NFL executives surveyed anonymously after the preseason ranked the New York Giants 14th in the NFC, raising questions about the franchise's viability as a 2026 competitor.
The poll, conducted by The Athletic, used median rankings with average as a tiebreaker. The Giants received a median of 14 and an average of 13.3, with projected win totals near 7.5. Executives placed them mostly among sub-.500 teams or potential 2027 top-10 draft picks, with only one vote as a division contender.
Los Angeles and Seattle sat clearly at the top of the conference. Philadelphia and Dallas followed, while Chicago drew praise for its coaching and quarterback. The Giants were grouped with Atlanta and Arizona in a lower tier.
The ranking reflects lingering doubts about
whether a promising defensive core can carry a roster still sorting out its offensive identity.
The voter highest on the Giants pointed to their defense.
"They have a lot of pieces on defense, and I really liked their draft," this exec said. "(John) Harbaugh will play everything close, and they'll be in a ton of one-score games, and we'll see what happens in the moment of truth. They're a candidate for those games to play out really well."
Questions at quarterback, running back and receiver persist.
"I like the Giants' potential on defense," another exec said. "Abdul Carter, Arvell Reese, Brian Burns. But then I don't know how good that secondary is at corner. They lost Dexter Lawrence in the middle. On offense, Jaxson Dart's health, Cam Skattebo's health and Malik Nabers' health are all concerns. There's a lot of unknown."
Those health questions and the loss of interior presence after Dexter Lawrence's departure leave more uncertainty than most NFC clubs heading into September. John Harbaugh's reputation for keeping games close offers a path to surprise results in one-score contests, but the broader executive consensus is that the Giants remain a long shot to contend in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: NFL executives question New York Giants' viability in 2026
