Is John Harbaugh the adult in the room the New York Giants desperately need?
A coaching turnstile since Tom Coughlin's departure has led the franchise back to another respected old-school leader. Harbaugh won a Super Bowl and made a dozen playoff appearances in 18 years. Since claiming their last Super Bowl in 2011, the Giants have a single postseason victory and eight head coaches.
He's got a defense that could match the pressure and ferocity of his best front sevens in Baltimore. The offense is less established, with Jaxson Dart serving as a new, less heralded version of Lamar Jackson to build up as a dual threat monster (or flame out as a risk-underestimating maniac). Let's see what he's working with in 2026.
Key addition: EDGE/LB Arvell Reese
Reese has some Micah Parsons qualities
to him, in that he can line up across multiple positions and attack the pocket. When you've got Brian Burns and Abdul Carter ready to go on the edge, that makes him a devastating wild card who can generate pressure as a blitzer or drop into coverage and use his size and 4.4-second 40 speed to shut down tight ends. Head coach John Harbaugh can deploy him in a multitude of ways, keeping opposing quarterbacks and centers from diagnosing his defense with confidence.
That also creates a learning curve. Reese has the traits to do a little bit of everything. He fulfilled that potential at Ohio State under a former NFL head coach (defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, who has somehow restored his value there). But he needs to prove he can thrive in NFL coverage schemes and avoid taking the bait veteran quarterbacks will throw his way. Still, his ceiling is as high as anyone's on the roster -- and anyone from the 2026 NFL Draft class.
Key departure: WR Wan'Dale Robinson
The Giants need open targets to keep Jaxson Dart from scrambling face first into the concussion protocol. Robinson picked up the slack following Malik Nabers' injury last season, but now he's a Tennessee Titan. This would be a pothole and not a collapsed bridge on New York's road back to prosperity if not for concerning reports about Nabers' rehab. If the third-year wideout can't play effectively, Dart's top wideouts will be third round rookie Malachi Fields and a very washed combination of Darnell Mooney and Odell Beckham Jr. (it pains me to put Mooney here, but good god, his 2024).
Robinson expanded his route tree last fall to be more than just a short-range target. His true value came after securing the ball. His 419 yards after catch were 11th-most in the NFL — exactly the kind of production that boosts a young quarterback. The Giants may have correct not to pay big on one year of notable production, but if Nabers can't go this wideout depth chart starts to look a bit… depressing.
Potential 2026 breakout player: TE Isaiah Likely
Likely has been a useful offensive piece through his four-year NFL career. He's also had to split snaps with Pro Bowler Mark Andrews at tight end.
Former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh imported him to New York, where he'll be paired with Theo Johnson and a receiving corps with a still-recovering-from-an-ACL-tear Malik Nabers and third round rookie Malachi Fields at the top of the depth chart. Likely ranked 12th among qualified tight ends with 1.94 yards per route run (YPRR) in 2024; similar efficiency could lead to a big year for the Giants' needy offense.
Position ranks
- QB rank (expected points added per dropback, via RBSDM.com): 13
- WR corps rank: 24
- RB corps rank: 17
- TE corps rank: 17
Will they improve in 2026?
Yes. Largely in a boring and competent way that might even lead to the thick of the playoff race.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Giants 2026 season preview: Better, but in a boring way?
