The Giants.com crew members give their final thoughts heading into the Sunday night opener against the Cowboys.
John Schmeelk: I am ready for some real football. I think everyone is. We have watched hours of practice over the past four months. We saw a lot. We have learned a lot. We think we know a lot, but I want to revisit a quote from John Harbaugh from our radio interview before the final preseason game against the Jets. I asked him how much you can truly know about your team at the end of August.
"You get an idea," he said. "But you know when you know? When you start playing games for real. When you start playing regular-season games. Then you'll have a really good gauge."
Preseason can be a liar. Training camp and especially joint practices don't lie quite as much because there are so many reps to see, but no one knows anything for sure right now, even the people closest to the team. We know what the Giants' secondary looks like against the Giants' receivers, Dolphins, and whatever backups they played in the preseason. But I can't wait to see what they look like against CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Davante Adams and Puka Nacua in the first two weeks of the regular season.
We didn't get to see DJ Reader or Shelby Harris play in the preseason. What will they look like against a very strong Dallas interior offensive, even without an injured Tyler Smith? Will the run defense, from the line to the linebackers and all the way back to the defensive backs, perform well in live action?
Meanwhile, what will Malik Nabers look like in his first game since last September? What will the running back rotation look like? What parts of this offense will the coaching staff choose to feature and lean into when they start planning for specific opponents? How will Jaxson Dart look in a new offense?
There are so many questions and few answers right now. It is important to remember that strange things happen routinely in Week 1, and one game does not dictate an entire season. With that caveat, I can't wait to start getting some of the answers we are craving on Sunday night against the Cowboys.
View photos from practice as prep for the Giants' Week 1 matchup against the Cowboys gets underway.
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (3)
Head Coach John Harbaugh
LB Arvell Reese (52)
TE Isaiah Likely (9)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61), TE Chris Manhertz (85)
CB Greg Newsome II (20)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
DL C.J. Okoye (99)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
WR Odell Beckham Jr. (13)
WR Braxton Berrios (87)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Najee Harris (23)
WR Malachi Fields (88)
FB Patrick Ricard (45)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
Head Coach John Harbaugh
CB Colton Hood (33)
WR Jalin Hyatt (81)
S Jevón Holland (8)
DL C.J. Okoye (99)
OLB Abdul Carter (3)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
DL C.J. Okoye (99)
WR Odell Beckham Jr. (13)
QB Jake Haener (12)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
TE Chris Manhertz (85)
CB Greg Newsome II (20)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Malachi Fields (88)
WR Odell Beckham Jr. (13)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
OLB Abdul Carter (3)
WR Malachi Fields (88)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Greg Newsome II (20)
WR Malachi Fields (88)
Dan Salomone: The schedule-makers gave the Giants a big target to circle for the start of the John Harbaugh era. For the last four months, they have set their sights on a season that begins with a primetime matchup against the Cowboys. On top of that, it will be at home.
With one fell swoop, Harbaugh could override three glitches (at least for a few days in the week-to-week pressure cooker of the NFL). The consistently successful teams take care of divisional games, defend their home stadium, and put on a show under the lights.
Harbaugh has been successful at all three.
In 18 seasons, the Ravens were 63-45 against their own division, 102-45 at M&T Bank Stadium and 45-23 in night games. Additionally, Harbaugh is 12-6 in season openers, including 8-1 as the home team.
Of course, that doesn't amount to a hill of beans now.
The Giants need to earn the right to boast records like that. Harbaugh knows what it takes to get them there, and it includes a summer that will carry them into the fall and ideally deep into winter.
"I see why his teams are always physical," said cornerback Greg Newsome II, who faced Harbaugh regularly with the Browns. "His teams are always smart. They're not penalized much and everyone's pretty disciplined. I think that's a credit to what he does as a coach and just being a part of it this little time I've been here so far, I can tell why in late December and January, they're playing meaningful games every single year."
View photos of the New York Giants' 2026 roster as it currently stands.
CB Paulson Adebo
DL Darius Alexander
CB Deonte Banks
LB Zaire Barnes
WR Odell Beckham Jr.
OLB Brian Burns
DB Elijah Campbell
OLB Abdul Carter
QB Jaxson Dart
OL J.C. Davis
LB Tremaine Edmunds
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
TE Thomas Fidone II
WR Malachi Fields
DL Chauncey Golston
RB Najee Harris
DL Shelby Harris
S Jevón Holland
CB Colton Hood
OL Bryan Hudson
DL Bobby Jamison-Travis
TE Theo Johnson
CB Nic Jones
LB Jack Kelly
TE Isaiah Likely
TE Chris Manhertz
LS Ben Mann
OL Francis Mauigoa
OL Marcus Mbow
ILB Micah McFadden
WR Darnell Mooney
WR Malik Nabers
CB Greg Newsome II
S Tyler Nubin
DL C.J. Okoye
CB Dru Phillips
S Jason Pinnock
DL DJ Reader
LB Arvell Reese
FB Patrick Ricard
G Jon Runyan Jr.
C John Michael Schmitz Jr.
RB Devin Singletary
RB Cam Skattebo
G Aaron Stinnie
P Jordan Stout
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux
T Andrew Thomas
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr.
S Ar'Darius Washington
QB Jameis Winston
K Dominic Zvada
Matt Citak: After a long offseason that saw a lot of turnover, the Giants kick off the 2026 campaign this Sunday night against a familiar foe. With the season finally here, how much success the Giants have this year comes down to the same two major questions we've asked for months.
The first one comes on the offensive side of the ball. How big of a leap does Jaxson Dart make in Year 2? Dart showed plenty of flashes during his rookie campaign, totaling 24 touchdowns in just 12 starts. What made this performance even more impressive is the fact that it came after playing less than one half of one game with Malik Nabers. With the receiver back at practice, not to mention the additions of Isaiah Likely and several other talented targets, the passing game has a chance to take a big step forward this season. Four of the five starters on the offensive line have also returned, with the lone new member being top-10 pick Sisi Mauigioa. The continuity up front should help Dart and the entire offense hit the ground running starting this Sunday night.
The second big question is on the other side of the ball. Can this defense be dominant? On paper, the front seven has the potential to be among the best in the league, led by edge rushers Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Burns is coming off a career-high 16.5 sacks, Carter seemed to flip the switch over the final six weeks of his rookie campaign, and Thibodeaux enters a big year with a double-digit sack season previously under his belt. These three could set the tone for the whole defense this year, but don't sleep on two players behind them. The Giants transformed their corps with the additions of veteran Tremaine Edmunds and rookie Arvell Reese, providing the defense with a pair of long, athletic linebackers who can play sideline to sideline. Add in defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, who has a history of getting the most out of his secondary as a former defensive backs coach, and it's easy to see how this unit takes a giant leap this season. But just how big of a jump they make could determine how much success this team has. A Week 1 matchup against the high-powered Cowboys should be a good first test for the Big Blue defense.
View every move made by the New York Giants during the 2026 cycle.
WR Darius Slayton - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 7)
G Jon Runyan Jr. - Signed, 2-year contract extension (September 7)
QB Jameis Winston - Signed, 2-year contract extension (September 7)
LB Malik Harrison - Practice Squad Veteran (September 3)
DL Ben Barten - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 3)
OL Geno VanDeMark - Practice Squad (September 2)
DB JT Woods - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 2)
OL Kingsley Eguakun - Practice Squad (September 1)
WR Charlie Jones - Practice Squad Veteran (September 1)
OL Darian Kinnard - Practice Squad Veteran (September 1)
DB Elijah Jones - Practice Squad Exception (September 1)
DL Ben Barten, WR Dalen Cambre, FB Grant Finley, OLB Trace Ford, DB Raheem Layne, LB Chandler Martin, OL Ryan Schernecke - Practice Squad (August 31)
WR Braxton Berrios, WR Jalin Hyatt, DL Josh Tupou - Practice Squad Veteran (August 31)
QB Jake Haener, DB J.T. Woods - Practice Squad Exception (August 31)
OL Jarrod Gray - International Practice Player Signing (August 31)
CB Korie Black - Reserve/Injured / Designated for Return (August 30)
CB Art Green, K Ben Sauls - Waived, Injury Settlement (August 30)
DL Anquin Barnes Jr., DL Ben Barten, S Beau Brade, WR Dalen Cambre, FB Grant Finley, OLB Trace Ford, WR Xavier Gipson, RB Eric Gray, OL Jarrod Gray, QB Jake Haener, WR Jalin Hyatt, OL Jake Kubas, LB Chandler Martin, LB Darius Muasau, OLB Caleb Murphy, DL Zacch Pickens, OL Ryan Schernecke, S J.T. Woods - Waived, No Recall (August 30)
QB Brandon Allen, WR Braxton Berrios, TE Tanner Conner, DL Marlon Davidson, OLB Khalid Kareem, S Raheem Layne, OL Evan Neal, OL Lucas Patrick, DL Josh Tupou - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 30)
RB Damon Bankston, LB Anfernee Orji, WR Kobe Prentice - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
CB Ugo Amadi, TE Josiah Deguara, DL Leki Fotu, WR Isaiah Hodgins, OL Brenden Jaimes - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
WR Calvin Austin III - Reserve/Injured (August 27)
OL Joshua Ezeudu - Traded (to KC) for 2028 Seventh Round Pick (August 26)
TE Josiah Deguara - Free Agent Signing (August 26)
WR Kobe Prentice - Free Agent Signing (August 26)
WR Ryan Miller - Waived, No Recall (August 24)
DL Ben Barten - Claimed (off waivers from NYJ) (August 19)
OL Daniel Faalele - Traded (to JAX) for 2027 Sixth Round Pick (August 18)
RB Najee Harris - Free Agent Signing (August 18)
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster - Terminated, Vested Veteran (August 18)
QB Jake Haener - Free Agent Signing (August 17)
LB Chandler Martin - Free Agent Signing (August 17)
RB Dante Miller - Waived/Injured (August 17)
DB Sam Webb - Reserve/Retired (August 16)
DB Ugo Amadi - Free Agent Signing (August 13)
DB Sam Webb - Free Agent Signing (August 13)
CB David Long Jr. - Terminated, Vested Veteran (August 13)
CB DJ James - Waived/Injured (August 13)
S JT Woods - Free Agent Signing (August 10)
DL Sam Roberts - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 10)
OL Brenden Jaimes - Free Agent Signing (August 8)
CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse - Waived/Injured (August 7)
FB Grant Finley - Free Agent Signing (August 6)
TE Tyler Moore - Waived, No Recall (August 6)
DB David Long Jr. - Free Agent Signing (August 5)
DB D.J. James - Free Agent Signing (August 5)
DL Roy Robertson-Harris - Reserve/Injured (August 5)
WR Beaux Collins - Waived/Injured (August 5)
LB Anfernee Orji - Free Agent Signing (July 30)
DL Ben Barten - Waived, No Recall (July 30)
TE Thomas Fidone II - Passed Physical (July 28)
DL Sam Roberts - Passed Physical (July 28)
DL Marlon Davidson - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
TE Tyler Moore - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
DL C.J. Ravenell - Waived, Non-Football Injury (July 25)
LB Cam Jones - Waived, No Recall (July 25)
DL C.J. Ravenell - Claimed (off waivers from TEN) (July 7)
CB Rico Payton - Waived/Injured (July 7)
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster - Free Agent Signing (June 2)
K Jason Sanders - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (June 2)
WR Odell Beckham Jr. - Free Agent Signing (June 1)
WR Braxton Berrios - Free Agent Signing (June 1)
OL Jarrod Gray - Free Agent Signing: Exempt/International Player (June 1)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Reserve/Injured (June 1)
LS Zach Triner - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (June 1)
LB Arvell Reese - Selection List Signing (May 29)
OL Francis Mauigoa - Selection List Signing (May 27)
DL Josh Tupou - Free Agent Signing (May 27)
T Reid Holskey - Waived, No Recall (May 27)
OLB Khalid Kareem - Free Agent Signing (May 14)
CB Thaddeus Dixon - Reserve/Injured (May 14)
CB Colton Hood - Selection List Signing (May 12)
RB Damon Bankston - Free Agent Signing (May 8)
WR Malachi Fields - Selection List Signing (May 7)
DL Bobby Jamison-Travis - Selection List Signing (May 7)
OL J.C. Davis - Selection List Signing (May 7)
LB Jack Kelly - Selection List Signing (May 7)
DT Anquin Barnes, DL Ben Barten, CB Thaddeus Dixon, LS Ben Mann, OL Ryan Schernecke, K Dominic Zvada - Free Agent Signing (May 7)
LB Swayze Bozeman - Waived, No Recall (May 7)
DL Elijah Chatman - Waived, No Recall (May 7)
WR Courtney Jackson - Waived, No Recall (May 7)
DL Marlon Tuipulotu - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (May 7)
DL DJ Reader - Free Agent Signing (May 6)
DL Zacch Pickens - Claimed off Waivers from KC (May 5)
DL Leki Fotu - Free Agent Signing (April 30)
DL Shelby Harris - Free Agent Signing (April 30)
LB DeMarvin Leal - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (April 25)
LB Jack Kelly - Selected in the 6th Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 193 overall) (April 25)
OL J.C. Davis - Selected in the 6th Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 192 overall) (April 25)
DL Bobby Jamison-Travis - Selected in the 6th Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 186 overall) (April 25)
WR Malachi Fields - Selected in the 3rd Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 74 overall) (April 24)
CB Colton Hood - Selected in the 2nd Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 37 overall) (April 24)
OL Francis Mauigoa - Selected in the 1st Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 10 overall) (April 23)
LB Arvell Reese - Selected in the 1st Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 5 overall) (April 23)
DL Dexter Lawrence - Traded (to CIN) for 2026 First Round Pick (No. 10 overall) (April 19)
QB Brandon Allen - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 13)
OL Daniel Faalele - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 9)
WR Ryan Miller - Exclusive Rights Signing (April 7)
OL Lucas Patrick - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 6)
WR Da'Quan Felton, DB Patrick McMorris, DB T.J. Moore, DB Myles Purchase - Waived, No Recall (April 6)
K Graham Gano - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 30)
LB Cam Jones - Free Agent Signing (March 25)
LS Zach Triner - Free Agent Signing (March 24)
DL Sam Roberts - Free Agent Signing (March 23)
DB Elijah Campbell - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 20)
OL Joshua Ezeudu - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
WR Darnell Mooney - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
S Jason Pinnock - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 16)
WR Calvin Austin III - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
LB Zaire Barnes - Free Agent Signing (March 14)
P Jordan Stout - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 13)
CB Greg Newsome II - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 13)
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
S Ar'Darius Washington - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
CB Art Green - Re-signed (March 12)
TE Isaiah Likely - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
FB Patrick Ricard - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
LB Tremaine Edmunds - Free Agent Signing (March 12)
T Jermaine Eluemunor - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
K Jason Sanders - Free Agent Signing (March 11)
Chris Board - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 11)
P Jamie Gillan - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 11)
OL Evan Neal - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 11)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 11)
LB Micah McFadden - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 11)
OLB Caleb Murphy - Re-signed (March 10)
S Anthony Johnson - Waived, No Recall (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)
