As a defensive tackle under 6 feet, Elijah Chatman doesn't meet the norms for a job in the NFL.
Nobody drafted him. Nobody signed him as a free agent after the draft. The Seattle Seahawks even gave him a tryout and said no thanks.
A week later, the New York Giants took a chance on him, and now it seems like a good bet the short 23-year-old from SMU out of Shreveport, Louisiana, is going to end up on New York's 53-man roster.
Chatman had been getting some snaps with the first-team defense in recent weeks before he went viral this past weekend. The 278-pounder came from far behind to chase down Houston Texans running back J.J. Taylor after a long run.
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Giants radio commentator Carl Banks, who was handling local television for the game, said Chatman made the roster with the play.
“I’ve been running like that my whole life, man,” Chatman said after Tuesday's practice. “There are a bunch of clips from high school to college to now. You know what I’m saying? I don’t think it’s something that was out of the ordinary for me, if you knew me. But it just so happened to be filmed and it was shown by the NFL.”
Assistant general manager Brandon Brown said Chatman was an outlier entering the draft but there was also a lot to like. He was athletic, a captain, ran for 1,600 yards in high school, played on punt and kickoff coverage, was a decorated high school wrestler and powerlifter, and is the a son of a lumberjack.
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“You put that all together, there are a lot of characteristics from an intangible standpoint, and then also the metrics, leaning on our analytics department,” Brown said.
Chatman also has a big heart. He doesn't see his size as a negative.
“I don’t see myself as short, even though I am short compared to the average defensive lineman,” said who says he's 5-foot-11 although he's listed at 6 feet. “But I just go out there and just give it my all and let God do the rest.”
What's obvious is Chatham has made an impression. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has walked up to Chatman during practice and talked to him about plays and offered advice. He tells him to use his speed and explosiveness to his advantage. The one thing he does not have to mention is to keep his pads low. That comes naturally.
Chatman, who also forced two holding calls against Houston on Saturday, insists he is not listening to all the noise after his big run-down play, which turned out to be moot because Taylor had stepped out of bounds 20 yards back.
He said he's still working to get better and make the roster. And if it's not with the Giants, he's not giving up on his dream.
“I had one decision. I wanted to play in the NFL,” he said. “That was my one goal. And I’m still chasing after that.”
NOTES: The Giants are a little thin at inside linebacker. Starter Micah McFadden has a hip injury and is week-to-week, as are backups Matt Adams (groin) and Dyontae Johnson (ankle). Sixth-round draft pick Darius Muasau played with the first team Tuesday alongside Bobby Okereke.
