The Giants.com crew members discuss players who could make a leap in 2026:
John Schmeelk: I like this question because it allows me to choose a young player or older player. The Giants have a number of veterans that I think could take a leap in 2026. I will look towards a younger player and choose Tyler Nubin. Safeties are very important to new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson's system. Nubin did not play up to his standard in 2025, but he still has the length, smarts, and ball skills that he showed in college.
I think Wilson will figure out a way to utilize those skills in Wilson's quarters-heavy system where he can support the run near the line of the scrimmage or range in the middle of the field. I am still a believer in Nubin's skills, and I think he could excel with Dennard Wilson.
View photos of every NFL player selected with the fifth overall pick since the first draft in 1936.
DT Mason Graham - Cleveland Browns (2025)
OT Joe Alt - Los Angeles Chargers (2024)
CB Devon Witherspoon - Seattle Seahawks (2023)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - New York Giants (2022)
WR Ja'Marr Chase - Cincinnati Bengals (2021)
QB Tua Tagovailoa - Miami Dolphins (2020)
LB Devin White - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019)
LB Bradley Chubb - Denver Broncos (2018)
WR Corey Davis - Tennessee Titans (2017)
CB Jalen Ramsey - Jacksonville Jaguars (2016)
G Brandon Scherff - Washington Redskins (2015)
LB Khalil Mack - Oakland Raiders (2014)
DE Ezekiel Ansah - Detroit Lions (2013)
WR Justin Blackmon - Jacksonville Jaguars (2012)
CB Patrick Peterson - Arizona Cardinals (2011)
S Eric Berry - Kansas City Chiefs (2010)
QB Mark Sanchez - New York Jets (2009)
DT Glenn Dorsey - Kansas City Chiefs (2008)
OT Levi Brown - Arizona Cardinals (2007)
LB A.J. Hawk - Green Bay Packers (2006)
RB Carnell Williams - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2005)
S Sean Taylor - Washington Redskins (2004)
CB Terence Newman - Dallas Cowboys (2003)
CB Quentin Jammer - San Diego Chargers (2002)
RB LaDainian Tomlinson - San Diego Chargers (2001)
RB Jamal Lewis - Baltimore Ravens (2000)
RB Ricky Williams - New Orleans Saints (1999)
RB Curtis Enis - Chicago Bears (1998)
CB Bryant Westbrook - Detroit Lions (1997)
DE Cedric Jones - New York Giants (1996)
QB Kerry Collins - Carolina Panthers (1995)
LB Trev Alberts - Indianapolis Colts (1994)
DE John Copeland - Cincinnati Bengals (1993)
CB Terrell Buckley - Green Bay Packers (1992)
CB Todd Lyght - Los Angeles Rams (1991)
LB Junior Seau - San Diego Chargers (1990)
CB Deion Sanders - Atlanta Falcons (1989)
DB Rickey Dixon - Cincinnati Bengals (1988)
LB Mike Junkin - Cleveland Browns (1987)
LB Anthony Bell - St. Louis Cardinals (1986)
LB Duane Bickett - Indianapolis Colts (1985)
DT Bill Maas - Kansas City Chiefs (1984)
LB Billy Ray Smith - San Diego Chargers (1983)
QB Jim McMahon - Chicago Bears (1982)
LB E.J. Junior - St. Louis Cardinals (1981)
RB Curtis Dickey - Baltimore Colts (1980)
WR Jerry Butler - Buffalo Bills (1979)
RB Terry Miller - Buffalo Bills (1978)
DE Gary Jeter - New York Giants (1977)
CB Mike Haynes - New England Patriots (1976)
DE Mack Mitchell - Cleveland Browns (1975)
DT John Dutton - Baltimore Colts (1974)
DT Dave Butz - St. Louis Cardinals (1973)
TE Riley Odoms - Denver Broncos (1972)
DE Richard Harris - Originally drafted by Philadelphia Eagles (1971)
DE Al Cowlings - Buffalo Bills (1970)
QB Greg Cook - Cincinnati Bengals (1969)
LB Fred Carr - Green Bay Packers (1968)
LB George Webster - Houston Oilers (1967)
G John Niland - Dallas Cowboys (1966)
QB Craig Morton - Dallas Cowboys (1965)
QB Pete Beathard - Detroit Lions (1964)
OT Bob Vogel - Baltimore Colts (1963)
RB Bob Ferguson - Pittsburgh Steelers (1962)
TE Mike Ditka - Chicago Bears (1961)
RB Tom Moore - Green Bay Packers (1960)
DB Dave Baker - San Francisco 49ers (1959)
WR Jim Phillips - Originally drafted by Los Angeles Rams (1958)
QB Len Dawson - Pittsburgh Steelers (1957)
DB Art Davis - Pittsburgh Steelers (1956)
LB Tom Bettis - Green Bay Packers (1955)
QB Cotton Davidson - Baltimore Colts (1954)
QB Ted Marchibroda - Pittsburgh Steelers (1953)
B Johnny Bright - Philadelphia Eagles (1952)
DT Bob Gain - Green Bay Packers (1951)
C Joe Watson - Detroit Lions (1950)
QB Stan Heath - Green Bay Packers (1949)
C Vaughn Mancha - Boston Yanks (1948)
E Hub Bechtol - Pittsburgh Steelers (1947)
T George Connor - New York Giants (1946)
WR Elroy Hirsch - Cleveland Rams (1945)
HB Steve Van Buren - Philadelphia Eagles (1944)
HB Mike Holovak - Cleveland Rams (1943)
HB Bob Westfall - Detroit Lions (1942)
HB Jim Thomason - Detroit Lions (1941)
HB Olie Cordill - Cleveland Rams (1940)
HB Bob MacLeod - Brooklyn Dodgers (1939)
HB Jack Robbins - Chicago Cardinals (1938)
C Mike Basrak - Pittsburgh Pirates (1937)
HB Jimmy Lawrence - Chicago Cardinals (1936)
Dan Salomone: It's the quarterback. It has to be. That's the exciting part of Jaxson Dart's rookie season because it was, well, his rookie season. It was one of the most productive starts to a Giants career and, by some measures, in the history of the league.
It was so good that it helped draw John Harbaugh and his 193 wins to the Giants. The next step in Dart's development is adding to that total.
"He got me fired up," Harbaugh said about conversations with Dart before he took the job. "I was the same way. I was ready to run through a brick wall after I talked to him. So, let's all be like that."
Dart is ready to do the same.
"Coach Harbs, we had conversations even before he even had the job and he's just somebody who instills a relentless mindset from an organization [standpoint], from a team standpoint," Dart said during Super Bowl Week. "So, I think as a competitor that's exactly what you want to be in. He has a ton of respect from everybody that's been around him league-wide. He's a coach that you can really look up to as a man of faith and just as a man in general of who he is as an individual and leader of men. I can't want to get at it."
If that doesn't make Giants fans leap to their feet, I don't know what does.
View photos from the Giants' suite in Indianapolis, where the team is gathered to evaluate the top draft prospects.
Matt Citak: I'm sure Dan could have guessed who I was going to write about for this one, as I have not been shy about making my feelings known about this player. After a 2025 rookie campaign that saw him take off at the end of the year, I think there are very big things in store for Abdul Carter in 2026.
After picking up a half-sack in Week 1, Carter went the next 11 games without at least a share. But a sack against the Patriots in Week 13 started a four-game stretch in which he contributed to a sack in every contest, which set a new franchise record for most consecutive games with a sack by a rookie since 1982. During that same stretch, he also recorded 23 quarterback hits, another rookie record for a four-game span. While his season totals may not jump off the page, Carter finished the season with 72 quarterback pressures, according to Next Gen Stats. This ranked seventh in the NFL and only five behind Cleveland's Myles Garrett for sixth. Carter also had 48 quick pressures (under 2.5 seconds), which led the entire league and were five more than the next highest player (Nik Bonitto had 43).
We often see rookies needing some time to get acclimated to life in the NFL before they really start performing up to their potential. This seems to be the case with Carter this past season. The young outside linebacker will enter the season at just 22 years old, making him one of the youngest players on the team. With John Harbaugh and an almost entirely new coaching staff now in the fold (other than Charlie Bullen, Carter's position coach from last season), and a defense that overall should be a lot better than it was in 2025, the sky is the limit for last year's No. 3 overall pick.
View every move made by the New York Giants during the 2026 cycle.
OLB Caleb Murphy - Re-signed (March 10)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Re-signed (March 6)
T James Hudson III - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 6)
LB Bobby Okereke - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 4)
WR Courtney Jackson - Free Agent Signing (February 13)
LB DeMarvin Leal - Reserve/Future (January 22)
DT Marlon Tuipulotu - Reserve/Future (January 13)
G Jake Kubas - Reserve/Future (January 7)
LB Swayze Bozeman - Reserve/Future (January 5)
TE Tanner Conner - Reserve/Future (January 5)
OLB Trace Ford - Reserve/Future (January 5)
T Reid Holskey - Reserve/Future (January 5)
S Patrick McMorris - Reserve/Future (January 5)
CB Myles Purchase - Reserve/Future (January 5)
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