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[New York Giants]

Can Dalen Cambre be the next great special teams-first NFL player?

Dalen Cambre (11) celebrates a field goal. | Andrew Wevers-Imagn Images

Cambre is listed as a wide receiver, but the undrafted rookie is on the roster for a different reason

Dalen Cambre is probably the biggest underdog on the New York Giants’ 90-man roster.

Cambre is a 6-foot, 192-pound undrafted free agent who caught 10 passes in a five-year collegiate career with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns.

How did Cambre land a chance with an NFL team with stats like that?

Well, it’s because he is a tremendous special teams player, having earned first-team All-America honors from Pro Football Focus and second-team from College Football Network.

Cambre had nine special teams tackles in 2024 and was the team’s holder for placekicks. He made 17 tackles over the past three seasons. Cambre blocked two punts and returned a fumble for a touchdown during his time at Louisiana.

Cambre put up outstanding numbers in his Pro Day, including a 4.43 40-yard dash.

Can Cambre follow in the footsteps of Steve Tasker, who didn’t catch a pass his final two collegiate seasons at Northwestern but made seven Pro Bowls during a 14-year career as a special teamer, or Nate Ebner, a rugby player growing up who had a 10-year career as a standout special teamer? Even Gunner Olszewski, who returned punts for the Giants in 2023, was a collegiate cornerback at tiny Bemidji State who found his way to the NFL as a return man/wide receiver.

Right now, it is hard to tell. Cambre has shown quickness and reliable hands as a receiver during spring practices, but until we get into preseason games it is going to be impossible to see if his collegiate special teams success will translate to the NFL.

There will be intense competition for the final one or two wide receiver roster spots this summer, and special teams can be a deciding factor. Most likely, though, landing on the practice squad would be a great outcome for Cambre.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/6/...the-next-great-special-teams-first-nfl-player

 

[New York Giants]

Giants mandatory minicamp, Day 1: Live updates

Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Follow along as the Giants hold the first of two minicamp workouts

The New York Giants open their two-day mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. It’s a gray, wet day in East Rutherford, N.J., and a busy one at the Medowlands Sports Complex with World Cup action going on across the parking lot.

Practice begins at 11 a.m. Before that, offensive position coaches and head coach Brian Daboll will be available to media beginning at 10:30.

Stay tuned for all the details, and for an in-person practice report later in the day.

For now, follow along here for details, thanks to the wonders of social media.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/6/17/24450762/new-york-giants-mandatory-minicamp-day-1-live-updates

 

[New York Giants]

Giants trivia: Your in-5 daily game, Thursday edition

Think you can figure out which Giants player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

We’re back for another day of the Big Blue View in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in the Google Form.

Today’s Big Blue View in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Monday, June 16, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Big Blue View in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Giants player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/6/19/24452050/sb-nation-giants-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[New York Giants]

Abdul Carter headlines preseason ‘All-Rookie’ defense

John Jones-Imagn Images

Expectations are high for the third pick in the draft

There’s a strange feeling around the New York Giants.

I know it’s not food poisoning, I did that last Halloween and I definitely don’t recommend. But is it? Could it be...

Something approaching ‘hope’ or ‘optimism’?

Yeah, that might be it.

One of the biggest reasons for that strange “hopeful” feeling is how the Giants managed the top of the 2025 draft. They were able to not only secure Abdul Carter, who might wind up being the best player at any position in the draft, as well as their (potential) quarterback of the future in Jaxson Dart.

Nobody is expecting much from Dart this year, and the hope here is that he’s a Pro Bowl clip board holder as a rookie.

But Carter is a different matter entirely. He’s expected to be a major part of the Giants’ defense and help power a defensive resurgence for Big Blue. Expectations are so high for Carter that he’s headlining NFL.com’s 2025 All-Rookie defense.

Edge - Abdul Carter (Round 1, 3rd overall)​

[Prospect Profile]

Widely considered the best defensive player in this draft class, Carter is unsurprisingly the favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year. His explosiveness off the edge jumps off the screen, but with Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux in place as the incumbent outside linebackers, what’s the plan with the No. 3 overall pick? Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen sees it as “a really good problem to have.” And he’s not wrong: You can never have enough good pass rushers.

“Ultimately, we want to get our best 11 on the field,” Bowen said last month. “Whatever way we gotta maneuver to do that, we gotta find ways to get the guys that can impact the game on the field.”

Carter is undoubtedly one of the best 11 on this defensive roster, and playing alongside Burns, Thibodeaux and DT Dexter Lawrence, the rookie’s poised to get the kind of one-on-one matchups he can feast on.

It really isn’t a surprise that Carter is the first defender listed in this exercise. As noted, he’s frontrunner for DROY and there’s an expectation that he’ll have a similar impact as Micah Parsons as a rookie. Giants’ defensive line coach Andre Patterson compared Carter to Elvis Dumervil for his natural ability to win rushes and get into the backfield.

As a refresher, Parsons had 13.0 sacks, 30 QB hits, 20 tackles for a loss, and 84 total tackles, and 3 forced fumbles as a rookie.

As noted in NFL.com’s piece, Carter will be sharing the field — and snaps — with Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, as well as Dexter Lawrence.

Burns had one of the best pass rush win rates in the NFL last year despite playing through multiple injuries (groin, ankle, and neck are the ones we know about), while Lawrence was arguably the best pass rushing defensive tackle in the NFL prior to his own injury. Thibodeaux is also underrated as a pass rusher (more on that next week) so it might just be a true race to the quarterback for the Giants’ defensive front.

The question of how Shane Bowen gets all his rushers onto the field is going to be a fascinating one.

We’ll get far more information once the pads go on in training camp, but so far the Giants are moving Carter around the defensive front. He’s played EDGE, off-ball linebacker, and rushed from a defensive tackle alignment in practices this spring.

The speculation here (myself, personally) is that he’ll continue to be a wildcard for the Giants’ defense. My expectation is that he’ll play off-ball linebacker on early or short downs, drawing on his experience prior to 2024 at Penn State, before moving to somewhere along the line of scrimmage on late or long downs. The biggest weakness in his scouting report is a (relative) lack of play strength, as well as playing the run as an edge defender. Leaning into Carter’s versatility will allow the Giants to hide his weaknesses while also putting him in position to use his explosiveness to disrupt behind the line of scrimmage.

Carter might not rack up the same kind of numbers as Parsons, but he certainly seems likely to be an “instant impact” player.

Elsewhere in the NFC East

Unfortunately, Carter isn’t the only defender in the NFC East to get a mention on the All-Rookie defense.

Dallas Cowboys’ second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku (edge, Boston College - prospect profile), and Washington Commanders’ second-round pick Trey Amos (CB, Mississippi - prospect profile) both made the team as well.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/6/...dge-abdul-carter-preseason-all-rookie-defense

 

[New York Giants]

Fantasy Football ‘25: 3 Quick fixes to improve your league

Baker Mayfield: A bargain in 1-QB Leagues | Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Being open to change can enhance your league

Welcome back, readers! Summer officially starts this weekend, and that means draft prep for season-long, redraft fantasy leagues is underway. In case you missed it, my recent fantasy columns here at Big Blue View include the safest players and riskiest players for 2025, a beginner’s guide to Fantasy Football, and burning questions for the 2025 season.

As the summer gets rolling and the 2025 NFL season gets closer, I’ll have a lot more fantasy draft prep content for you right here at Big Blue View, including player rankings and tiers, players I’m avoiding and targeting at Average Draft Position (ADP), sleepers, draft strategy pieces, and more. So please check back regularly for new content. My columns are easy reads at the beach!

If you’ll indulge me today, I’m going to climb up on my soapbox one more time. Fantasy football is a great game, but it can be even better if leagues are willing to evaluate and tweak the rules and format. Today I’m offering three quick fixes to improve your league(s). Since lots of leagues implement rule changes in June and July, hopefully this article is timely.

Readers who followed my content at my old Pigskin Papers website have heard some of this (and more) from me before. I also posted a quick fixes piece at Big Blue View last summer. I won’t call myself a crusader, but I’ve given these topics a lot of thought over the years, and my own playing experience in 30-plus years in my main league (which has implemented almost all of the changes I’ve talked about in my columns, and more) has been extremely positive and rewarding. Like all games, fantasy football can be improved.

Fantasy football has been around since the early ‘60s. It’s grown into a multi billion-dollar industry, with tens of millions of people around the globe playing across a variety of daily, dynasty, best-ball, and redraft formats. Over time, “standard” versions of each format have taken hold, and most participants just accept the rules as they are. But fantasy managers control their leagues and can change league rules and settings to suit them. Many of the big hosting websites (like My Fantasy League (MFL), for example) are very flexible when it comes to settings and scoring. I like to think of the “standard” fantasy football format as nothing more than a guideline, as opposed to something sacrosanct that was handed down on a mountain.

Resistance to change is natural. But hear me out. You’re playing a great game with some dumb rules and settings. My focus is primarily season-long redraft leagues but some of the changes I’ll discuss work for other formats as well.

Note: All season-long player rankings shown below are for Half Point PPR, are on a points per game basis, and Week 18 is excluded.

Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images
These 2 absolute studs falling to the end of Round 2? Wait, what?

1. Superflex – Yes, it IS the Flex I think it is

More and more leagues are moving to a Superflex (SF) format, and that’s a good thing. But there are still way too many 12, 10 and eight-team leagues out there where only one quarterback is permitted in the starting lineup. In a SF league, there is an extra Flex spot and it can be a QB, so the vast majority of teams in a SF format start two quarterbacks each week. Oh, and if you’re in an eight-team league...c’mon, man. Find two more warm bodies!

Quarterback is the most important position in football (and probably in all of team sports), Quarterbacks are by far the highest-paid players in the NFL, and QBs are the highest-scoring players in fantasy. Last season, the entire top six and eight of the top 10 fantasy scorers were QBs. But due to a lack of positional scarcity, quarterback has been greatly devalued in fantasy, to the point that in 1-QB leagues, it’s typical for no quarterbacks to go in the first 15-20 picks.

Right now, using a 1-QB setting, Josh Allen has the highest ADP of any quarterback, at No. 25. Sure, ADP is a little wonky in June, and he’ll probably settle in at an ADP of around 20 when draft season rolls around. Still, that’s crazy. Allen has finished as the No. 1 or No. 2 overall player in fantasy for FIVE straight seasons. You heard that right – FIVE! He’s also remarkably durable and boasts the longest consecutive starts streak among QBs, at 117 (including playoffs), which is more than double the next best active streak (Jared Goff). Without question, out of every player you could consider drafting this season, he’s the single safest bet to finish at or near the very top in fantasy points. He’s the definition of fantasy gold. And yet, there are currently 24 players ahead of him in ADP. Really? Really.

The absurdity continues as you move down the board. In 1-QB leagues, plenty of excellent fantasy quarterbacks will be available well into the middle rounds. Using current ADPs, QB9 Kyler Murray (the No. 16 overall fantasy scorer last season) has an ADP of 91 (mid-eighth round in a 12-teamer). There is simply too much supply of quality at the position, and it severely depresses the value of quarterbacks. Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, Jordan Love and other very productive QBs are ranked outside the Top-12 at the position this season. That means they probably aren’t going to be every-week starters in a lot of leagues, despite the fact that they’re all likely to finish among the Top-25 overall fantasy scorers.

Love is a case-in-point. He finished last season as the QB12, which made him at best a borderline starter in a 12-team league. But he was also the overall No. 18 in total points scored. In a 1-QB league, too many high-scoring players at the quarterback position are either riding the bench or worse, sitting on the waiver wire, every week.

By doubling the number of starting quarterbacks across a league, SF market-corrects by creating an appropriate level of positional scarcity. It realigns quarterback value so that it’s closer to actual fantasy scoring value. In a SF draft, you can expect at least half of the first-round picks to be quarterbacks, and many more come off the board in subsequent early rounds. Shouldn’t the highest fantasy scorers be drafted early? SF also increases the options for employing different draft strategies.

While I think moving to SF is a no-brainer, I don’t recommend it for leagues that are larger than 12 teams. In those cases, you can start to run too thin at the position, and especially with the frequency of quarterback injuries, plus the presence of Bye weeks. But for everyone else, if you aren’t already there, you should seriously consider the SF format. If your Commissioner resists, send him or her my way.

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Want Ja’Marr Chase? You’ll need to get VERY lucky with your draft slot.

2. Snakes are sinister creatures – switch to an auction draft!

The vast majority of redraft leagues employ a snake draft, where fantasy managers simply take turns drafting players. It’s like the annual NFL draft, but for the snake feature: Round 1 goes 1-12, then Round 2 goes 12-1, and so forth. Seems like a good idea that promotes fairness, right?

Let’s wait a second before answering that. Do you covet Saquon Barkley or Ja’Marr Chase this year? Bijan Robinson? Jahmyr Gibbs? Sure! Who wouldn’t? Well, if your league has 12 teams and employs a snake draft, then going in, you’ve probably got about a 25-30% chance of drawing a random draft slot number that will give you an opportunity to draft even one of these four stars, and you have no chance whatsoever of drafting two of them. That in and of itself is a major indictment of snake drafts, and it goes beyond the first few rounds, as throughout the draft, there will be players that you won’t be able to consider taking without either reaching or getting very lucky.

I get the appeal of a snake draft—it’s easy, fast, convenient, and players within a certain range just kind of fall to you each time it’s your turn. Yes, there’s plenty of positional strategy and some skill, but if you really want to enhance the fantasy draft experience, then try an auction draft. In an auction draft, franchises take turns nominating players, and each player goes to the highest bidder.

The advantages of an auction draft are many. In a nutshell, it’s 100% egalitarian with no preset advantage or disadvantage based on draft slot, you’re never blocked from getting specific players unless and until you don’t have enough money left to bid on someone you want, there’s more strategy and skill involved, and it’s more gratifying if you’re able to construct a strong team. I also think it’s more fun. Draft night comes just once per year, and in most cases, it’s a group of people who have a history and like being together. So why rush it? If need be, it can be done remotely, just like a snake draft. Try an auction once and it’s unlikely that you’ll ever go back. Going once, going twice…GONE.

Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images
Waiver adds can win leagues — so why not make it fair?

3. Fix the waiver wire process

I have never understood why the vast majority of fantasy leagues process waivers on Tuesday night at midnight. At that time, almost every NFL team has yet to practice for the upcoming week, and information about player availability for that week (and beyond) is limited.

Waiver runs should be no earlier than Wednesday midnight, and Thursday afternoon is even better. Why not give owners as much information as possible before they need to make decisions on drops and pickups? Seriously, if anyone can tell me why Tuesday waivers isn’t one of the dumbest things out there, please drop a comment below and enlighten me. And while we’re here, any league that still allows open waivers on a first come-first served basis (before league-wide waivers are processed for everyone) should be shut down by the Fantasy Police. I’m not done - if you’re still using priority waivers, that’s dumb, too, so get rid of that. OK, I need to take a breath.

I’m back. The best system, which many leagues now use, is a free agent acquisition budget (FAAB), where each franchise starts with a fixed cap to spend on free agents for the duration of the season ($100 or $200 is typical), and blind bids are used to process weekly free agent claims. If you change nothing else, at least make the acquisition of free agents a fair process.

OK, that pretty much covers it. And consider yourselves lucky, because I spared you my rant on the biggest change I’d like to see take hold, which is to get rid of head-to-head play. In my view it’s the most consequential improvement your league can make, and there are some very good options to use instead, that fairly reward the better teams. But that’s another story for another time.

While we’re here: Full-point PPR is too rich. A screen pass for no gain (or worse) is worth the same points as a 10-yard run. That’s no bueno. Half-point PPR is more sensible. And last but not least, using individual defensive players (IDP) is more fun than having a team defense/special teams. D/STs are the ultimate crapshoots, and the fact that people will sometimes bench a D/ST on Monday night to assure a win is reason enough to eradicate it as a feature of the game.

OK, NOW I’m really done. Thanks for listening! If you’ve got other rule changes you’d like to see, please drop them in the comments.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/6/...tball-25-3-quick-fixes-to-improve-your-league

 

[New York Giants]

When will Jaxson Dart start? ‘Pretty darn early,’ says NFL insider

Jaxson Dart | John Jones-Imagn Images

Daniel Jeremiah thinks Dart will be the Giants’ QB before the season is half over

Add NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah to the list of those who think this will not be a full redshirt season for New York Giants’ rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.

“I think he’s got a chance to play pretty darn early here,” Jeremiah told Rich Eisen. “You just kind of listen to the words of Brian Daboll and you get the sense, this was his guy. He’s invested in him, and he seems to really, really like him ... it sounds a little different the way he’s talking about him.

“To me that makes it sound like , hey, this isn’t something that this is a redshirt year for him as they hand the ball to Russell Wilson for a full season. I think we’re gonna see a lot of Jaxson Dart this year.”

Jeremiah’s prediction for Dart’s first start? Week 7 against the Denver Broncos, a game that comes after a 10-day layoff for the Giants.

If the Giants are not winning enough games to legitimately feel they are contending for a playoff spot, there could easily come a point in time when it no longer makes sense for Dart not to play.

Could that be Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints? Week 7 vs. Denver, as Jeremiah predicts? Week 9 vs. the San Francisco 49ers? Week 13 vs. the New England Patriots? Week 15 against the Washington Commanders following the Giants’ bye?

No matter how the season unfolds for the Giants, there will constantly be an undercurrent of wondering when Dart will play.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/6/...dart-start-pretty-darn-early-says-nfl-insider

 

[New York Giants]

Big Blue View mailbag: Phil Simms, Darius Alexander, reasons for optimism, more

The mail’s here!

Bob Donnelly asks: It’s the season for optimism. Some are very excited about the additions made to the Giant’s defense and foresee it being a top 10 if not a top five unit in 2025. Given their schedule, and at this very early juncture, do you view this as a possibility?

Ed says: Bob, strip everything else away and the one defensive stat that matters, really matters, is points allowed. Despite going 3-14, getting only five interceptions, losing Dexter Lawrence for a bunch of games, and being 24th in the league in yards allowed per rushing attempt, the Giants finished last season 20th in the NFL in points allowed at 24.4 per game.

The Houston Texans finished 10th in the league in points allowed, averaging 21.4. That is a difference of exactly three points per game, in case you’re bad at math. So, with obvious improvements in the defensive front seven that could turn a good pass rush into an exceptional one while also improving the run defense, and a secondary that should make more plays on the ball, I don’t think it is unreasonable to believe the Giants can be a top 10 defense in 2025.

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rjalbro asks: Ed, is the Giants punter doing and practice field goals in camp? It would seem logical if he is needed in an emergency.

Ed says: RJ, no, Jamie Gillan does not practice field goals, extra points or kickoffs on any type of regular basis. He might do that on a rare occasion, but not with regularity. Conversely, the field goal kickers do not practice punting. I have seen placekicker Graham Gano walk through the steps of punting, something he has done in the NFL in emergency situations, but never actually punt in practice.

Remember, it is a looooooong season. There is a lot of wear and tear on the legs of kickers and punters — for most of the season, if not all, they have no one to share kicking reps with. Keeping them healthy and at their best when they are needed on game days is part of the process. It is why a lot of the “punting” done in NFL practices is actually done by a JUGS machine.

Punting and placekicking are vastly different kicking motions. Asking a kicker to practice both skills on a regular basis is dramatically increasing wear and tear and increasing the chance of injury.

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Lou Catalano asks: I’m interested in your position regarding the HOF merits of Phil Simms vs Eli Manning. In my mind, Simms is far more worthy of the honor, especially given the constraints under which he operated with Bill Parcells. He won only 1 Super Bowl, had the team in the position to win their second and unfortunately got injured before the team actually won it. He still owns the completion record for the Super Bowl and was a SP MVP in his own right. Eli, while having made huge plays in his 2 Super Bowls and was voted MVP in both, does not strike me as HOF worthy. The argument can certainly be made that defensive players were more valuable than Eli in both SB XLVII and SB XLVI. He was a good, not great, player, and in my opinion, the voters got it right in bypassing him last year. Your thoughts?

Ed says: Lou, I have been clear over the years that I believe Eli Manning is a Hall of Famer. I know about the regular season record, etc., but in my view success at the biggest moments matters more. Manning has two of the greatest playoff runs, and Super Bowl victories, ever.

As for Simms, even he doesn’t believe he should be in the Hall of Fame. Maybe if he had quarterbacked all the way through the second Super Bowl run, but I don’t think there is a case to be made.

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Laurence Roth asks: I don’t get why the Giants/Jets management just don’t put down natural turf for the season? How much can it cost compared to losing a top player to an injury? Seems so petty and counter-productive. Why the hesitation?

Ed says: Laurence, John Mara has been consistent about this. With two NFL teams playing there, sometimes on back-to-back days, combined with the weather conditions as you get into the latter parts of the season, the teams don’t feel they can maintain a grass surface at an acceptable condition.

They would like to, and John Mara has said the day might come when they feel like they can. This was Mara a year ago:

“I want to get to the point where the experts can tell us that late in the season we can have a safe, playable grass field, and when we get to that point, then maybe we’ll make the switch,” Mara said at the NFL Annual Meeting on Monday afternoon.

“We’re not there yet.”

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Patrick Morris asks: I was checking the predicted compensatory picks from Overthecap. I was a little surprised to see that Minnesota was predicted to get a 4th round compensatory pick for Daniel Jones. I understand if a player is cut, the team doesn’t get a comp pick. But it would seem a little surprising that the Vikings paid Jones less than $500,000 for less than a year, let him get signed away for free agency, and garner a 4th round comp pick for it. Is this why the Vikings signed Jones in the first place? For the potential comp pick?

Ed says: Patrick, I am sure it was one of the reasons. They had to also believe he might be worthwhile insurance if Sam Darnold were injured. This was a shrewd move by the Vikings.

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Kölnerbigblue asks: Ed, other than kicking FGs, how many ST reps are there typically in minicamp particularly with the restrictions on meaningful contact?

Ed says: Very few. There are walk-through reps and special team drills, but no real full 11-on-11 team drills.

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Mark P. Lynch asks: It seems at every opportunity Goodell mentions 16 INTL. games and a 18 game schedule. Like Thanos he sees this as inevitable. So the the question is beside an extra game check what concessions do you see the PA asking for. Maybe an expanded roster, say 56 players with 50 active for game day and maybe a second bye week with schedule being expaned so Super Bowl weekend is on MLK weekend ... what have heard or speculate.

Ed says: Mark, this is not something I have asked anyone about. I think players would insist on a second bye week, and they should get it. I have heard the idea floated that other than kickers, long-snappers and quarterbacks, each player would a maximum of 16 games, meaning you would need to replace each player for at least two games. I also believe players would ask for an expanded roster, perhaps to 55. I would also like to see the elimination of game day inactives.

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Adoconn asks: In the article about our D being “Most Interesting” you mentioned we allowed 24.4 points per game. If we use last year as the measuring stick - What would last year look like if the D allowed one less field goal or TD? If Wilson can get one more field goal, how would that change last year’s stats? I’m looking to set an acceptable expectation for this year.

Ed says: The Giants were 1-8 in one-score games a season ago. Allowing three fewer points and scoring a little bit more changes the result of a number of games.

The scenario you are laying out is what the Giants are hoping for. They ended up 1-9 in games decided by 10 points or less. Go 5-5 in those games and that’s a 7-10 record. Not great, but not embarrassing.

I don’t know what an “acceptable expectation” is. The schedule is going to be difficult, but if the Giants can win a better percentage of those close games they have a chance to take a step forward.

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Ben Goldstein asks: One of of the knocks on Darius Alexander is his age. While I get the appeal of unknown potential when a drafting young player, given that players need to be physically mature, there is little development time in the NFL season and few will sign a (expensive) second contract, let alone third, is there some inefficiency to be exploited by targeting older college players that are more physically and emotionally mature. Are there any data on impact of older prospects? Obviously hard to compare since only stronger prospects leave early, but maybe the covid exceptions (and rise of nils) keeping kids in school longer give some insight.

Ed says: Ben, I don’t know that being 24 is a “knock” on Alexander. Maybe some teams would take a player a couple of years younger if both had the same grade on their board, but I don’t know that for sure.

Defensive line coach Andre Patterson told me the other day that he thinks Alexander’s age and maturity helps him learn.

Maybe NFL teams have some internal data on performance of players drafted at different ages. I don’t know of any.

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Roberto Iglesias asks: Giants are predicted to have a really good defense this year.

Why not have an all time defense by trading for Trey Hendrickson of the Bengals? Kayvon Thibodeaux & 1st I’m sure that offer can get them to agree. They can offer 4 years, $100 mil. Do you think that it is possible?

Ed says: No offense, Roberto, but I don’t think a world exists where that trade is possible.

Let’s talk about the money first. Premier pass rushers are now getting $35 million a year or more. Myles Garrett just got a four-year, $160 million deal from the Cleveland Browns, $40 million per year. Maxx Crosby got a three-year, $106.5 million deal from the Las Vegas Raiders, $35.5 million annually. You honestly think Hendrickson, with back-to-back 17.5-sacks seasons, is going to take $25 million per year. No chance. My guess is if it’s not north of Crosby money, Hendrickson isn’t signing a contract.

As for the trade itself, the Giants already gave up their third-round pick next year in the Jaxson Dart trade. Now, you want them to trade away their first-round pick? I can’t see any way they would do that.

Also, let me mention this. Hendrickson had 6.5 sacks his first three seasons in the NFL and did not become a dominant player until his fourth year, when he posted 13.5 sacks. Thibodeaux has 21.0 sacks in 43 games over three years, and still has potential to get better.

Defensive line coach Andre Patterson told me recently that it takes most players three or four years to really learn how to rush the passer in the NFL. I wouldn’t be in a hurry to give up on Thibodeaux just yet.

Submit a question​

Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to [email protected] and it might be featured in our weekly mailbag.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/6/...ms-darius-alexander-reasons-for-optimism-more

 

[New York Giants]

Giants trivia: Your in-5 daily game, Sunday edition

Think you can figure out which Giants player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

We’re back for another day of the Big Blue View in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in the Google Form.

Today’s Big Blue View in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Saturday, June 21, 2025
Friday, June 20, 2025
Thursday, June 19, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
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Big Blue View in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Giants player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/6/22/24453571/giants-trivia-your-in-5-daily-game-saturday-edition

 

[New York Giants]

Odell Beckham Jr. hints being open to Giants reunion, is his return really on the table?

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Could OBJ finish his NFL journey where it all began?

Odell Beckham Jr. hasn’t suited up in New York Giants blue since 2018, but the former Pro Bowler keeps finding his name back in the New York rumor mill, and now he’s fanning the flames himself. At a recent Fanatics Fest event in New York City, a fan called out for Beckham to return to the team that drafted him. Beckham, now 32 and a free agent, didn’t hesitate: “I got you,” he said with a grin.

It’s the kind of moment that sets Giants fans into a frenzy. And it’s not just the comment, it’s the timing.

Fan yells “Go back to the Giants” to Odell Beckham Jr.

“I got you.” pic.twitter.com/3JDvb5M4gj

— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) June 21, 2025

With the 2025 season approaching, the Giants are in full rebuild mode. Jaxson Dart is now the supposed future answer to lead the offense, Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston are in the quarterback room, and a wave of young receivers including Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Jalin Hyatt.

Still, the idea of adding Beckham to the mix brings more than nostalgia. It brings leadership, playoff experience, and the kind of spark that can’t be taught.

Beckham has made his feelings clear about how his time in New York ended. In a recent interview, he admitted he was “pissed” about the trade to Cleveland and still carries the pain of not being part of a Giants championship run.

“This was the organization that believed in me,” he said. “I’d be happy if the Giants won a Super Bowl — but deep down, I wanted to be the one to help them win it.”

Since leaving New York, Beckham’s journey has been a mixed bag. He won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, had a short stint in Baltimore, and finished last season with the Miami Dolphins catching just nine passes before being released.

Physically, Beckham isn’t the explosive game-changer he once was. Two major knee surgeries and limited action since 2019 have taken their toll. But in a reduced role red zone packages, third-down plays, he could still bring value.

The bigger question is whether Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll see him as a useful piece. So far, the front office has focused on youth and development, and there’s been no public indication of interest in bringing Beckham back.

But if he’s willing to take a team-friendly, incentive loaded deal, would it be out of the question? MetLife Stadium would erupt if No. 13 returned even in a limited role and it’s a storyline that would bring a full-circle moment to one of the most electric players in franchise history.

Beckham may no longer be the same superstar, but his connection to the Giants fanbase runs deep. And in a season where the team is looking to find both identity and momentum, could this door stay cracked open just a little longer?

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/6/...nts-reunion-is-his-return-really-on-the-table

 

[New York Giants]

Fantasy Football ‘25: 21 Random thoughts on the 2025 season

Can anything stop Jahmyr Gibbs? | Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

Musings to consider as you start your annual draft prep

Summer has officially begun, and if your fantasy football draft prep hasn’t started along with it, what are you waiting for? Draft season for season-long redraft leagues is only two months away! Let’s get cracking.

Today I’m sharing 21 random thoughts for the upcoming season of fantasy football. Some are profound, and some are just hunches. Why 21? No real reason.

You can find all of my fantasy columns by following this link. Recent pieces include the riskiest and safest players in fantasy for 2025, burning fantasy questions for 2025, rule changes to improve your league, and more. And I’m just getting started. I’ll have all sorts of fantasy football draft prep pieces to share in the coming weeks, so keep it here at Big Blue View.

Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images
The odds favor Saquon falling back in 2025

21 Random Fantasy Football Thoughts for the 2025 Season, as of June 21, 2025:

1. It’s been almost 20 years since a running back repeated as the RB1 (LaDanian Tomlinson, 2006-2007). Saquon Barkley is in an ideal situation to repeat, but a combination of his age (28), usage last season (almost 500 touches, including playoffs) and injury history suggests that someone else will be atop fantasy mountain in 2025.
2. A not totally unrelated thought: I expect an over-correction regarding where running backs and receivers are drafted in 2025. 2024 was the year of the running back. Christian McCaffrey got hurt, but most of the other starting backs stayed remarkably healthy (and kept their starting jobs), while a lot of top wide receivers missed time with injuries (or their QBs did). There are going to be some very good wide receiver values throughout the first six or so rounds of drafts, while RBs fly off the board early.
3. The Miami Dolphins might be 2025’s version of the 2024 Bengals: A team with excellent weapons paired with a terrible defense. That combo usually leads to lots of shootouts, and fantasy gold. If Tua Tagovailoa can stay healthy for at least 15 games, and that’s a BIG if, I expect the Dolphins’ key pieces to deliver value at their Average Draft Positions (ADP).
4. Wait a second…The Cincinnati Bengals might actually be 2025’s best version of the 2024 Bengals. I don’t think they improved their defense all that much.
5. Justin Jefferson has been an absolute monster since he came into the league. Very, VERY few WRs have piled up stats like he has through his first five seasons, and in four of those he’s played every game. Even better, he’s done it with multiple quarterbacks of varying quality. So why is J.J. McCarthy making me a tiny bit nervous about using a Top-6 pick on Jefferson?
6. Along the same lines, I’m also hesitant to drop a Top-6 pick on Jahmyr Gibbs. He’s the most explosive back in the NFL and plays in a great offense. He led the league with 20 total TDs last season. I love watching him play. And yet, three things give me just a little bit of a pause: OC Ben Johnson’s departure, Center Frank Ragnow’s retirement, and most of all, the presence of a healthy (for now) David Montgomery, who will continue to factor in and especially at the goal line.
7. For the third straight season, I have no idea how to rank Green Bay’s receivers.
8. For the second straight season, I have no idea how to rank Buffalo’s receivers, and no, it’s not a given that somebody will step up and be a fantasy WR1 (or TE1) for Josh Allen.
9. While I’m thinking along these lines, I’m also going to have issues ranking the Cowboys’ and Jaguars’ running backs.
10. D’Andre Swift’s new head coach is the same guy who didn’t especially want him in Detroit a couple of years ago. But he’s more dynamic than Roschon Johnson and I think he’ll be a solid RB2 in an improved offense.
11. I’ve traditionally been a “wait on QB” guy, but if you want to grab either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson in the second round in a 1-QB league, I can’t fault you. Allen has finished as the overall No. 1 or No. 2 player in fantasy for FIVE straight seasons, and his consecutive starts streak (117 games including playoffs) is more than double any other active quarterback. Jackson has finished in the Top-3 in total fantasy points each of the last two seasons and hasn’t missed a game in those seasons other than Week 18 in 2023 when Baltimore had already clinched the 1 seed (in other words, since he got his big contract).
12. Similarly, I won’t fault you for taking Jalen Hurts or Jayden Daniels in the late second or early third either. But if you don’t get one of those four elite dual-threat QBs, I strongly suggest waiting as there is once again great depth at the position.
13. Justin Fields has put up Top-10 quarterback numbers every time he’s gotten the chance to start for a stretch of games. He’s got little competition in NY, and just enough weaponry to succeed. I also like Garret Wilson at ADP. In 2023, Fields supported a Top-10 wide receiver in Chicago (D.J. Moore), and Wilson should be a target monster.
14. I can’t wait to see how Travis Hunter is used. That said, I think he’ll be overpriced in non-IDP leagues. In IDP leagues, I get the appeal of reaching for him, even though corners are not the highest scorers and especially part-time corners.
15. Chuba Hubbard is better than you think, and he’s in an ascending offense. He feels like the new James Conner – perennially undervalued.
16. I think the Saints are going to be the lowest-scoring team in the NFL. Alvin Kamara should get enough volume to be serviceable and especially in full PPR, but in general I want no part of that offense.
17. I won’t be that surprised if Davante Adams scores more TDs than Puka Nacua. I think Adams has a lot left and will be a very good value at ADP.
18. I refuse to believe Tyreek Hill is cooked. I’m expecting a big bounce-back and love him at a third round price.
19. A lot of people are rooting for Daniel Jones to win the Colts’ quarterback job, because they think he’ll be much better for the team’s pass catchers than Anthony Richardson. That may be true, but remember that Jones hasn’t topped 15 passing TDs since he threw 24 as a rookie in 2019. The Colts’ pass catchers are going to be cheap in redraft for a reason, and will be hard to pencil in as weekly starters no matter who the QB is.
20. Liam Coen has already helped to resurrect the career of a QB who was the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft (Baker Mayfield). Coen is Trevor Lawrence’s new Head Coach. Could this be the year, finally?
21. Tight end is kind of weak again (like it was 3-4 years ago), and there’s a big drop-off after the Top-3 at the position. I’m struggling to rank the guys in the next big tier.

That’s the list. Coming soon: Rankings and Tiers!

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/6/...ball-25-21-random-thoughts-on-the-2025-season

 

[New York Giants]

The Eagle front — what is it?

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

The New York Giants have employed many creative fronts over the last few decades. Steve Spagnuolo used a NASCAR front consisting of four defensive ends across an even front. However, Wink Martindale used many five-man fronts when he coordinated the Giants’ defense (2022-23). One favorite of Martindale’s was the EAGLE front.

The Eagle front is similar to a Bear (TITE) front. It consists of three downlinemen inside the tackles and two EDGEs outside the tackles, creating a five-man front.

As we see above, Martindale used 4i-shades for width over the three techniques. Either usage would occupy all the interior gaps and force the offense to spill runs outside for the linebackers and force defenders.

However, defenses in nickel best have a quality force-nickel and safeties to fill/fit if the offense can get outside. Linebackers can also stack behind defensive linemen, which provides them an advantage against climbing offensive tackles.

The tight nature of the front also allows the backside 4i-shades to chase their pulling guards and make plays in pursuit, for their angle towards the play-side is advantageous against an offensive tackle.

The EAGLE front also makes it hard to achieve double teams on the nose when the 4i-shade’s engage the guard — which was excellent for Dexter Lawrence under Wink Martindale. Although it's rare, the Giants aren’t averse to using the EAGLE front with Shane Bowen.

There are some quick limitations with the EAGLE front: There’s one more player on the line of scrimmage, which hinders backend coverage, and the pass rush isn’t always ideal since everything is condensed. Still, having a player like Dexter Lawrence as the nose tackle fixes that slight issue.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/6/25/24454939/the-eagle-front-what-is-it

 

[New York Giants]

Here’s how to get your free New York Giants training camp tickets

Fans watch Giants training camp in 2024. | Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

Giants will hold 11 open practices

The New York Giants will hold 11 training camp practices that will be open to fans this summer, beginning July 23.

Training camp is held at the Giants’ Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, N.J., directly across the parking lot from MetLife Stadium. Admission is free, but fans must reserve a ticket to enter. Tickets will be available at giants.com/trainingcamp beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, July 10.

Open dates are as follows:

Wednesday, July 23
Thursday, July 24
Friday, July 25
Sunday, July 27 (Back Together Weekend)
Monday, July 28
Tuesday, July 29
Thursday, July 31
Friday, Aug. 1
Saturday, Aug. 2
Monday, Aug. 4
Wednesday, Aug. 13 (Jets Joint Practice)

Gates will open every day at 8:30 a.m., with practices beginning at 10.

Training camp will include current player autographs for kids 12 and under, meet-and-greet opportunities with Giants Legends, a Jr. Giants Kids Zone, daily giveaways and various sponsor activations.

The schedule is subject to change. In the event of inclement weather, practice will be moved indoors and there will be no public viewing. Call the Training Camp Hotline at 201.935.8111 ext. 1070 for up-to-date information on the schedule.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/6/26/24456574/how-to-get-free-new-york-giants-training-camp-tickets

 

[New York Giants]

The 6-technique: Pros and cons

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

What is it, and would it work for the Giants?

The New York Giants are in their offseason, which means broader, more evergreen content for the NFL world. I love to step back during the offseason and review football trends, such as how the chess match of defensive vs. offensive coordinators has manifested in recent NFL memory.

We have discussed defensive line techniques often over the years. Here’s a brief illustration of those techniques:

The letters are the GAPs, and the numbers are the techniques. In this article, I want to focus on the 6-technique lined up directly over the tight end.

A 6-technique lines directly over the tight end instead of shaded to the inside over the tackle's outside shoulder (5-technique) or outside wide of the tight end (WIDE-9). The utilization of the 6-technique helps defenses control gaps in the run game.

Pros of the 6-technique​

The 6-technique forces tight ends to block a defender—who is typically comparable in size or bigger—straight up, eliminating an advantageous angle. Depending on the defender's technique and execution, this could force rushing attacks to spill or be boxed inside. The utilization of the 6-technique leads to better overall edge containment.

Offenses that run heavy wide or stretch zone (49ers, Rams, Dolphins, etc.) see many 6-techniques, one of the many reasons why blocking tight ends is crucial in those respective offenses. We’ve seen more 6-technique usage in the last decade or so due to the proliferation of the wide zone scheme.

An offense that tends to run strong-side (tight end side) has to deal with that containment when a 6-technique is present. The 6-technique can also help with containing mobile quarterbacks who tend to run.

6-techniques also give the front a lot of versatility. They can easily drop into coverage off simulated pressures, slant inside or outside, and operate games/twists/stunts that confuse the protection and set up a mismatch with a bigger defensive lineman against the tight end (T/E Twist).

The 6-technique also offers an obstacle for tight ends attempting to run routes, and it can be a nuisance for heavy boot-action offenses who roll to the strong side. Disruption of timing can make a massive difference, and 6-techniques jam/follow tight ends off the line, which could caused indecision and force a negative offensive play.

Cons of the 6-technique​

The 6-technique is better used against the run, and it limits the pass-rushers' angle to the pocket. Depending on the front, the 6-technique is easily engaged by the tight end and the tackle could be a reinforcement, giving the defender little space to operate when trying to sack the quarterback. It’s also easy for combo blocks with the tackle, depending on the defensive front employed.

Final thoughts​

Teams use the 6-technique to defeat wide zone rushing teams and 12 personnel packages, primarily on early or rushing downs. Base 3-4 teams like the Ravens, Steelers, and Patriots are some teams who use them more frequently than others, but it’s also game plan specific. Kayvon Thibodeaux and Chauncey Golston are two players who come to mind that may best fit this assignment in Shane Bowen’s defense.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/6/28/24455788/the-6-technique-pros-and-cons

 

[New York Giants]

2025 Summer Scouting — Can Caleb Banks break out this year?

Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Banks ended his year with 3.5 sacks in two games

Looking ahead to 2026, it’s possible that the New York Giants could still need to upgrade their defensive line. While they should expect Dexter Lawrence and Darius Alexander to be the core of their interior defensive line, they could find themselves asking “but who else?”

We don’t yet know where the Giants will finish, nor how the draft board will ultimately shake out. There should, however, once again be several talented defensive linemen in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks has an intriguing blend of traits and skills that could be very attractive to the Giants.

(Banks is the Florida defensive tackle wearing number 88 and two white sleeves)

What he does well​

Banks is a big, long, and athletic defensive tackle who’s traits both make him a threat to the defense and a versatile piece for a defense. He measures an (estimated) 6-foot-6, 325 pounds and appears to have long arms. Banks carries his weight very well and is a surprisingly good athlete for a big lineman.

Banks size and strength allowed Florida to play him as an A-gap defender at 0 or 1-technique, while his athleticism let them play him as a B-gap defender at the 3, 4i, or 5-technique.

He features very good initial quickness as well as good agility and change of direction skills. Banks does a good job of timing the snap and has an explosive first step, which often allows him to be one of the very first players moving on either team. He has solid lower body flexibility and plays with good initial leverage, allowing him to get under blockers’ pads and maximize his play strength. At the same time, he has solid hand usage and is able to win with speed and technique. That allows Banks to attack blockers in differing ways and mix primary and counter moves.

Banks’ play strength and athleticism also allow him to be an effective run defender. He can either hold up blockers and allow linebackers to flow to the ball or attack gaps and disrupt behind the line of scrimmage.

He does a good job of using his length to his advantage and has a good feel for when to attack blockers’ bodies or hand fight to keep from getting engaged. His quickness and change of direction also allow him to disengage and be a factor in pursuit.

What he needs to improve​

Banks has a very solid foundation thanks to his traits and technique, but there’s still room for growth.

To start, Banks needs to be more consistent with his leverage. There are a few too many plays where he pops upright after his second or third step, compromising his play strength. He can have a tendency to simply bounce off blockers rather than run through them if he plays upright.

He can also be a bit less predictable in his use of pass rush moves. He tends to rely on his bull rush, with an arm-over (swim) move as his default counter move. Banks can have a tendency to get hung up on blockers when they’re ready for his initial rush. Combined with his slight tendency to get upright, that means he can’t rely on his power if his speed is accounted for.

It’s notable that he only has 4.5 sacks, most of which came in two games at the end of the year. He has a number of near-misses on his tape and he needs to improve how he finishes his rushes. Some of that isn’t Banks’ fault — he’s quick and agile for a 325-pound man, but he still can’t keep up with athletic ball carriers in the backfield. But improving his leverage consistency and expanding his pass rush variety should help turn those pressures into sacks.

Final thoughts​

Florida finished the 2024 season far stronger than they started, and Banks improvement over the course of the year was a pretty big factor in that.

UF quarterback D.J. Lagway is going to be a big reason why people tune in to watch Gators. That, however, will put more eyes on Banks, which should only help his draft stock. As he is now, Banks could be a reasonably high pick, and could even be a first rounder based on his traits and upside.

That could set the stage for Banks to rocket up draft boards if he’s able to raise his game and do a better job of finishing his rushes. Banks bares a resemblance to Muhammad Wilkerson, and 30th overall could be Banks’ floor if he realizes his potential.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/6/...-scouting-can-caleb-banks-break-out-this-year

 

[New York Giants]

PFF ranks the Giants’ defensive line third-best in the NFL

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

Expectations are being ratcheted up another notch

The New York Giants will have to deal with an unfamiliar foe in 2025: Raising expectations.

The Giants have only been saddled with expectations a couple times in recent memory, most notably following their upset playoff victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the 2022-2023 playoffs. Prior to that, it was following their playoff appearance in 2016-2017.

As we head into 2025, expectations are reaching a fever pitch, at least on the defensive side of the ball. Just how high are those expectations rising? Pro Football Focus has the Giants’ defensive front third in their pre-season rankings.

No, that wasn’t a typo. Third in the whole National Football League.

3. New York Giants

Arguably no team has done more in the NFL to strengthen its defensive line and pass rush over the past couple of seasons than the Giants. They drafted Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter with top-five picks in 2022 and 2025, respectively, and also traded for former first-rounder Brian Burns.

The team’s edge defender trio is complemented by perhaps the best nose tackle in the league, Dexter Lawrence. Although Lawrence’s 2024 season was cut short due to an injury, his 89.9 PFF overall grade still ranked third among interior defenders.

The fact that the Giants are facing rising expectations following a 3-14 disaster of a season is, honestly, impressive.

Thanks to Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns are returning to health, as well as the additions of Abdul Carter and Darius Alexander, heightened expectations on the defensive side of the ball are warranted. But still, third in the NFL behind only the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles?

That’s rarified air.

It isn’t that outrageous to think that the Giants have reached a critical mass of talent for their defense to, in the words of Mina Kimes, “go nuclear.”

After all, there’s a very good argument that Dexter Lawrence is the best defensive tackle in the NFL, and Brian Burns is coming off an injury plagued season in which he was still 4th in Pass Rush Win Rate among edge defenders (tied with Micah Parsons with a 23 percent win rate). Kayvon Thibodeaux had the highest pressure rate of his career last year and was a couple seconds (total) shy of posting his second double-digit sack total in two years despite missing five games.

That isn’t to mention the additions of Chauncey Golston and Roy Robertson-Harris to improve the Giants overall depth. Keeping their plethora of first round QB hunters fresh will be key late in games and late in the season. The Giants may even be deeper than the media at large is expecting if the experience of being forced into being every-down players helped accelerate the development of Elijah Chatman and Jordon Riley.

The bigger question is two-fold.

The first part is how Shane Bowen will get all of his talented players on the field. Rotating the three edge defenders and keeping Lawrence healthy and fresh is the first objective, but Bowen will also need to figure out how to incorporate linebacker Micah McFadden in those rotations. Likewise, he’ll need to figure out how to incorporate Dane Belton into a secondary that is young, deep, and talented.

The second part comes down to the offense.

There have been a lot of indications that the Giants want to be aggressive and explosive on offense, and that could be the missing ingredient. Their offense has been bland over the last several years, allowing opposing offenses to play without the pressure of having to score to keep up. An offense that can score from anywhere on the field could be the spice that brings the defensive sauce together.

The Giants have been on the other side of that equation for years now, having to pass to keep pace while the other team unleashes their pass rush. Having an offense that sets the pace would allow the Giants’ own defenders to pin their ears back and do what they were drafted to do.

Maybe we’ll find out that a Top 10 defense, with a Top 5 defensive line, isn’t so farfetched.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/6/...e-giants-defensive-line-third-best-in-the-nfl

 

[New York Giants]

Greg Cosell: Giants’ season all about developing Jaxson Dart

Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images

Respected NFL analyst calls Dart “polarizing”

For the New York Giants “the whole purpose of this season is to develop Jaxson Dart,” according to NFL analyst Greg Cosell.

Cosell made that comment on the ‘Inside the Birds’ podcast with Geoff Mosher and Adam Caplan.

The Giants, of course, traded up in the 2025 NFL Draft to select Dart 25th overall in the hopes that he could become their quarterback of the future.

Cosell said he sensed Dart “could be polarizing” when he studied him prior to the draft.

“Dart’s an interesting player. The mobility is a factor. You do have to factor that into the equation,” Cosell said. “Everybody always says ‘well he’s not special.’ Well, I don’t know what they mean when they say that. There’s only one Lamar Jackson. There’s only one Josh Allen, who is 6-5, 240. There’s only one [Patrick] Mahomes with his spatial awareness. So, you can’t just start saying ‘well it’s not special.’”

Cosell then summarized what he sees, and doesn’t see, when he watches Dart.

“He’s going to run for first downs. He may not be the fastest guy on the field, but that’s a part of his game that’s meaningful,” Cosell said. “I think he’s a good thrower. I don’t think he’s a great thrower. I thought that at times his deep throws lost a little energy on the back end. Sometimes he works hard to throw the ball.

“I think he needs in some ways what Russell Wilson needs. He needs a complete offense.”

Other points from Cosell​

Here are a few of the other topics Cosell touched on.

He is a Jameis Winston believer ...

“It appears that [Russell] Wilson will be the starter ... I can’t get Jameis Winston out of my head. I know Winston played in Cleveland a little bit and he was very up and down and there was nothing about that that said ‘oh, Jameis is really good,’ but I just remember the last time he was a true starter with the New Orleans Saints and that’s when he tore up his knee and he was playing at a really high level.

“I know people point to the interceptions and maybe that’s who he is that he’ll always throw a couple, or more than a couple, where you just scratch your head but I always thought Jameis Winston could play quarterback in this league and at a reasonably high level.”

Cosell is fascinated by rookie running back Cam Skattebo ...

“The more I watched this kid the more I like him,” Cosell said. “I think Skattebo has the physicality, the toughness to be a sort of feature type back and he gives you, he’s an attitude back. And, he’s a really good receiver.

“It’s going to be very interesting to see how this plays out with [Tyrone] Tracy, [Devin] Singletary] and Skattebo.

“They need a run game. If Russell Wilson is your starting quarterback you need a meaningful run game.”

“Average” offensive line play enough ...

“If the O line can be just above average they’ve got some interesting players on the outside,” Cosell said. “We’ll see. It kind of really depends on the O line. Iguess we’ll see who the quarterback is but I think the run game is going to have to be a big factor here.”

Cosell is a Shane Bowen fan ...

There are a lot of questions about whether or not defensive coordinator Shane Bowen can be flexible enough to maximize the talented group of players he has been handed. Cosell believes he can.

“They’ve got a really good d coordinator in Shane Bowen, who’s been around the league, does some really nice things with pressure schemes,” Cosell said. “It comes down to how quickly you can assimilate because Shane Bowen’s really good with pressure. Not pressure maybe the way you think of Rex Ryan and all that. He’s really good with simulated pressures rushing four, he’s really good at that. He’s really good at overloads where you might only rush four, maybe five.

“He’s just really good, and that requires a lot of detail.”

---

If you want to hear the complete remarks from Cosell, Mosher and Caplan click on the player below. I know it’s a Philadelphia Eagles podcast, but it’s a Giants-centric discussion with a lot of good insight.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/6/...iants-season-all-about-developing-jaxson-dart

 

[New York Giants]

2 New York Giants make CBS Sports Top 100 players list

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Dexter Lawrence and Malik Nabers make the cut, of course

A pair of New York Giants players have been named Top 100 players in the NFL by Pete Prisco of CBS Sports.

Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence is No. 29 and wide receiver Malik Nabers is No. 45.

Of Lawrence, Prisco writes:

Big Dex missed time with injury last year, but he was a force before being sent to the sidelines. He can play the run as well as anybody, but he can also push the pocket. He’s a massive force inside. (Last season: No. 19)

Of Nabers, Prisco writes:

As a rookie, Nabers had 109 catches playing in an offense with major quarterback issues. As that position gets better, so will his numbers. He averaged 11 yards per catch, but he has more big-play ability than that number would indicate.

Nabers’ much-less ballyhooed former LSU teammate, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars, was No. 44.

Annoying for Giants fans are the ex-Giants on Prisco’s list.

Coming off a 2,005-yard rushing season and a Super Bowl title with the Philadelphia Eagles, running back Saquon Barkley is No. 3. After a career-best eight-interception season with the Green Bay Packers, safety Xavier McKinney is No. 61. Leonard Williams, traded to the Seattle Seahawks at the 2023 NFL trade deadline, is No. 63 after the defensive lineman had a career year in 2024.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/6/...100-players-list-dexter-lawrence-malik-nabers