Giants land at No. 4 on ESPN's ranking of NFL team talent under 25
The Giants were among the league leaders in snaps played by rookies last season, due in part to the performance of their 2024 draft class. The combination of the last two draft classes has led to the Giants' young talent earing some praise from the media.
ESPN's Aaron Schatz recently released his annual team rankings of the NFL's top talent 25 and younger. The Giants found themselves all the way up at No. 4, with the article highlighting wide receiver Malik Nabers, outside linebacker Abdul Carter, quarterback Jaxson Dart, and outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux as "blue-chip" players.
"The Giants' young talent includes a strong core with the four players named above, as well as a long tail of underperformers who still have the potential to develop into key starters," the article states. "Dart, this year's first-round pick, turned 22 in May. He'll be throwing to Nabers, who ranked an incredible sixth in the ESPN receiver tracking metrics as a 21-year-old rookie! Wan'Dale Robinson is in the slot at age 24, while starting tight end Theo Johnson is also 24.
"On defense, there are two young edge rushers. Thibodeaux is in his fourth NFL season and still won't turn 25 until Dec. 15. Carter, the No. 3 pick in this year's draft, is 21. The secondary features two 24-year-olds in safety Tyler Nubin and cornerback Deonte Banks, plus 23-year-old slot cornerback Dru Phillips.
The Giants got strong play out of their rookie class last season, led by Nabers' record-setting campaign.
But the impressive performance of last year's rookies go beyond the star receiver. Nubin finished second on the defense in total tackles, despite missing the final month of the season, while Phillips was one of Pro Football Focus' top cornerbacks in the entire league. Meanwhile, both Johnson and running back Tyrone Tracy showed flashes and look to play big roles in the offense in 2025.
When you add the '24 draft class with this year's rookies, in addition to members of the previous two draft classes, it's easy to see why there is a high level of confidence surrounding the young talent on the team.
"In terms of young players who could still blossom, the Giants will try 24-year-old former first-round pick Evan Neal at guard this season," Schatz added. "Deep threat Jalin Hyatt is still 23, while tight end Daniel Bellinger, who started eight games last season, is 24. Cornerback Cor'Dale Flott and safety Dane Belton are both in their fourth NFL seasons and combined to start 16 games in 2024. Flott doesn't turn 25 until next August, while Belton turns 25 in December."
Here are the top 5 teams in ESPN's ranking of team talent under 25
- Houston Texans
- Seattle Seahawks
- Washington Commanders
- New York Giants
- Chicago Bears
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OLB Abdul Carter (51)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
S Jevón Holland (8)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
OL Marcus Mbow (71), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
S Jevón Holland (8)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
WR Darius Slayton (18) and WR Malik Nabers (1)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
WR Montrell Washington (80)
WR Montrell Washington (80) and WR Zach Pascal (83)
DT Elijah Chatman (94)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81)
DT Elijah Chatman (94)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
S Raheem Layne (43) and CB Nic Jones (31)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
Head Coach Brian Daboll
T Evan Neal (73)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Russell Wilson (3), Former Head Coach, Tom Coughlin
QB Russell Wilson (3)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (88)
QB Russell Wilson (3), Former Head Coach, Tom Coughlin
Former Head Coach, Tom Coughlin
Former Head Coach, Tom Coughlin
Head Coach Brian Daboll
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
T Stone Forsythe (70)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
RB Cam Skattebo (44) and OLB Abdul Carter (51)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (44) RB Cam Skattebo (44)
S Jevón Holland (8)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
G Austin Schlottmann (65)
G Jon Runyan Jr. (76)
CB Art Green (35)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
S Jevón Holland (8)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) and RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
Head Coach Brian Daboll
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), Tom Coughlin
G Greg Van Roten (74)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
S Jevón Holland (8)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
CB TJ Moore (30)
S Jevón Holland (8)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81)
TE Jermaine Terry II (48)
WR Beaux Collins (8)
CB Nic Jones (31)
S Jevón Holland (8)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
WR Zach Pascal (83)
WR Dalen Cambre (5)
WR Zach Pascal (83)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) and OLB Brian Burns (0)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
G Aaron Stinnie (64)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Art Green (35)
G Aaron Stinnie (64)
RB Dante Miller (25)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
CB Korie Black (25)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
C Jimmy Morrissey (67)
Generic NY
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72) and OLB Brian Burns (0)
CB O'Donnell Fortune (39)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Malik Nabers (1)\
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) reacts during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants safety Jevon Holland (8) catches the ball during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) passes the ball during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fist bumps John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61) during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) hands the ball off to Cam Skattebo during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) huddles with teammates during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) reacts during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) greets fans during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) reacts during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns (0) talks with Abdul Carter (51) during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) passes the ball during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51) reacts during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) talks with Abdul Carter (51) during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) makes a catch during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
TE Greg Dulcich (89)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
S Jevón Holland (8)
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
P Jamie Gillan (6)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
K Graham Gano (9)
T Evan Neal (73)
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54)
T Stone Forsythe (70)
ILB Ty Summers (47)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
G Greg Van Roten (74)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
TE Chris Manhertz (85)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
G Jon Runyan Jr. (76)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
C Bryan Hudson (60)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
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