman reduces the number of defensive front players the team must carry.

Orji’s addition brings another player into the Giants’ linebacker competition. While the team’s depth chart decisions are often shaped by practice performance and scheme fit, a roster spot at linebacker also indicates the organization’s ongoing emphasis on versatility, particularly players who can contribute in multiple defensive looks and on special teams.

Barten’s waiver, paired with Orji’s signing, indicates the Giants chose to consolidate roster space rather than create an additional opening. In practical terms, corresponding moves like this are common when teams want to test a new player without carrying extra personnel.

For the wider league, waiver placement means Barten could be claimed by another club, or he could clear and become available under the waiver outcome. That outcome is often tied to how other teams view his role as a defensive lineman and whether they have a roster need that matches his skill set.

As training-camp processes progress, the next question for New York is where Orji and the remaining front seven settle in the team’s rotation. Linebacker spots can be fluid, and the order of operations typically becomes clearer once coaches define the priority groups for early down defense, third-down packages, and kickoff or punt coverage.

The Giants’ move also underscores the churn that occurs throughout the offseason. Even when a team’s core personnel is stable, the roster around it can shift quickly as new players are evaluated and coaches look for the combination that best serves their defensive plan.

With Orji now on the 90-man roster and Barten removed via waiver, the organization’s immediate focus is likely to be on integrating Orji into practice reps and determining whether he can separate himself for any early-season role.