How good the New York Giants will be in 2027 will come down to a few things. Most important will be coaching and quarterback play, but the play of the roster as a whole will support both.
The top end of the Giants’ roster boasts players who can be among the very best at their positions in the NFL. Andrew Thomas is among the NFL’s best left tackles, Malik Nabers has the potential to join the ranks of the elite receivers, and Brian Burns was in the DPOY conversation before Myles Garrett ascended to a higher
plane of sack existence.
But as the Brows tell us, a good team needs more than a handful of great players. A good team needs the unsung players to be great as well.
So for this week, we want to know who you think will be the Giants’ best hidden gem? Who will be the player that when other fans of other teams ask us who they should know about, we say, “You gotta watch this guy”?
- Center John Michael Schmitz – A section of the fanbase was almost eager to cast Schmitz aside this offseason and hand Tyler Linderbaum a historic contract. The Giants, however, opted to give Schmitz his fourth year to prove that he can continue to elevate his game. He’s steadily improved each of his first three years, suggesting this year could be his best yet. The addition of right guard Sisi Mauigoa could allow Schmitz to make use of his athleticism to out-leverage and out-position defenders in a similar way to Linderbaum.
- Running back Tyrone Tracy – Generally, when people talk about the Giants’ roster, Tracy is the forgotten man on the offense. The best folks at the national level can seem to muster is that “he’s a nice player”. However, of the 35 receivers, 20 running backs, and 12 tight ends drafted last year, Tracy was the only one to eclipse 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons. He seems to have cleaned up the fumbling issue that plagued his rookie year and has become a remarkably consistent and versatile producer as both a runner and receiver.
- Defensive tackle Darius Alexander – Alexander was considered a fringe first-round talent last year, but a remarkable defensive tackle class pushed him down to the Giants in the third round. He missed his entire spring due to an undisclosed medical issue, and it took a while for Alexander to get up to speed and flash the upside we saw on tape in college. However, he improved in the second half of the season and was a consistent presence in opponents’ backfields by the end of the year. The Giants have added a legion of experienced defensive tackles this year, but there’s still a massive void in their interior pass rush without Dexter Lawrence. Can Alexander take advantage of the opportunity?
- Nickel Ar’Darius Washington – The phrase “out of sight, out of mind” seems to come to mind with Washington. The undersized defensive back broke out for the Baltimore Ravens in 2024 and was an important part of one of the best defenses in the NFL that year. He was an absolute terror that year, and his versatility to execute both safety and slot corner responsibilities was very important to their scheme. Washington tore his Achilles tendon last offseason, but managed to return for the end of the year. Now Washington followed John Harbaugh to New York, and the Giants are returning to the style of defense in which he thrived two years ago.
There will, of course, be other players who emerge as important pieces, particularly if the Giants’ roster exceeds the national media’s expectations. But of those players who might play important parts without the national buzz, who do you think will be the hidden gem?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Giants fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
