New York Giants fans want to believe their team will be markedly improved from the 2025 team that went 4-13. If it is, ESPN analysts do not believe that will be because the 2026 lineup is that much better than the one the Giants fielded at the beginning of the 2025 season.
ESPN has ranked the Giants’ 2026 projected starting lineup 23rd out of 32 teams. A season ago, ESPN ranked the team’s projected starting lineup 27th. So, better in 2026. Not, though, that much better.
Below, comments from ESPN about
the roster along with some of my thoughts.
Biggest strength: Edge rusher. The Giants’ 41.3% pass rush win rate ranked fifth in the NFL last season, and the entirety of their elite edge trio is back for 2026. Brian Burns is the headliner after finishing second to only Myles Garrett with 16.5 sacks last season. Abdul Carter was as advertised as a rookie, finishing seventh in the NFL with 53 pass-rush wins. Kayvon Thibodeaux’s production was down with the addition of Carter, but he is as good as you’ll find for a third edge. No. 5 overall pick Arvell Reese will focus on off-ball linebacker, but he’d be the top edge rusher on a lot of teams and will get some pass-rush work, too. — Clay
Valentine’s View: This is impossible to argue with. Add Reese and Tremaine Edmunds, and that level of the team’s defense should clearly be the strength of the Giants.
Biggest weakness: Defensive tackle. New York is doing its best to patch up this position after trading away superstar Dexter Lawrence II. It’s a tough assignment after the Giants ranked 28th in the NFL in run stop win rate last season (28.3%) with Lawrence. Offseason signing Roy Robertson-Harris already tore his Achilles, leaving DJ Reader and Shelby Harris as potential starters (both are 32 and older) and the likes of Darius Alexander and Leki Fotu competing for significant roles. — Clay
Valentine’s View: Once again, no argument. “Patch up” is a good way to describe the approach after the Giants were forced to take after trading Lawrence. The Giants have used a volume approach, bringing in as many players as possible. How well any of them will do, or whether they can mesh into a good unit, is anybody’s guess.
X factor for 2026: TE Isaiah Likely. With Malik Nabers’ health in question to start the season, the Giants are going to need at least one other pass catcher to step up in a big way. The wide receiver group has pretty limited upside, but Likely still has some promise of becoming a star-level tight end. Now out from Mark Andrews’ shadow, is this the season Likely finally hits his ceiling? — Walder
Valentine’s View: Likely is the obvious choice for an X factor on offense. The Giants are paying him to be more productive than he ever was with the Baltimore Ravens, and they need Likely to justify the three-year, $40 million contract they gave him. On defense, Alexander or overall safety play come to mind.
Nonstarter to know: Alexander. The 2025 third-round pick is likely to be the third defensive lineman when the Giants are in their 3-4 base. Last season, Alexander had 3.5 sacks and made 13 run tackles with an average gain of 2.1 yards. Scouts Inc. had Alexander ranked as a late first-round talent before the 2025 draft. He can stack and shed blocks and plays well against double-teams. — Schatz
Valentine’s View: Whether he starts or not, Alexander will be a key to the success or failure of the defensive line. The Giants have collected a group on veteran journeymen along the defensive line. Alexander is the only young, highly drafted player in the group. Bobby Jamison-Travis, a sixth-round pick, is not “highly drafted.” Alexander is the only player with true upside who could be a real difference-maker.
