Quarterback

The Giants have been one of the worst teams in the league in recent years, tied for the fewest wins in the league since 2017 with 44, including eight of nine seasons of 6 wins or fewer. A big part of the problem used to be that they hadn’t found the right quarterback, but that might have changed, with 2025 25th overall pick Jaxson Dart showing a lot of promise as a rookie. He only made 12 starts, sitting behind veteran Russell Wilson for the first three weeks of the season and then missing two games due to injury, but when he did play this offense was noticeably better than when he didn’t and he completed 63.7% of his passes for an average of 6.70 YPA, 15 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions, despite an underwhelming supporting cast, while also rushing for 487 yards and 9 touchdowns on 86 carries (5.67 YPC). 

Dart’s play did not translate into a lot of wins, as he went just 4-8, but the Giants went 0-5 without him and a lot of the blame for the losses falls on his supporting cast. Now going into his second season in the league, Dart could take another step forward, but his supporting cast remains an issue, which I will get more into later. Another issue is Dart’s durability. He only missed two games with one concussion last season, but he was checked for several others throughout the season. As with most dual threat quarterbacks, it is a double edged sword as the thing that makes him good is also the thing that costs him games. If he can stay on the field in 2026, he should continue impressing, but he probably has a higher chance of injury than the average quarterback.

If Dart misses time in 2026, the Giants would turn back to Jameis Winston, who replaced him when he was hurt last season. Winston is plenty experienced, with 89 career starts, and he makes plays downfield, with a career 7.64 YPA average, but he also makes plays for the other team, with 113 interceptions to 156 touchdowns in his career, which is why he is a backup. Now in his age 32 season, he is who he is at this stage of his career, but he’s a solid backup option all things considered. The Giants will just have to hope he doesn’t see action.

Grade: B

Receiving Corps

Wan’Dale Robinson was the Giants’ leading receiver last season and he had what looks like a solid 92/1014/4 slash line with 1.87 yards per route run, until you realize it took him the 8th most targets in the league (140) to get there. Robinson left this off-season though and, while he was not as good as his total production suggested last season, he was still better than anyone the Giants added to replace him and anyone else on the roster, with one exception.

That exception is Malik Nabers, who was selected 6th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, subsequently had a 109/1204/7 slash line and 2.16 yards per route run on 170 targets as a rookie, despite poor quarterback play, but then he tore his ACL and other ligaments in week 4 of 2025. Nabers’ recovery has also not gone according to plan, including a second surgery this off-season, so even if he is ready for week 1 of this season, it seems unlikely he will be 100% right away. 

Nabers got hurt in Dart’s first start last season, so we have barely seen what the two of them can do together and the upside they have together is very high, but we might not see that full upside until 2027 at the earliest. The Giants especially need Nabers to at least be on the field because the rest of this wide receiver group is a big concern, consisting of Darius Slayton, a marginal at best veteran with a career 1.34 yards per route run average, 3rd round rookie Malachi Fields, and free agent additions Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin. 

Mooney has had some success in his career, with a 81/1055/4 slash line on 1.72 yards per route run in 2021 and a 64/992/5 slash line on 1.88 yards per route run in 2024, but the 6-year veteran has been so inconsistent that he has averaged just 1.39 yards per route run in his career, despite those highs. Last season was arguably his worst, when he turned 72 targets into just a 32/443/1 slash line and 0.97 yards per route run, in part due to injury, but also likely due to his own inconsistency. Meanwhile, Calvin Austin has averaged just 1.21 yards per route run with 1,100 total receiving yards in four seasons in the league since being drafted in the 4th round in 2022. Slayton, Fields, Mooney, and Austin will compete for roles behind Nabers in a very underwhelming position group.

The Giants did sign tight end Isaiah Likely to a 3-year, 40 million dollar deal in free agency, making him the 5th highest paid tight end in the league in average annual salary, but that could prove to be an overpay. The 2022 4th round pick has averaged a decent 1.43 yards per route run in his career, but that has come in a part-time role (505 snaps per season) and he might not be able to continue even that level of play into a starting role, let alone become the above average starter the Giants are paying him to be. Likely will be backed up by Theo Johnson, the incumbent starter at tight end who has averaged just 1.08 yards per route run in two seasons in the league, since being selected in the 4th round in 2024. This is a very underwhelming position group that would be one of the worst in the league if Nabers misses more time.

Grade: B-

Running Backs

The Giants are also getting running back Cam Skattebo back from a major injury, as the 2025 4th round pick had his rookie year cut short by a broken leg suffered in week 8, after 101 carries in 8 games, including 96 carries in his final six full games before the injury. Skattebo isn’t as good as Nabers, but he has a better chance of returning to form in 2026 and he showed promise in limited action as a rookie. He only averaged 4.06 YPC, but he had 3.04 yards per carry after contact, a 21.8% missed tackle rate, and a 50.5% carry success rate, while averaging 1.54 yards per route run. He’s still relatively unproven, but he could be a solid lead back.

In Skattebo’s absence, Tyrone Tracy regained the lead back role he had for most of 2024 and for the start of 2025. A 5th round pick in 2024, Tracy has a higher career YPC than Skattebo, averaging 4.29 YPC across 368 carries, but his peripheral stats are not as good, as he has averaged 2.76 yards per carry after contact, a 16.0% missed tackle rate, a 44.6% carry success rate, and 0.98 yards per route run, all of which are below Skattebo’s numbers in those same metrics. He only had 25 carries in the final four games he played while Skattebo was healthy last season and, while the Giants may ease Skattebo back in this season, Tracy is likely to be no more than a change of pace back for most of the year. 

The Giants also still have Devin Singletary, who ended up with 119 carries last season because of Skattebo’s injury, but he has averaged just 3.77 YPC on 232 carries with 2.61 yards per carry after contact, a 17.7% missed tackle rate, a 48.3% carry success rate, and 0.96 yards per route run in the past two seasons and would be the clear #3 back if Skattebo is healthy, only staying on the roster after taking a pay cut down to 1.3 million from his originally scheduled 5.25 million. With Skattebo returning, this backfield has upside, but he is still unproven.

Grade: B

Offensive Line

Another key player on this offense with a history of injuries is left tackle Andrew Thomas, who has missed 27 games in the past five seasons. Thomas was actually relatively healthy last season, only missing four games, while playing at a career best level, but that might not continue in 2026. Thomas was one of the best left tackles in the league last season and he is by far the Giants’ best offensive lineman, so if he misses more time this season than he did in 2025 or if he doesn’t repeat his career best level when on the field, that will hurt this offense.

Also a concern for this offense is the fact that right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor is going into his age 32 season. Eluemunor has been a decent starter for the past four seasons (62 starts) and hasn’t shown any signs of decline yet, in fact having one of the best seasons of his career in 2025, but there is a good chance he declines in 2026 or at least doesn’t repeat one of the best seasons in his career, which would also hurt this offensive line. Fortunately, the Giants did use the 10th overall pick on Francis Mauigoa, a potential long-term replacement for Eluemunor and an insurance option in case Thomas misses time. In the short-term, Mauigoa will also upgrade the guard position as long as he isn’t needed at tackle.

Mauigoa figures to start at guard opposite either Jon Runyan, the incumbent left guard, or free agent addition Daniel Faalele. Both have experience, with Runyan making 79 starts in the past five seasons and Faalele making all 34 starts in the last two seasons, but both have never been any more than marginal starters. Center John Michael Schmitz is also a marginal starter at best, while making 41 starts in the past three seasons. 

Along with either Runyan or Faalele, depth options include 2025 5th round pick Marcus Mbow, a hybrid guard/tackle who was underwhelming in 325 snaps as a rookie, veteran guard/center Lucas Patrick, who has made 65 starts in nine seasons in the league but who has generally struggled and is now going into his age 33 season, as well as 6th round rookie tackle JC Davis. The addition of Mauigoa helps this offensive line, but Andrew Thomas’ injury history and Jermaine Eluemunor’s age are both concerns.

Grade: B

Interior Defenders

The Giants defense was a liability last season, ranking 25th in schedule adjusted efficiency, and figures to remain one this year. Replacing overmatched defensive coordinator Shane Bowen with Dennard Wilson helps this unit, but they are also objectively less talented than a year ago due to the loss of Dexter Lawrence, who they traded to get the 10th overall pick from the Bengals that they used on Mauigoa. Even in a down year in 2025, Lawrence was an above average interior defender across 754 snaps. He was also by far their best interior defender, with all other interior defenders who played significant snaps for the Giants last season being liabilities.

To try to replace Lawrence, the Giants signed a pair of veterans in DJ Reader and Shelby Harris. Both have been above average players in the past, but they have seen better days, going into their age 32 and age 35 season respectively. Reader played 583 snaps last season, provided solid run defense, and had a decent 6.3% pressure rate. Harris, meanwhile, played 511 snaps last season and finished with 1 sack, 4 hits, and a 7.3% pressure rate, while playing adequate run defense. 

Their ages are obviously a concern, but Reader and Harris could at least be decent rotational players for another year in 2026, which makes them the Giants’ two best interior defenders by default. Behind them, their best option is probably Darius Alexander. He was a disaster across 394 snaps last season, but the 2025 3rd round pick was only a rookie and still at least has some upside going into his second season in the league. 

The Giants also have Chauncey Golston, a hybrid edge/interior defender who could play more on the interior in obvious passing situations this season. He’s been a decent rotational player in five seasons in the league on an average of 26.0 snaps per game in 74 games, while recording a 8.4% pressure rate in that stretch, which is not bad considering that he rushes the passer from the interior somewhat frequently. Other depth options include Leki Fotu, who has struggled mightily on an average of 282 snaps per season in six seasons in the league and 6th round rookie Bobby Jamison-Travis. This looks like a well below average position group overall.

Grade: C+

Edge Defenders

The Giants’ edge defender group was the strength of their defense last season. Veteran Brian Burns had 16.5 sacks, 13 hits, and a 11.3% pressure rate in 17 games, giving him 63.5 sacks, 70 hits, and a 12.1% pressure rate in 98 games in the past six seasons. Still in his prime in his age 28 season, Burns should remain a high level pass rusher in 2026, though he does leave something to be desired as a run stopper. Burns was joined by 2025 3rd overall pick Abdul Carter, who had an impressive rookie season, particularly excelling as a pass rusher, only totaling 4 sacks, but adding 19 hits, and a 13.0% pressure rate. He could be even better in year two and should continue forming a dynamic duo with Burns.

Top reserve Kayvon Thibodeaux is also a former high draft pick, selected 5th overall in 2022. He hasn’t lived up to expectations, providing only decent play as a run defender and pass rusher (9.5% career pressure rate), on an average of 702 snaps per season, but he is still more than qualified to be a #3 edge defender, a role he played 494 snaps in last season. The Giants also used the 5th overall pick in this year’s draft on Arvell Reese, who can rush the passer off the edge in obvious passing situations, though it seems likely that the hybrid player will begin his career primarily as an off ball linebacker. Chauncey Golston, as I mentioned, is also in the mix, though he will probably play more on the interior because they need him more there. Even with Reese and Golston likely to see significant action at other positions, this is a high level edge defender group.

Grade: A-

Linebackers

As I mentioned, Arvell Reese is likely to play primarily at linebacker as a rookie and he has the talent to be an above average starter right away, though he could struggle through some growing pains in year one. He will start next to free agent addition Tremaine Edmunds. Edmunds has mostly been an average starter in his career, but both he and Reese should be upgrades over the Giants’ primary linebackers last season, Bobby Okereke (1,104 snaps), Darius Muasau (453 snaps), and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (225 snaps), who were all below average.

Okereke was released this off-season to free up money to sign Edmunds, Flannigan-Fowles left as a free agent, while Muasau will compete for the #3 linebacker job with veteran Micah McFadden, who missed all but 11 snaps last season with a foot injury. Muasau, a 2024 6th round pick, has been mediocre across 888 total snaps in two seasons in the league, while McFadden has started 29 of 31 games played over the past three seasons, but has also mostly been a liability. Both are not bad options as a third linebacker though, in a remade linebacking corps that at least should be better than it was a year ago.

Grade: B

Secondary

The Giants’ secondary is largely the same in 2026 as it was in 2025, which is not a good thing. The biggest change is the Giants let Cor’Dale Flott leave as a free agent and replaced him with Greg Newsome. Flott was a decent, but unspectacular starter across 798 snaps in 14 games last season. Newsome has more upside, being drafted in the 1st round in 2021 and having above average seasons in 2022 and 2023, but he also has more downside, now being two seasons removed from his last above average season and coming off of his worst season of his career, leading to him being traded by the Browns to the Jaguars and then subsequently benched down the stretch by the Jaguars when his play did not improve. 

Still only in his age 26 season, Newsome has some bounce back potential, but he easily could remain a liability, in which case he would be a downgrade from Flott. Another potential difference in this secondary is potentially better health from Paulson Adebo, who missed five games due to injury last season. However, Adebo has missed 21 games in the past four seasons combined, so the Giants getting more games out of him this season is far from a guarantee. 

Adebo is still in his age 27 season and he has shown the upside to be an above average starter when healthy, but his durability issues have made him very inconsistent and his last above average season came in 2023. Adebo was only an average starter in 2025 and the most likely scenario is he remains only an average starter in 2026 and misses more time with injury at some point, though there is at least some upside with him. The Giants also added more insurance at cornerback in the draft, using a second round pick on Colton Hood, who could find himself starting as a rookie if Newsome struggles or Adebo misses time.

With Newsome, Adebo, and Hood all being primarily outside cornerbacks, Andru Phillips is locked in as the slot cornerback for the third straight season, with 82.7% of his snaps coming on the slot in his first two seasons in the league. A 3rd round pick in 2024, Phillips was solid in that role as a rookie, regressed a little bit in 2025, but is still only going into his age 25 season and could bounce back or even have his best season yet in his third season in the league in 2026.

Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin remain at safety, where both were liabilities as the starter last season. Holland has otherwise been a decent starter in his career, while starting 71 games in five seasons in the league, and he is still only going into his age 26 season, so he has at least some bounce back potential. Nubin was a second round pick in 2024 and could still have untapped upside, only in his age 25 season in his third season in the league in 2026, but he has struggled across 24 career starts and could face competition for his starting job from free agent addition Ar’Darius Washington. 

An undrafted free agent in 2021, Washington has only played 932 snaps in five seasons in the league, but 726 of those came in 2024, when he was an above average player in what looked like a breakout season. Washington then subsequently tore his achilles and was limited to just 61 snaps in 2025, but he is still only going into his age 27 season and, even though he is a complete one-year wonder, he could have at least some bounce back potential in 2026, another year removed from the injury. Still, this looks likely to be a below average secondary again this season, even if they may be marginally better than a year ago.

Grade: C+

Kickers

Kicker was a position of weakness for the Giants last season, as they somehow had five different kickers see action for them last season, none of whom were particularly good. To try to solve this issue, the Giants signed Jason Sanders in free agency. Sanders missed all of 2025 with a hip injury, but has generally been an above average kicker in his career, adding 14.00 points above average in 116 career games in eight seasons in the league, including 7.66 in his most recent action in 2024, which ranked 7th in the league that season. 

Coming off of a major hip injury and going into his age 31 season, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Sanders wasn’t as good as normal in 2026, but kickers can perform well into their 30s if they stay healthy, so there is a good chance Sanders is a clear upgrade over what they had at kicker last season. If not, the Giants did keep Ben Sauls, a 2025 undrafted free agent who only kicked in three games last season, but who was their best kicker, making all 8 field goals and all 7 extra points, albeit with a long of just 45 yards. He’s still really unproven though and is only an insurance option behind Sanders, who they are hoping can provide much needed stability at the position after what happened last season.

Grade: B

Conclusion

The Giants are heading in the right direction with Jaxson Dart finally looking like the franchise quarterback they have lacked for years, but he probably won’t be good enough in his second season in the league to carry what remains a subpar roster to a playoff spot. Outside of Dart, the Giants’ only three above average starters on offense are all either coming off of a major injury or have missed significant time with injury in their career, while their defense lacks any above average players outside of their strength at the edge defender position. This looks likely to be another below .500 season for the Giants, although the arrow is pointing up by default for a team that has been one of the worst in the league in recent years.

Prediction: 6-11, 4th in NFC East