There is a definite sense of optimism surrounding the New York Giants, and real excitement for what the team can be in 2026.
The Giants are considered one of the most likely teams in the NFL to make the leap from worst to first and could challenge the Philadelphia Eagles for the division crown. The biggest reason for that is the arrival of head coach John Harbaugh, but the Giants have also had a strong off-season that may have brought upgrades to almost every position on the field.
The first priority
for the Giants this off-season has been to build an environment in which Jaxson Dart can mature into a true franchise quarterback. ESPN polled their NFC East writers on the state of the teams they cover, and the very first question was how each team’s off-season impacts their respective quarterback.
Giants writer Jordan Raanan noted the Giants’ many additions to their skill positions as a potential improvement for Dart, but believes the (potential) improvements to the offensive line will have a bigger impact.
The Giants have contingencies for Jaxson Dart with the signings of tight end Isaiah Likely and wide receivers Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin III and even Odell Beckham Jr. Of course, it would also be nice if he had star wide receiver Malik Nabers at his disposal. Nabers is still recovering from a serious knee injury and remains uncertain for Week 1, although the Giants remain hopeful.
It would be a bit more than “nice” if the Giants have Nabers for the start of the 2026 season. That said, the Giants have certainly done a good job of giving themselves options when it comes to pass catchers. Isaiah Likely and Darnell Mooney will probably be quality additions to the offense, with the potential to be much more. Calvin Austin III has the potential to be an explosive weapon, while Beckham and Smith-Schuster could become reliable options for Dart.
There’s the potential for high variance with all these players, and they’re all more likely to hit their positive outcomes with Nabers on the field.
If Nabers isn’t ready to start the year, Raanan believes that the additions of Sisi Mauigoa and Patrick Ricard will help smooth things out while Nabers finds his way back to the field and rounds into form.
Still, the biggest offensive upgrades this offseason have been to the offensive line. Shhhh, don’t tell anyone. The Giants’ offensive line isn’t just fixed, it’s the strength of the offense after the additions of right guard Francis Mauigoa with the 10th draft pick and the signing of All-Pro fullback Patrick Ricard. The biggest thing Dart has going for him is that he should have the help of quality protection and a running game.
It’s honestly kinda weird that people still cite the Giants’ offensive line as a problem. I get it: Narratives go around the world while facts are still tying their shoes. But still, the Giants finished 11th in pass protection and 18th in run blocking. And that’s with Andrew Thomas (4 games), Jon Runyan Jr. (1 game), John Michael Schmitz (4 games), and Jermaine Eluemunor (1 game) all missing time last year. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that the Giants’ offensive line was a weapon against defenses, but it was certainly a “quality” unit.
Dart certainly wasn’t running for his life and was his own worst enemy when it came to protection at times
It will be interesting to see how the Giants’ running game changes with the new regime, as well as Mauigoa and Ricard. The Giants were 5th in rushing yards per game, rushing touchdowns, and rushing EPA last year, so it’s also not like that was lagging in any regard. That said, we do need to see the load shift from Jaxson Dart to the running backs.
Dart is one of the best running quarterbacks in the NFL, and legitimately runs like a running back. His vision and agility make his legs a weapon, but it should be a weapon of last resort. Fielding a top-5 running game that’s only supplemented — not driven — by the quarterback will be a big unlock for this team.
Turning back to Nabers, his status is a big concern for the Giants for a couple reasons. First and foremost, while the Giants have added a bunch of new pass catchers to their offense, Nabers’ presence what would allow them to play their “natural” roles.
He’s still the one elite player on the Giants’ offense. They need him healthy, and he’s already uncertain for the start of the season. It’s not exactly overly encouraging that Nabers was injured in Week 4 and isn’t a lock to be ready almost 11 months later. He had his right ACL and meniscus repaired and required a second surgery earlier this year to remove scar tissue. The Giants have their fingers crossed with their No. 1 receiver.
And even when he does come back, can they really expect him to be back to being a Pro Bowl-caliber player immediately? The whole situation is definitely concerning.
Perhaps Darnell Mooney or Darius Slayton could step up, or perhaps Odell Beckham Jr. or JuJu Smith-Schuster could turn back the clock if Nabers isn’t ready to start the season. However, Nabers not being a threat all over the field and forcing the defense scheme for him will be tough to replicate or scheme around for the Giants.
The other concern is whether the Giants can force defenses to respect their passing game without (or with a diminished) Nabers. We’ve mentioned this several times before, but it’s really the proliferation of split-field coverages (Cover 2 and Cover 4) that has driven the resurgence of the run game. Two deep safeties all but guarantees that offenses will see neutral or light boxes, which gives the offense the numbers advantage.
The hope is that the Giants will be able to lean on their run game to take the pressure off of Dart and the Giants’ pass catchers without Nabers. But will they be able to run like they want to if defenses don’t feel forced to play two-deep coverages?
Has the Giants’ offensive line been upgraded enough to win even when the numbers aren’t in their favor? And can the legion of new pass catchers make defenses pay for disrespecting them?
We’ll find out soon enough, but that has to be the single biggest question about the Giants as training camp approaches.
