New York Giants

Projected Cap Space: -$9.1 million

Draft Picks: 7

• 1st (No. 5)
• 2nd (No. 37)
• 4th (No. 105)
• 5th (No. 143)
• 6th (No. 184)
• 6th (No. 190, MIA)
• 6th (No. 191, DAL)

Notable Free Agents: 

• WR Wan’Dale Robinson
• RT Jermaine Eluemunor
• CB Cor’Dale Flott
• S Dane Belton
• LB Micah McFadden
• QB Russell Wilson
• OL Greg Van Roten
• C Austin Schlottmann
• TE Daniel Bellinger
• DT D.J. Davidson
• DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches
• OT Josh Ezeudu
• OT Evan Neal
• TE Chris Manhertz

Top Three Needs

1 – Wide Receiver

New York feels pretty good about 2025 first-round QB Jaxson Dart after his rookie season. Concussions and availability were a big talking point, but Dart finished the year with 12 starts, over 2,200 yards passing, nearly 500 yards on the ground, 15 passing scores, nine rushing and 10 combined interceptions and fumbles. He’s a player the team will build around to see how far he can take them. 

Building up the supporting cast while he’s on his rookie contract will be paramount. While the team has Malik Nabers who looks like a budding superstar, he’s coming off of a major knee injury and it’s an open question mark if he will be ready Week 1. Regardless, New York needs more than just Nabers in the receiving corps, especially if they aren’t able to keep Robinson.

There are some other young skill players like TE Theo Johnson and RB Cam Skattebo who the Giants will try to feature this year to see if they can be big pieces of the offense. 

2 – Cornerback

This has been a recurring pain point for the Giants. Former first-round CB Deonte Banks has not established himself as a starter the team can be confident in, and he’s been outplayed by Flott. It took the Giants a few years to figure out the best role for Flott, and now that they have he’s poised to cash in as a free agent. If the team isn’t able to retain him, cornerback becomes a major need. 

New York spent big on free agent CB Paulson Adebo last year to try and solidify one corner spot, and they have 2024 third-round CB Andru Phillips as the top option at slot corner. Phillips has been a little up and down to start his career, however, giving the Giants another position to be on the lookout for an upgrade. 

3 – Linebacker

The Giants came into this offseason in an interesting spot, as there’s real talent on the roster. There are still plenty of holes to fill, though, and it’s easy to oversell how close the team is to contending. In addition to the positions mentioned, New York could use help at defensive tackle and guard. If Eluemunor leaves in free agency, right tackle becomes a big question, too.

Linebacker might be the shallowest, though. Veteran Bobby Okereke has manned the middle for a few years but there’s a strong chance he’s a cap casualty before the start of free agency. McFadden is on an expiring deal coming off a torn ACL, and there’s not much else to speak of on the rest of the depth chart. 

For a head coach like John Harbaugh who’s accustomed to elite linebacker play and values the position more than some of his peers, this stands out as an area the Giants could prioritize above some other needs that could be debated have stronger positional value. 

One Big Question

Can Harbaugh lift the Giants back to respectability?

There’s a reason the Giants went all out to woo Harbaugh this offseason when he was fired by the Ravens, courting him in what became a very public chase and dramatically reorganizing their team structure to accommodate him. Coaches with his track record seldom become available. In 18 years with the Ravens, Harbaugh notched 12 playoff appearances, just one season with fewer than eight wins and a Super Bowl ring. Through it all, Harbaugh guided the team through multiple major transitions, whether it was losing Hall of Famers on defense or navigating a switch at quarterback. The former special teams coach is outstanding at building a culture of resiliency and adaptability. 

Contrast that resume with the last 10 years of Giants football since former HC Tom Coughlin stepped down. New York has had more than six wins just twice in that span and has cycled through four different head coaches and three different general managers. There’s been a lot of bad football and dysfunction. It’s no wonder the Giants went to such great lengths to secure a coach like Harbaugh, who has a proven track record of stability. 

Expectations will be high this upcoming season for the Giants and that’s not unrealistic. They have a promising young quarterback, some stars on both sides of the ball and are adding a coach who is probably one of the ten best in football. Still, there are still holes and question marks on the roster. Dart has to stay healthy and fend off a sophomore slump. It could take Harbaugh time to change as much as he wants within the Giants’ organization as a whole. And there’s a little nagging concern about how Harbaugh was fired by the Ravens after years of failing to reach the Super Bowl with two-time MVP QB Lamar Jackson. 

There are some real challenges for Harbaugh to overcome here, even if history says he’s up to the task.