Entering training camp, the 2026 New York Giants might face more questions at wide receiver than at any other spot on the roster.
If you want to argue that there are as many or questions on the defensive line, fine. At least on offense, though, no position faces as many questions as wide receiver.
Malik Nabers’ availability
After two surgeries to repair the OCL he tore in Week 4 of the 2025 season, there have been questions about Nabers’ availability and effectiveness early in the season. GM Joe Schoen and head coach John Harbaugh
have maintained an optimistic tone throughout the offseason.
That continued this week when Harbaugh appeared on ‘The Dominique Foxworth Show.’ Harbaugh said “there’s a lot of optimism” about both Nabers and running back Cam Skattebo. Skattebo was already taking practice reps during mandatory minicamp as he recovers from last season’s dislocated ankle.
As for Nabers, Harbaugh said this:
“Malik will be working his way into practice as camp gets started one way or another. To what degree, we will find out.”
When, how much, and how effectively Nabers practices will be a major training camp storyline. He is the Giants’ best playmaker, and his presence obviously makes the offense better.
Do they have a WR2?
Darius Slayton has often been the second wide receiver for the Giants, sometimes a de facto No. 1 because there wasn’t anyone else. Slayton has surpassed 700 receiving yards four times in his seven-year career. Darnell Mooney has seasons of 1,055 and 992 receiving yards on his resume. He has averaged 51.5 receptions per season over six years in the NFL.
Slayton missed spring practices due to surgery to repair a sports hernia. He is coming off an inconsistent season during which he dropped 7.9% of passes thrown to him. Slayton’s 37 receptions and 538 receiving yards were the second-lowest totals of his career.
Slayton, though, has made a habit of exceeding expectations. He has fashioned a solid career after being a fifth-round pick. He re-established himself as a starter and productive player after Brian Daboll and his staff buried Slayton at the bottom of the depth chart in 2022.
Mooney’s best has been better than Slayton’s best, but there has been more volatility to his career. He has three seasons with less than 500 receiving yards, including 2025. Mooney, who signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Giants, had a quiet spring.
It is unfair to expect Odell Beckham, Malachi Fields, Calvin Austin, or any of the other receivers on the roster to contribute at a WR2 level. So, the Giants will be looking for Mooney or Slayton to step up.
How much will Malachi Fields contribute?
The rookie third-round pick looked good in spring workouts. He looked dangerous on slant passes, was a red-zone threat, and made some 50-50 catches.
It is important, though, to keep some perspective. Those were unpadded, non-contact practices with defensive backs instructed not to challenge 50-50 balls at the catch point as hard as they would in game conditions. That means the results can be skewed.
Still, it is impossible not to look at the 6-foot-4, 222-pound rookie out of Notre Dame and see that his skill set could help the Giants.
Fields’ training camp progress will be worth watching.
It is probably unfair to expect Odell Beckham, Calvin Austin, Malachi Fields, or anyone else to fill the second wide receiver spot. The Giants will likely look for one of Mooney or Slayton, if not both, to step up.
Can Odell Beckham make the team?
That is a question even Beckham can’t answer.
“God has given me one more opportunity to play. Whatever I do with that is that,” Beckham said in the spring. “I’m not saying this is my only year, and I’m not saying that I’ve got five more for you. I’m just looking at it like this is my opportunity now. We’ll see where it goes from there.”
The spring made clear that Beckham is no longer the explosive athlete who looks different when he moves than everyone else. What he is, though, is a player who can run routes, find creases in zone coverages, and catch the ball.
“I’m still moving at 20-21 miles an hour. I’m still finding ways to get open,” Beckham said. “It’s not going to be the 195-pound 2014 number one receiver who knows the ball is coming to him every single time. I (could) kind of cheat with a lot of things.
“It will be very attentive to detail, very locked in, knowing this is your opportunity. It’s just a different game. But I’m still ready, you know? 33 – it’s a great age.”
Training camp will answer two questions about Beckham:
- Can he stay healthy during a rigorous training camp? Beckham did not play last season, and has suffered a myriad of major injuries during his career.
- Can he produce enough to earn regular snaps as a third or fourth receiver? If he can’t, keeping him on the 53-man roster will be difficult because he won’t help on special teams.
Who will win the final roster spots?
If Nabers is ready Week 1, and everyone else is healthy, the following players figure to be on the roster;
- Nabers
- Slayton
- Mooney
- Austin
- Fields
The final spot, or two if the Giants keep a seventh wide receiver, is anybody’s guess.
I will be shocked if Jalin Hyatt or Xavier Gipson earn a roster spot. Valid arguments can be made, though, for Beckham, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Braxton Berrios, Isaiah Hodgins, Dalen Cambre, and Ryan Miller.
- It’s clear that Beckham still has ability, if not the explosiveness of his youth.
- Smith-Schuster is a veteran receiver with size, strong hands, and 50-50 ball ability that can prove valuable.
- Berrios fits nicely into the return man/capable depth wide receiver role Gunner Olszewski held before tearing an Achilles tendon.
- Hodgins is not dynamic, but has always been a quarterback-friendly target who gets where he is supposed to be and catches the ball. Like Beckham, he contributes nothing on special teams.
- Cambre and Miller both offer special teams ability valued in a bottom-of-the-roster player.
