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[New York Giants]

Giants news, 7/4: Key year upcoming for John Michael Schmitz, Malik Nabers, Lawrence Taylor, more headlines

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

New York Giants headlines for July 4th

Good morning, New York Giants fans! Happy Fourth of July! As Ed always says on his podcast, “stay safe out there.”

From Big Blue View​

• Where does Giants’ defensive coordinator Shane Bowen rank among his peers?
• Make or Break: Can John Michael Schmitz become the player he was drafted to be?

Other Giant observations​

Safety-Blanket WRs: Highest target rates when QB is under pressure | PFF​

6. Malik Nabers, New York Giants: 19.1% Threat Rate. Last year’s sixth-overall draft pick saw 41 targets with his quarterback under duress last season, the most for a rookie receiver since 2020. Nabers and Ladd McConkey were the only rookies to be targeted more than 25 times in such situations, and Nabers also tied McConkey with 24 catches. He finished with 311 receiving yards, 16 first downs and four touchdown catches. Nabers also ranked eighth in yards after the catch (79) and yards after contact (35) and generated the fourth-best deep target rate (31.7%) in pressure situations.

Malik Nabers takes a spin with NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr.​

Malik Nabers trying to stay cool in a corvette with Dale Earnhardt Jr going 130mph

Via Bleacher Report pic.twitter.com/LTZJ6xpHM3

— Talkin’ Giants (@TalkinGiants) July 2, 2025​

New Stat Underscores Key Area for NY Giants’ Offense to Improve | SI.com​

Gridiron Intelligence data showed that the Giants ranked in the bottom five league-wide in both passing to their tight ends and converting on third down. Of the Giants’ 232 third-down conversion attempts last year, 180 were pass attempts. The Giants’ tight ends were targeted just 19 times on third down, catching 12 such passes. Theo Johnson and Daniel Bellinger both converted just two third-down pass conversions apiece. Bellinger’s two conversions came on plays needing three or fewer yards, whereas Johnson’s two came on third-downs needing 6+ yards.

25 Questions in 25 Days: Draft picks to watch past Round 1 | Giants.com​

Thomas Fidone II, the young tight end that displayed great athleticism throughout the spring. Fidone was the top tight end recruit coming out of high school, ahead of Brock Bowers, before back-to-back ACL injures derailed the start of his collegiate career. Now fully healthy, Fidone showed some flashes of that potential with some impressive grabs during the spring.

The best NFL draft pick ever at every slot from No. 1 to 262 | ESPN.com​

2. Lawrence Taylor, OLB (1981). The best defensive player of all time is also the best second overall pick of all time. Taylor is one of two defensive players to ever win league MVP (in 1986, joining defensive tackle Alan Page in 1971), and that rarefied air all but cements him over contenders such as Marshall Faulk, Julius Peppers and Calvin Johnson. Modern contenders such as Von Miller, Saquon Barkley and Nick Bosa are excellent in their time but don't hold a candle to L.T., who finished his 13-year career with 142 sacks.

40. Michael Strahan, DE (1993). I really wanted to pick Thurman Thomas here -- an MVP winner at running back whose number is retired in Buffalo. But Strahan's 22.5-sack season in 2001, his final-season performance in the Giants' magical Super Bowl XLII run ... it's just too tough to argue against.

56. Osi Umenyiora, DE (2003). Umenyiora wasn't consistently dominant, but his peaks made him the pick at No. 56. In the 2007 Super Bowl season, Umenyiora was quieter in the postseason but excellent in the regular season, with 13 sacks and a Pro Bowl. In the 2011 Super Bowl season, he was quieter in the regular season but dominant in the playoffs -- 3.5 sacks over four games. Key roles in big seasons can make the difference in this exercise.

Outside the top 100: 105. Harry Carson, LB (1976), 160. David Diehl, G (2003), 207. Jessie Armstead, LB (1993), 211. David Tyree, WR (2003), and 221. Billy Ard, G (1981)

“If you have good players, it helps everybody...And that is what Abdul is”​

OLB Coach Charlie Bullen is excited to add Abdul Carter to the squad

The Drive : https://t.co/A9klfMxCUU pic.twitter.com/okZu9wgOyh

— New York Giants (@Giants) July 3, 2025​

2025 NFL Offensive Line Rankings, All 32 Teams | Sharp Football Analysis​

29. New York Giants. Along the offensive line, the Giants have moved out of the last spot in our rankings up to 29. LT Andrew Thomas was limited to just six games in 2024 and has yet to follow up on his outstanding 2022 season.

Ranking Each of the 25 Super Bowl Winners From the 21st Century | Bleacher Report​

25. 2011 New York Giants Pros: Behind a legendary pass rush, they dethroned the Patriots for the second time in a four-year span.

Cons: They are the only team on this list with just nine regular-season wins and a negative scoring margin (minus-6). Despite that pass rush, only the 2018 Patriots gave up more yards per play (5.62), and Jason Pierre-Paul was their only first-team All-Pro.

24. 2007 New York Giants Pros: They slayed the then-18-0 Patriots in one of the biggest upsets in NFL history.

Cons: They were only one win better than the 2011 team at 10-6, and their plus-22 regular-season scoring margin ranks second-last among the 25 teams on this list. They were also a horrendous 1-5 against teams with winning records, and they outscored their four playoff opponents by just 20 total points. They had just one Pro Bowler (Osi Umenyiora) and no first-team All-Pros.Around the league

Around the league​

Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott ranked as most overrated by CBS Sports | Blogging The Boys

Schottenheimer looks to past stars to inspire Cowboys | ESPN.com

The Washington Commanders will reveal new alternate helmet and uniform next week | Hogs Haven

Report: Commanders' Plan B could involve going to President Trump, Congress | Pro Football Talk

As several NFL teams develop plans for new stadiums, will the Eagles follow suit? Looking at their options | CBSSports.com

JC Latham: Cam Ward doesn't expect to be handed starting job | Pro Football Talk

Josh Sweat embraces leadership role in Cardinals’ reunion | ESPN.com

Sauce Gardner "aware" what Derek Stingley, Jaycee Horn are making | Pro Football Talk

Will the NFL ever offer ‘Sunday Ticket’ on a single-team basis? | The Athletic

NFL salary cap changes could impact the way several teams do business | SBNation.com

BBV mailbag​

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

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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/7/...-michael-schmitz-malik-nabers-lawrence-taylor

 

[New York Giants]

The 4i-shade: Pros and cons

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

What is it, and how does a defense use it?

The New York Giants were blessed with excellent defensive tackles in recent memory. Damon “Snacks” Harrison, Leonard Williams, B.J. Hill, and Dalvin Tomlinson are former Giants who recently represented the organization well when donning blue.

Dexter Lawrence remains a Giant and is one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL. Lawrence is correctly heralded for his unique ability to generate pressure from the nose tackle position (directly over the center).

Since 2022, Dexter Lawrence has had 103 pressures from the nose tackle position alone. The next closest player is Tampa Bay Buccaneer Vita Vea with 23 pressures. However, Lawrence isn’t and wasn’t always exclusively used as a nose tackle.

According to Pro Football Focus, Lawrence aligned as a nose tackle or a 1-shade (aligned on the shoulder of the center) a collective 305 times under James Bettcher and Patrick Graham (2019-2021). In his first season with Wink Martindale in 2022, Lawrence aligned 660 times at the nose or 1-shade.

Bettcher used Lawrence at the nose or 1-shade much more than Graham. I detailed all this background to review the position Lawrence occupied under Graham, which is a nuisance to block — the 4i shade.

Graham ran a lot of hybrid fronts but used a lot of 4i-shades; here is a refresher on the techniques:

The 4i-shade​

The 4i-shade aligns on the inside shoulder of the tackle. It’s common in TITE fronts and is typically employed against spread teams when the defense aims to eliminate explosive passing plays with two-deep safeties. Martindale often utilized TITE fronts but would move Lawrence inside to the nose, whereas Graham would use him more frequently at the 4i-shade. But why?

Pros​

The 4i-shade is a nightmare for guards to block if the tackle is occupied with an EDGE rusher. It’s a full gap away from the guard, and the thought of stopping a player as big and powerful as Dexter Lawrence from that angle is a nightmare altogether.

The 4i alignment shuts down the B-gap and doesn’t require the linebackers or the safeties to be aggressive with their run fit. Remember how good Blake Martinez was in 2020? Much of that was due to his skill set, of course, but the alignment in front of him allowed Martinez to operate with more liberty. He could more frequently discern and attack, rather than prioritizing the B-Gap, since the 4i (Dexter Lawrence) was clogging that avenue.

Offenses love to attack the B-Gap in the run game. The 4i-shade is great against inside zone rushing teams and DUO, for the angle is more difficult for the COMBOs to land effectively; couple this with the possibility of a blitzing linebacker and tackles having to worry about EDGE rushers, and miscommunications can happen, especially with less experienced offensive linemen.

The difficulty in forming double-teams also gives the linebacker more freedom and time to locate the ball-carrier and better position themselves before a climbing lineman can separate on the line of scrimmage — again, it’s an advantage for the linebacker, who can diagnose and fill with an easier path.

The 4i-shade also fits nicely into modern two-high defenses since controlling the line of scrimmage with fewer bodies is a necessity. The box can be “lighter,” and the defense doesn’t necessarily have to be even or win the mathematical run advantage due to the annoying nature of the 4i-shade.

Cons of 4i-shade​

The 4i-shade is not conducive for pass-rush wins unless it is paired with a twist/stunt. The body types of the 4i-shade are also hard to locate. A lighter defender or one who can’t anchor down or win with strength could be a liability that is easily exposed. Players like Aaron Donald (who aligned everywhere), Christian Wilkins, Greg Rousseau, Zach Sieler, and Kenny Clark, as well as Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne when they were together in Washington, are quality 4i-shades that offered their defense a gap-and-a-half ability.

4i-shades need to have length/strength, understand leverage, be disciplined run defenders, and be quick enough to slant when pass rushing; these types of defenders do not grow on trees, and 4i-shades who are exposed lead to defensive gashing versus the run.

Final thoughts​

Dexter Lawrence is a freakish football player who would be an elite 4i-shade. However, he’s also an elite nose tackle — pick where you want him to play. The 4i-shade is a run-stopping, gap-control alignment that hinders the offense’s ability to attack the B-Gap. It’s a critical way to steal gaps and stop the run with lighter boxes, and many defensive coordinators around the NFL utilize it.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/7/4/24457807/the-4i-shade-pros-and-cons

 

[New York Giants]

Big Blue View mailbag: Fourth of July weekend edition

The mail’s here

Mark Cicio asks: Here’s a question/opinion that might sound a bit conspiracy-ish.

What would you say if I told you I felt that Schoen/Daboll didn’t resign Barkley because they wanted to prove to John Mara that Daniel Jones was not the QB Mara thought he was, and were willing to throw away a season because they felt it was best for the future of the team? That Barkley was the reason DJ was thought to be a good QB, while knowing that Barkley can make any QB look good, and make good ones look great? Then once proven they began to rebuild/draft the QB room into the way they envisioned it should look like?

Aside from the fact that I also feel Barkley had enough of losing and wouldn’t mind playing for his home team the Eagles. I do think pressure was put on Schoen/Daboll to help the kid who Mara famously said “we did everything possible to screw up this kid since he got here” and felt at least partially responsible for that.

Is that thought too far out there in space to possibly be true?

Ed says: Mark, I think you have been reading too many spy novels. No coach or GM is going to throw away an entire season on purpose to prove a point. Those jobs are not easy to get — or keep — and no one goes out of his or her way to put their job in jeopardy.

Schoen and Daboll were tasked initially with finding out if Jones was a guy they could work with going forward. After the way the 2022 season unfolded, the organization was curious if there was still untapped upside.

The reality, as I understand it, is this. The Giants wanted to get Barkley’s name on a long-term contract, at their number. They tried multiple times, and Barkley and his reps weren’t feeling the deal the Giants were offering.

They had to get one of Jones and Barkley to sign a long-term deal since there is only one franchise tag. Unable to get a deal with Barkley, they pivoted to Jones.

I have a question for you, Mark. I know it is summer and there isn’t much going on, but why are we re-litigating Barkley-Jones? At this point, it’s been discussed until there isn’t anything new to say. It’s time to move on.

---

Bob Donnelly asks: Last year there were numerous instances where the Giants “unforced errors” contributed to the losing record.

Things like:

• Delay of game
• Illegal formation
• Illegal shift/motion
• Ineligible lineman down field
• False start

The defense had its share of mistakes including off the ball penalties that extended drives and allowing conversions on third-and-long.

Given that the Giants will be facing many of the NFL’s best this year they can ill afford these types of mistakes.

In your view are these errors a reflection on the coaching or the players?

What can be done to reduce them going forward?

Ed says: Bob, to me one of the big factors is youth and inexperience. By snap-weighted age, the Giants were the second-youngest team in the league a season ago.

Final snap-weighted age data for the 2024 regular season Five oldest teams: Vikings, Dolphins, Falcons, Browns, 49ers Five youngest teams: Packers, Giants, Raiders, Cardinals, Chargers

— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell.com) 2025-01-08T04:29:47.139Z

Reality is, young players make more mistakes. The Giants had the third-most pre-snap penalties in the NFL last year (56), behind the Cleveland Browns (61) and Chicago Bears (59).

Malik Nabers had six pre-snap penalties (five illegal shifts, one false start).

How do you fix them? I don’t think there is a perfect answer. I do wonder if head coach Brian Daboll giving up play-calling, as it seems he is going to do, will allow him to focus more of his time and energy on fixing small details.

Honestly, there isn’t any excuse for players not being focused enough to get into the proper formation or get set quickly enough before the ball is snapped.

---

ctscan123 asks: Was generally very happy with the offseason and agree with most that the quality of our roster, both starters and depth is much improved across the board. The one thing that still really concerns me is stopping the run. Alexander was a good get and I’m excited about him, but he doesn’t really project as a run stuffer. Golston? Really wish we could find a large Marge not named Nacho to start next to Lawrence on non-passing downs. Anyone left in free agency? Any possible trade targets? Anyone on the roster you’d be willing to move for such a player?

Ed says: CT, I am not sure there is anything else the Giants can do right now. The list of free agent defensive linemen is not impressive. Maybe someone shakes free when rosters are trimmed to 53, but there is nobody now.

Besides, the Giants did quite a bit. Darius Alexander was fourth in the nation in run stops with 23, and his Pro Football Focus run defense grade of 86.0 was excellent. Roy Robertson-Harris and Jeremiah Ledbetter are accomplished players. Chauncey Golston will help. Abdul Carter will help.

The front seven is already considered by many to be one of the best in the league. I understand the worry about Rakeem Nunez-Roches, but he’s a good player when used in a limited role. The Giants, because they had no choice, played him far too much in 2024.

I am really not sure how much more the Giants could have done to improve the front seven.

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Spencer Gross asks: I’m sure this won’t go over well after reading your most recent response on why the Giants shouldn’t trade Thibodeaux but after just seeing a report on ESPN about teams asking Pittsburgh about Watt’s availability after the recent trade with Miami, how about Thibs for Watt? Yes there’s an age gap and probably some draft compensation when the Giants are already light in that but the D line could be truly monstrous. Also I understand the compensation Watt would be looking for with the Giants limited cap space would be a headache but you can’t tell me that defensive line wouldn’t be epic.

Ed says: Spencer, let’s start with the reality that the Steelers have been clear that while teams are asking about T.J. Watt they have no interest in trading their best defensive player.

I understand that Watt is a tremendous player, but I can’t think of a good reason for making this trade from a Giants perspective.

Watt is a 31-year-old player in the final year of his contract. If you trade for him, you have to give him a rich long-term extension. The Giants are a young team looking toward the future, not a Super Bowl contender looking for one final piece to put them over the top.

Would it be smart to give Watt such an extension if you are the Giants? They wouldn’t give it to Saquon Barkley, and I still think that was the right call even if the way it was handled was messy. I don’t think giving Watt that kind of money would be a smart move for the Giants.

Thibodeaux’s cap hit this year is $9.971 million. Watt’s base salary is $21.05 million. That increases the need for the Giants to get a long-term deal done that would drive Watt’s 2025 cap hit down.

Thibodeaux is 24 years old and I have said again and again that I think his best football is stil ahead.

On top of that, you still have the three players for two spots issue if you trade Thibodeaux for Watt.

In my view, it isn’t as simple as “Watt is better than Thibodeaux.”

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Walker Joyce asks: Re your analysis of Robinson’s game, the thing that has always frustrated me is how often—I’d say 90% of the time—he fails to run past the sticks on a 3rd down play.

This chronically leaves him a yard or so short of earning a first down.

I can’t imagine why this hasn’t been corrected, ‘cause it’s clearly a mental error, not a physical issue.

I also don’t like how Daboll has used his tight ends, who ought to be the real go-to guys on short yardage passing downs. They’re bigger targets and ought to routinely be able to haul in a 10-yard hook. They’ve wasted Bellinger since his promising rookie year.

Do you agree?

Ed says: Walker, why are we continuing to pick on the little guy?

I get that fans still think he wasn’t worth a second-round pick. But, I think we’re at the point of making up things that aren’t his fault.

I also get frustrated when players run routes that leave them a yard short of a first down, but this isn’t a Robinson problem. It happens with every team. Sometimes I think it’s a play calling problem. A route is practiced over and over and over and over at so many steps and so many yards, and that is what guys end up running no matter the situation.

All I can do here is look at receiver success rate. In 2022, 61.3% of Robinson’s catches were deemed “successes.” Meaning, per Pro Football Reference, 40% of needed yards on first down, 60% on second down and getting the first down on third or fourth down. That dropped to 53.8% in 2023 and 42.1% last season. You know what also fell off in those two seasons? The quality of the quarterback play.

So, is that a Robinson problem? Or, is it a quarterback problem?

I’m not here to tell anyone Robinson is an All-Pro. He’s not. It is entirely possible his role in the offense will be reduced this season because Russell Wilson has not historically thrown in the middle of the field a ton. I think, though, some of the Robinson criticism is going too far.

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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/2025/7/5/24458990/new-york-giants-mailbag-fourth-of-july-weekend-edition

 

[New York Giants]

2025 Summer Scouting - Is Penn State DL Zane Durant a player to watch for the Giants?

Photo by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Can Durant take another step forward in 2025?

Could the New York Giants look to reinforce their defensive line again in 2026?

Rakeem Nunez-Roches will likely be a former Giant, as may be Jordon Riley and D.J. Davidson. The top of the Giants’ depth chart should be stout with Dexter Lawrence and Darrius Alexander, but their depth may once again be suspect.

If so, Zane Durant out of Penn State might already be a familiar face who’s caught their eye.

The Giants have scouted Penn State heavily in recent years, drafting Theo Johnson in 2023 and Abdul Carter in 2024. Durant is undersized for a defensive tackle, but he’s also explosively powerful and athletic.

Durant has taken a step forward in each of the last two years. Is he on the verge of breaking out?

(Durant is the Penn State iDL wearing No. 28, with short sleeves and short pants.)

What he does well​

Durant is, first and foremost, a freak athlete.

He’s made Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” the last two years and was ranked 18th on the 2024 edition — just a few spots below Abdul Carter at 12th. Per Feldman, Durant set a record for the Penn State defensive line by squatting 660 pounds at a bodyweight of 290. He has a remarkably thick and powerful lower body, so the squat number is definitely believable.

He also, reportedly, ran a 4.66-second 40-yard dash at that same bodyweight, so he hasn’t sacrificed speed for strength. He’s also reportedly bench pressed 425.

Durant is truly explosive off the line and plays with great leverage. Not only does he have natural leverage, but he’s good at keeping his pads low to keep blockers from getting under them.

His raw strength and explosiveness, as well as speed and agility, allow Penn State to use him in a variety of ways. He was used everywhere from nose tackle to 5-technique, depending on the down, distance, and subpackage called. Durant’s power and leverage allow him to stand up to guard-center double teams, while his explosiveness off the ball make him disruptive when attacking individual gaps.

Durant plays with solid competitive toughness and offers very good effort when the play is within his range. He has good awareness and processes quickly, which allows him to identify misdirection and retrace to pursue the ball.

What he needs to improve​

First and foremost, length will always be a concern for Durant, unless his arms measure out to something like 34 inches. He’s listed at 6-foot-1, 294 pounds, and while his legs certainly make the weight believable, he might be closer to 6-foot. That could be a real problem for teams if his arms are short as well.

Speaking of arms, Durant needs to continue to work on his technique. He flashes the ability to attack blockers’ hands and prevent them from latching on, allowing him to attack into the backfield or make plays off of blocks. However his hands are still mostly blunt objects and he didn’t show much precision or diversity in his moves (at least in the tape viewed).

Skilled linemen who are ready for his explosiveness can blunt his rushes or latch on when run blocking. Durant usually winds up tangled in blocks in those instances and isn’t a consistent factor.

Final thoughts​

I feel as though I’ve been saying this for years now, but what are they putting in the water down at Penn State?

Every year it seems as though they’re putting another freak athlete into the NFL. Even among powerhouse schools, they seem to be more common at Penn State than anywhere else.

As for Durant himself, it will be fascinating to see what the NFL makes of him next spring. Teams are getting better about recognizing that traits aren’t necessarily skills, and players with uncommon traits for a position can be successful because they don’t fit into the archetype. Ultimately, it might come down to just how productive Durant is this season, and how well he tests in the Draft Process.

If he takes another step forward in his technical development, his production this year should continue to improve. And if he isn’t too short (height and arm length), he could see his draft stock soar.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/7/...-zane-durant-a-player-to-watch-for-the-giants

 

[New York Giants]

8 Giants, including David Tyree, among best draft picks of all-time at their draft slot

Any reason to run this photo is a good reason. | Photo by Corey Sipkin/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

Tyree is the best 211th pick ever

Before heading off to enjoy his Fourth of July weekend, Ben Solak of ESPN did a fun exercise in which he named the best NFL draft pick ever from picks 1-262, the entire seven-round format.

There are a number of New York Giants on the list, some of whom are obvious and some who you may not think of as a “best draft pick ever.”

Here’s the list of Giants:

No. 2 — Lawrence Taylor (1981)

Solak says:

The best defensive player of all time is also the best second overall pick of all time. Taylor is one of two defensive players to ever win league MVP (in 1986, joining defensive tackle Alan Page in 1971), and that rarefied air all but cements him over contenders such as Marshall Faulk, Julius Peppers and Calvin Johnson. Modern contenders such as Von Miller, Saquon Barkley and Nick Bosa are excellent in their time but don’t hold a candle to L.T., who finished his 13-year career with 142 sacks.

No. 40 — Michael Strahan (1993)

Solak says:

The little 8-year-old Eagles fan in me still resents Strahan, who terrorized Donovan McNabb and my beloved Birds for years. I really wanted to pick Thurman Thomas here — an MVP winner at running back whose number is retired in Buffalo. But Strahan’s 22.5-sack season in 2001, his final-season performance in the Giants’ magical Super Bowl XLII run ... it’s just too tough to argue against.

No. 56 — Osi Umenyiora (2003)

Solak says:

Umenyiora wasn’t consistently dominant, but his peaks made him the pick at No. 56. In the 2007 Super Bowl season, Umenyiora was quieter in the postseason but excellent in the regular season, with 13 sacks and a Pro Bowl. In the 2011 Super Bowl season, he was quieter in the regular season but dominant in the playoffs — 3.5 sacks over four games. Key roles in big seasons can make the difference in this exercise.

No. 105 — Harry Carson (1976)

No. 160 — David Diehl (2003)

Diehl and Umenyiora in the same draft. Not bad.

No. 207 — Jessie Armstead (1993)

Not a bad Robin from that draft class to Strahan’s Batman.

No. 211 — David Tyree (2003)

A third Giant from the 2003 class. No other 211th overall pick has a helmet catch to help his team win a Super Bowl.

No. 221 — Billy Ard (1981)

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/7/...t-draft-picks-of-all-time-at-their-draft-slot

 

[New York Giants]

2025 Summer Scouting - Can Utah OT Spencer Fano become an elite prospect?

Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Will Fano’s versatility make him a valuable commodity?

If there’s one constant at the NFL level, it’s that every team always needs offensive linemen.

It isn’t just the New York Giants — there are 64 starting offensive tackles, 64 starting guards, and 32 starting centers in the NFL, but not that many good starters. Include depth and future concerns at the various positions, and every team can always use another good lineman.

Utah tackle Spencer Fano is entering his junior season, but he has the potential to be a sought after prospect whenever he enters the NFL Draft. He’s athletic, competitive, and highly versatile in his technique and alignments.

Just about any team can find a place for him in their offensive line room. And considering the Giants always seem to have questions on their offensive line, they should probably be paying attention.

What he does well​

Spencer Fano has solid size for an offensive tackle. He appears to match up with his listed at 6-foot-6 height, though he looks bigger than the listed 302-pound weight. Regardless of his actual measurements, he carries his weight well and is a solid athlete for the position.

Fano is a versatile lineman and is coming into the 2025 season with 13 starts at right tackle and 11 starts at left tackle. He should be able to project to either tackle position at the NFL level.

He’s an easy mover when asked to slide laterally and is explosive when blocking downhill. Fano quickly hits his landmarks in pass protection and has the requisite mobility to redirect back inside or mirror athletic rushers off the edge.

Fano is a reliable pass protector who’s able to match up against speed or power under most circumstances. He has a relatively smooth kick-slide with little extraneous or wasted movement. He’s also a natural knee bender who’s able to drop his hips and play with good leverage. That helps maximize his play strength to sustain blocks or diffuse power from bull rushers.

He plays with solid competitive toughness and strains to sustain his blocks for as long as possible. He has solid grip strength when locked in and does a very good job of using his feet to deal with power and stalemate bigger defenders. He also has very solid awareness to pick up late pressure due to blitzes or looping defenders.

Finally, Fano is a versatile and capable run blocker. As mentioned above, he’s explosive when firing off the ball, engaging defenders with good leverage and driving them off the ball. He naturally uncoils his hips once he’s under their pads, leveraging them and driving them off the ball. His athleticism and movement skills also translate well to zone blocking schemes as well as blocking at the second level.

What he needs to improve​

Fano’s primary area in need of improvement appears to be his hand usage.

He flashes good hand usage when he’s balanced and in rhythm. However, if he finds himself off balance trying to match a defender who is particularly athletic, powerful, or skilled, his hands can suffer badly.

Fano has a slight tendency to let his hands drift wide while moving lateral, either kick-sliding in his pass set or redirecting back inside. Those wide hands can fail to find opponents’ chest plate or are easily swatted aside by defenders. Not only does that limit Fano’s ability to control the defender, but he can be prone to lunging.

Those lunges not only sacrifice Fano’s balance, but force him to give up his chest plate as well as his ability to anchor against power.

Final thoughts​

Spencer Fano might not be an “elite” prospect at the offensive tackle position, but he should be a very good one.

He has a very solid foundation that should allow him to push for a starting job very early in his career, and his exceptional versatility should make him attractive to pretty much any team. Fano has the ability to play left or right tackle, as well as execute any blocking scheme commonly called at the NFL level.

Fano obviously still has work to do in 2025. There are certainly rough patches in his game, and he needs to become a more consistent technician to take his game to the next level. That said, he has the potential to be an easy and safe pick for pretty much any team when he enters the draft.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/7/...utah-ot-spencer-fano-become-an-elite-prospect

 

[New York Giants]

New York Giants near bottom of preseason PFF offensive line rankings

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Giants are No. 28; Can they be better than that?

It should come as no surprise that entering the 2025 NFL season the New York Giants annually troublesome offensive line is not getting much respect from Pro Football Focus.

In PFF’s annual preseason offensive line rankings, the Giants are 28th in the 32-team league. The only teams below the Giants are the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans.

PFF says:

The only thing keeping the Giants’ offensive line from sinking further down this list is left tackle Andrew Thomas, who ranked third among offensive tackles in 2022 with a 90.3 PFF overall grade and has posted 75.0-plus marks in each of the past four years. However, the former Georgia player logged fewer than 1,000 snaps over the past two seasons. If he cannot stay on the field in 2025, New York might end up with the worst offensive line in the league.

Valentine’s View​

A ranking of 28th is fair, yet unfair.

It certainly seems fair to perennially be unconvinced that the Giants will field a competent offensive line. Yet ...

PFF had the Giants, with Thomas missing the last 10 games due to Lisfranc surgery, ranked No. 23 in its 2024 season-ending offensive line rankings. With Thomas, one of the league’s premier left tackles when healthy, expected to be ready when the season begins, how are the Giants five spots worse?

The line, with the possibility Evan Neal will take a starting guard spot away from Greg Van Roten, is expected to be the same one the Giants fielded at the beginning of 2024. That line was middle of the NFL pack until Thomas was injured.

Thomas’s PFF grades the last two season (75.4 in 2024 and 76.1 in 2023) have not approached the 90.3 he posted during his All-Pro 2022 season. Thomas, though, has played hurt through most of those two seasons.

Even the version of Thomas the Giants got the last two seasons makes the line better if he can stay on the field for the vast majority of games.

The Giants have also added free agent swing tackle James Hudson and selected Marcus Mbow in Round 5 of the 2025 NFL Draft. Those moves, theoretically, should better position the Giants to withstand inevitable injuries.

If reasonably healthy, there is no reason the Giants can’t surpass — maybe easily surpass — a preseason ranking of 28th.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/7/...ttom-of-preseason-pff-offensive-line-rankings

 

[New York Giants]

Giants news, 7/8: Thomas Fidone praised by Travis Kelce, Russell Wilson, Jaxson Dart, more headlines

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

New York Giants headlines for July 8th

Good morning, New York Giants fans!

From Big Blue View​

• 3 keys to a successful season for the New York Giants
• Giants’ rookie Thomas Fidone draws praise from Travis Kelce at Tight End University
• What kind of quarterback is Russell Wilson now?

Other Giant observations​

NFL Rookie Quarterback Stat Projections For 2025 | The Draft Neywork​

I’m targeting Week 13 against the New England Patriots. I expect Wilson and the Giants to be competitive enough to hold off until late November before making the switch, allowing Dart to play against New England before entering New York’s Week 14 bye.

Based on recent trends in head coach Brian Daboll’s playcalling and current team personnel, we can project the Giants to throw roughly 32.50 times per game after averaging 32.62 passing attempts per game over the last two seasons. Looking at comparable players drafted outside the top 10 picks in the NFL draft, let’s assume a yards-per-attempt average of 6.95, a touchdown percentage of 4.36%, and an interception percentage of 2.45%.

Shea Tierney discuss how reps have been and will be distributed going forward​

Coach Shea Tierney on the 2025 QB room

The Drive : https://t.co/zbrsTcqMEY pic.twitter.com/FkjP9InRPu

— New York Giants (@Giants) July 7, 2025​

25 Questions in 25 Days: How to deploy Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux | Giants.com​

John Schmeelk: I imagine Burns and Thibodeaux still get most of the straight up edge snaps, with Carter getting a lot of work there as well, but also being featured as a stand-up rusher on third down. I would also expect Carter's edge snaps to increase as the year goes along and he continues to improve where by the final week of the season, he is probably near even ground with Burns and Thibodeaux in terms of how often he lines up on the edge. Golston will be the true wild card and line up all over the front. Burns and Thibodeaux will get most of their time on the edge, though I haven't even accounted for the snaps they push into the three- or five-technique, which would free up even more edge snaps.

Every NFL Team's Most Promising Building Block Entering 2025 | Bleacher Report​

Micah McFadden is far from a household name, though he's worked his way into a full-time starting role. The New York Giants should give him a multiyear extension in the near future. McFadden makes stops all over the field. He led the Giants with 107 tackles last season. More importantly, the downhill linebacker has registered 26 tackles for loss in three seasons as an impactful run-stopper. McFadden must be more consistent in pass defense, but he has six pass breakups over the last two years.

As Bobby Okereke enters his age-29 term, the Giants can lock McFadden into a long-term deal. The fourth-year linebacker is the present and future centerpiece for Big Blue's defense.

Baldy sees Abdul Carter as an “elite finisher”​

.@Giants @PennStateFball @1NCRDB1 his ability to FINISH at the top of his rush is elite and should transfer to the NFL. Can't wait to watch. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/5rlr3I6rkR

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) July 6, 2025​

Giants TE Theo Johnson eager to get back in groove after foot surgery | Pro Football Talk​

Johnson is healthy now and said on the Giants Huddle podcast that he feels a “huge difference” in how prepared he is for the NFL game now. He also said he wants to try to pick up where he left off because he was finding his place in the offense ahead of the injury.

“I felt it coming on the more comfortable I got,” Johnson said. “Just feeling what it’s like to be in my groove, now having an idea like I’ve got this many games under my belt, this is what it’s gotta look like. Just as it was like I could really finish on a high note this year, the injury happened, which was super discouraging. But encouraging at the same time, because it was like, now I know I’m going to have a full offseason to kind of prepare and figure things out. I definitely felt like I was catching on at the right time. Unfortunately, the injury kind of put a hold on that.”

Plaxico Burress shares theory on Darren Waller’s New York Giants exit, ‘I really, honestly believe that’ | nflanalysis.net​

“He came to the Giants and they had him back there playing fullback,” said Burress. “You’re a tight end! You’re not built psychologically or mentally as a tight end to be running up in the two and four hole, taking on middle linebackers and linemen. That’s not how we are built as players. I think it had more to do with a lot of things that he had going on outside of football, and I don’t really think he wanted to be here in New York playing for Brian Daboll. I really, honestly believe that.”

Around the league​

NFL insider poll ranks Saquon Barkley as the league’s best running back | ESPN.com

Why 49ers’ Bryce Huff wanted to leave Eagles before Super Bowl title run | CBSSports.com

Washington Commanders NFL schedule 2025: Fans bullish on upcoming season | Hogs Haven

President Trump: "I wouldn't have changed the name" to Commanders | Pro Football Talk

Dallas Cowboys contract negotiations: Busting 3 Micah Parsons myths | Blogging The Boys

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes ready to leave Super Bowl loss behind in 2025 | NFL.com

Chiefs not lowering expectations for Travis Kelce | ESPN.com

Insiders confident Steelers, T.J. Watt will agree on lucrative deal: ‘Gonna be north of Myles Garrett’ | Behind the Steel Curtain

Steelers GM Omar Khan under contract through 2028 with new deal | ESPN.com

Andre Cisco: I'm excited for Justin Fields to prove doubters wrong | Pro Football Talk

Jets' new coaching staff challenging Sauce Gardner to reach new heights | NFL.com

Liam Coen envisions a bigger role for Dyami Brown than he had in Washington | Pro Football Talk

NFL Foundation, Cowboys and Texans donate combined $1.5M to central Texas communities impacted by flooding | NFL.com

BBV mailbag​

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

BBV YouTube​

You can find and subscribe to Big Blue View YouTube from the show’s home page

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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/7/...lce-russell-wilson-jaxson-dart-more-headlines

 

[New York Giants]

Rookie QB Jaxson Dart projected to take over late in season for Giants

John Jones-Imagn Images

Dart may not start Week 1, but expectations are building for his debut.

Jaxson Dart hasn’t taken the field yet for the New York Giants, but the projections for when the first-round rookie might debut are only intensifying.

Dart, who starred at Ole Miss and was drafted 25th overall in April, enters his rookie season behind a pair of seasoned veterans: Russell Wilson, signed to a one-year deal, and Jameis Winston, brought in as additional insurance. That depth gives the Giants flexibility and Dart time, but it doesn’t take him out of the long-term picture.

The Draft Network recently released a set of statistical projections for the top rookie quarterbacks, forecasting that Dart could begin starting as soon as Week 13 against the New England Patriots. That would align with the Giants’ Week 14 bye, offering a clean transition if the team is out of playoff contention.

Draft Network analyst Jaime Eisner projects Dart to make five starts, totaling 1,129 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and four interceptions. Extended over a full 17-game season, those numbers would put him at a pace for 3,839 yards, 24 TDs, and 13 INTs — solid production for a player learning on the fly.

Head coach Brian Daboll has kept quiet about the quarterback hierarchy beyond Week 1, but history and numbers suggest Dart will get his chance. Over the last two seasons, Daboll’s offense has averaged more than 32 pass attempts per game, providing plenty of opportunity for a quarterback with Dart’s aggressiveness and skillset.

The presence of both Wilson and Winston provides New York with a pair of stopgap options, each with starting experience. Wilson, 36, is trying to bounce back from stints in Pittsburgh and Denver, while Winston is now on his fourth NFL team and has seen limited action in recent years. Neither is the franchise’s long-term answer. That title belongs to Dart — if he proves ready.

The 22-year-old showed polish and toughness during his college career, throwing for more than 4,200 yards and 29 touchdowns last season in the SEC. Known for his competitive fire and mobility, Dart drew praise throughout rookie minicamp for his command of the huddle and willingness to learn behind the scenes.

The Giants have been searching for consistency at quarterback since Eli Manning’s retirement. The Daniel Jones era did not pan out as hoped, and now the focus is on developing a sustainable foundation on offense with Dart at the center of it.

Whether that means a midseason debut or a full redshirt year remains to be seen. But with the Giants likely entering a transitional season, it’s not hard to imagine the rookie taking over late in the year especially if Wilson or Winston struggle to keep New York competitive in the NFC East.

For now, expect Dart to compete, absorb, and prepare. But when the opportunity arrives, likely sooner rather than later he’ll be expected to show why the Giants made him their quarterback of the future.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/7/...jected-to-take-over-late-in-season-for-giants

 

[New York Giants]

NFC East notebook: Big questions as training camp approaches

Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

The Eagles are still the team to beat — but will the gap close in 2025?

Training camp is just weeks away, and in the NFC East, every team enters with something to prove. The Philadelphia Eagles are coming off a Super Bowl run, the Washington Commanders are riding a franchise quarterback breakthrough, the Dallas Cowboys are entering a new era, and the New York Giants… well, they’re hoping a strong draft class can at least put them in the fight.

From quarterback battles to rookie spotlights, here’s what we will be watching from the Giants’ rivals as the NFC East gets back to work.

Philadelphia Eagles​

Still the gold standard—but there are cracks worth watching​

The Eagles return much of the roster that won the NFC, but they’ll need to hold up against a brutal schedule and some key losses on defense. Gone are veterans like Darius Slay, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. That leaves more pressure on second-year standouts Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, who were excellent as rookies but will now be asked to lead the secondary full-time.

Saquon Barkley is back after a career year, but how he holds up after 436 touches is a real concern. Kevin Patullo replaces Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator, and while the scheme likely won’t change dramatically, it’s always worth watching how a first-time play caller handles pressure.

Key losses: OC Kellen Moore, DT Milton Williams, DE Josh Sweat, CB Darius Slay, S CJ Gardner-Johnson, G Mekhi Becton, CB Isaiah Rogers, ILB Oren Burks, RB Kenneth Gainwell, DE Brandon Graham, CB James Bradberry

Key additions: OT Kenyon Green, Edge Azeez Ojulari, OLB Josh Uche, CB Adoree Jackson, T Kendall Lamm, RB AJ Dillon

Key Draft Picks: LB Jihaad Campbell, S Andrew Mukuba, DL Ty Robinson

Position battle to watch: Cornerback Kelee Ringo vs. the field for CB2. Ringo has the tools, but consistency is the question. Former Giant Adoree Jackson will be in the mix as well.

Breakout candidate: DT Moro Ojomo. Quietly productive in 2024, he’ll take on a larger role with Milton Williams gone.

Washington Commanders​

Daniels changes everything—but the defense must hold​

Jayden Daniels didn’t just win Offensive Rookie of the Year, he flipped the identity of the franchise. Now, the Commanders are looking to build on a 12-win season with a retooled offensive line, a new weapon in Deebo Samuel, and a deeper secondary. But it’s the defense that could make or break them.

Washington’s run defense was one of the league’s worst in 2024, but after ranking 30th in yards allowed, GM Adam Peters made stopping the run a top priority this offseason. The Commanders are banking on a revamped front and a more cohesive scheme under Joe Whitt Jr. to give Daron Payne the support he lacked last year. In the secondary, Marshon Lattimore is back to full health and will be the anchor. Rookie Trey Amos could see early playing time if he impresses in camp.

Key losses: DT Jonathan Allen, WR Dyami Brown, S Jeremy Chinn, DE Dante Fowler Jr, T Cornelius Lucas, CB Benjamin St-Juste

Key additions: T Laremy Tunsil, DT Javon Kinlaw, S Will Harris, WR Deebo Samuel, CB Jonathan Jones, K Matt Gay, OLB Jake Martin, T Laremy Tunsil

Key draft picks: T Josh Conerly, CB Tre Amos, WR Jalin Lane

Position battle to watch: CB2

Tariq Castro-Fields and Amos are both getting early reps behind Lattimore.

Breakout candidate: Brian Robinson Jr. Healthy again, Robinson could flirt with 1,200 yards behind an upgraded line.

Dallas Cowboys​

New coach, new scheme, same questions in the backfield​

Brian Schottenheimer takes over as head coach with a mission to revive Dallas’ identity. There’s still plenty of talent on this roster with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Jake Ferguson giving this passing game plenty to work with. But the Cowboys didn’t solve their biggest issue from last year: the run game.

Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, and rookie Jaydon Blue headline what looks like a full-blown committee approach. The offensive line is expected to be healthier, which helps, but unless someone claims the RB1 job convincingly, this team could stay one-dimensional.

Defensively, the hope is that coordinator Matt Eberflus can return the unit to form, and the team is counting on second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku to step up following the departure of DeMarcus Lawrence.

Key losses: Coach Mike McCarthy, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, CB Jourdan Louis, WR Brandin Cooks, DE Chauncey Golston, T Chuma Edoga, QB Cooper Rush, ILB Eric Kendricks, DT Linvale Joseph

Key additions: Coach Brian Shottenheimer, DE Solomon Thomas, DE Dante Fowler Jr., G Robert Jones, RB Javonte Williams, DE Payton Turner, LB Jack Sanborn, WR George Pickens

Key Draft Picks: G Tyler Booker, Edge Donavan Ezeiruaku, CB Shavon Revel, RB Jaydon Blue

Position battle to watch: RB1

Williams has the experience, but Blue’s burst has caught the attention of coaches early.

Breakout candidate: Jake Ferguson. Healthy again and entering a contract year, he’s been Dak’s most reliable red zone option all offseason.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/7/...ers-big-questions-as-training-camp-approaches

 

[New York Giants]

Darius Slayton is still defending Daniel Jones

Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Wide receiver always had quarterback’s back, and apparently still does

Darius Slayton and Daniel Jones both came to the New York Giants in the 2019 NFL Draft. Slayton, a wide receiver drafted in Round 5, spent their six years together in New York defending the quarterback taken No. 6 overall.

Jones is gone from the Giants, having moved on to the Minnesota Vikings last season and now to the Indianapolis Colts. Slayton, though, is still defending the quarterback.

Appearing on the ‘NFL Spotlight with Ari Meirov’ podcast, Slayton insisted that Jones was not solely to blame for the struggles the team experienced during most of their time together.

“It was definitely not an ideal situation,” he began. “At the end of the day, he knows what the business is. I know what this business is. It’s result-based. We weren’t good enough the previous few years on offense. Typically, the tip of that spear is the quarterback.”

Jones has a chance to win a starting job with the Colts.

“I think that he [Jones] will be a successful quarterback in the league.” Slayton told Meirove. “This league is largely about being in the right place at the right time.”

The full podcast, during which Slayton also talked about returning to the Giants for a seventh season, is available below.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/7/...slayton-is-still-defending-ex-qb-daniel-jones

 

[New York Giants]

Training camp tickets available

Get ‘em while they last! You need one to attend a practice.

Giants 2025 open training camp dates​

Gates will open at 8:30 a.m. ET

All practices will begin at approx. 10 a.m. ET*

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)

*Scheduled times subject to change. In the event of inclement weather, practice will be moved indoors and there will be no public viewing. For the most up-to-date information on training camp, visit Giants.com, @Giants on Twitter, the Giants App, or call the Training Camp Hotline at 201.935.8111 ext. 1070.

TRAINING CAMP TICKETS!!!

Available now ️: https://t.co/QHr0XYf58X pic.twitter.com/r2omcgLyZ6

— New York Giants (@Giants) July 10, 2025​

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/7/10/24465348/training-camp-tickets-available

 

[New York Giants]

New York Giants get good, but not great, offseason grade from ESPN

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Is a “B” grade a fair mark?

The New York Giants offseason work deserves a “B” grade, according to ESPN NFL analyst Seth Walder.

How did Walder reach that conclusion? Here is what he wrote:

The Giants entered the offseason needing a quarterback. They acquired three. In free agency, they brought in both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston for a combined $14 million in cap space. It was a good bargain.

At the time, they didn’t know whether they’d be able to draft a first-round QB. Wilson raises the floor and Winston the ceiling. Even though neither is the team’s future quarterback, why not try both at that cost?

The real investment was made in the draft by trading back into the first round to select Dart at No. 25 (after picking edge rusher Abdul Carter at No. 3). To move up from No. 34 to No. 25, the Giants dealt the Texans No. 99 and a 2026 third-round pick ...

This was a risk well worth taking. Dart might not work out, but the Giants gave themselves a chance to find a franchise quarterback.

Their most expensive free agent acquisition was [Paulson] Adebo. I was not a fan of the move. Adebo, who suffered a broken femur in Week 7 last season, had strong on-ball numbers over the previous two seasons combined, with minus-49 EPA allowed as the nearest defender, per NFL Next Gen Stats. But on-ball production isn’t stable from year to year, and metrics that I would consider more important — such as target rate and yards per coverage snap — are more worrying. In his limited sample last season, Adebo was targeted 21% of the time (most by any outside corner with at least 250 coverage snaps) and had a high 1.6 yards per coverage snap allowed.

New York’s other major secondary signing, safety Jevon Holland, was better. That the Giants landed Holland for $15 million per year — roughly the same as Camryn Bynum and less than Tre’von Moehrig — despite his being considered by some to be the best safety in the free agent class, was encouraging.

They re-signed receiver Darius Slayton at $12 million per year ... I think it’s a fine move to bring him back at this cost, considering the team’s need at outside receiver.

Valentine’s View​

I recently wrote that the Giants had to be considered an offseason winner even if the schedule will make it difficult for them to prove it.

Walder’s work does nothing to convince me otherwise.

Some of what I wrote at the end of June bears repeating here:

In my position by position “better or worse?” series this offseason, I found that an argument can be made that the Giants have improved at every single position.

On defense, the Giants added potential game-changing players in Abdul Carter, Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland. They added front seven depth with Chauncey Golston, Roy Robertson-Harris and third-round pick Darius Alexander.

On offense, the Giants are in a far better situation at quarterback. Russell Wilson may not be what he once was, but he offers the Giants the likelihood that they will have their best quarterback play this season since the days of Eli Manning. We have no idea when or if rookie Jaxson Dart will play, but his presence brings hope that the Giants may have their quarterback of the future.

Wilson should make the receivers better, and there is improved depth at tight end, running back, and the offensive line.

I think Walder is correct about his quarterback assessment. Wilson and Winston are no one’s idea of perfect quarterback solutions, but they raise the bar for the kind of play the Giants should be able to get from the position. Dart gives them something they desperately needed — hope that they might have found an answer at the position for the foreseeable future.

I disagree with Walder about Adebo. I love that signing.

It was clear entering the offseason that the Giants needed to spend money to find a player who could be their No. 1 cornerback. With their other priorities, the draft was not going to align so that they could select a player with that potential.

We discussed options like Carlton Davis, Charvarius Ward and D.J. Reed. All of those players would have been fine, but each is 29 and you can debate whether or not you think any is a true No. 1 cornerback.

I understand the advanced metrics Walder points to. Adebo, though, is a 26-year-old who may not yet have played his best football. Considering where the Giants and that they should still be thinking more about the long-term than the short term, Adebo was the right signing.

Both Adebo and Deonte Banks are best in man coverage, specifically press man coverage. We will see if defensive coordinator Shane Bowen is flexible enough to adapt and use them that way, but from this vantage point Adebo was the right fit for New York.

What do you think of Walder’s offseason grade for the Giants? Too high? Too low? Just right?

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/7/...-good-but-not-great-offseason-grade-from-espn

 

[New York Giants]

Survey results: Giants fans favor a reunion with Will Hernandez

Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Hernandez makes the most sense

We've heard a couple former New York Giants express some level of interest in a reunion with their former team.

Jason Pierre-Paul said that it would be "dope" to finish his career with the team that drafted him, and Odell Beckham Jr. expressed a similar sentiment.

That got us thinking, which former Giant would the Big Blue View community like to see back with the team?

We gave you the choice between Jason Pierre-Paul, Odell Beckham Jr., Will Hernandez, and Nick Gates.

While none of the options got more than half the vote, fans definitely favored a reunion with Hernandez.

The feeling here is that Hernandez makes the most sense -- at least as long as he's recovered from the torn ACL that ended his 2024 season. Gates could be valuable depth at multiple positions, but Hernandez could easily push for a starting job.

While Hernandez didn't take the expected step forward in his development as a Giant, he became a good starting guard as a member of the Arizona Cardinals.

The Giants may hope that Evan Neal will be able to unseat Greg Van Roten at guard. But adding Hernandez to the mix would likely ensure they could get an upgrade at the position and an answer for the next several years. They might even be able to get starting caliber depth out of the competition.

It's unlikely that the Giants would make the move to add Hernandez, but it's an intriguing option.

The 2025 season is almost here. Follow this link for more information on FanDuel sportsbook

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/7/...ants-fans-favor-a-reunion-with-will-hernandez

 

[New York Giants]

Training camp preview: New York Giants biggest question at running back

Tyrone Tracy protecting the football. | Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Can any of their backs hang on to the dang ball?

In a franchise-shaking Week 10 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers last season, the game that finally saw Daniel Jones lose his job, the New York Giants felt with certainty the impact of poor running back ball security.

Then-rookie Tyrone Tracy wrecked an 18-carry, 103-yard individual performance and a chance for the Giants rescue an awful game by fumbling on the first play of overtime, setting Carolina up at the New York 23-yard line and leading to a 36-yard field goal that dropped the Giants to 2-8.

The Giants are excited about Tracy, as they should be after a rookie season that saw him 1,123 yards from scrimmage despite not getting meaningful playing time until Week 5.

The Giants are also excited about fourth-round pick, a player called a “carnage creator” by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, as they should be. Skattebo’s wrecking ball style and pass-catching acumen should be a nice complement to Tracy’s big-play ability.

Back, though, to that fumble by Tracy against the Panthers.

The biggest question about the Giants’ young bucks in the backfield isn’t whether they can run successfully. It is whether either of them can be trusted to hang on to the football.

Tracy fumbled five times in 230 touches last season, once every 46 touches. Over the 13 games during which Tracy was the team’s primary back he averaged 16.2 touches per game. So, that’s a fumble every three games. Not good enough.

A wide receiver most of his college career, Tracy also had surprising trouble catching the ball. He dropped five of 53 targets (9.4%).

“Ball security was a huge thing for me last year,” Tracy said this spring. “I had too many on the ground.”

Tracy has been working on his fundamentals and using a grip strengthener to try and make it harder for defenders to strip the ball from his grasp.

Skattebo is a battering ram who likes to run through defenders rather than around them, and fights for every inch. That is entertaining and helpful, generally, but it also sometimes puts the ball at risk.

Skattebo was charged with 10 fumbles over three collegiate seasons.

In his 2025 Draft Guide, Matt Waldman of The Rookie Scouting Portfolio, pointed out Skattebo’s vulnerability with the ball in his hands.

Cam Skattebo fits the logic of a power back who becomes an easier target for attacks on the football. His rate of fumbling once every 94.2 touches is mid-level Committee Caliber ball security. He has lapses with security when he changes directions between the tackles.

Waldman charted Skattebo with three fumbles in 340 touches in 2024 – one per 113.33 touches.

Neither of the Giants’ other experienced running back options — Devin Singletary and Eric Gray — have been bastions of ball security, either. Singletary has 16 fumbles in 1,197 career touches. That is a fumble every 74.8 touches.

Eric Gray has six fumbles in 79 career carries, receptions and kick returns, one every 13.2 touches.

I hate to bring up his name, but Saquon Barkley has fumbled eight times in seven seasons. He has averaged one fumble every 233.375 touches. That’s ball security.

Nick Chubb has eight fumbles in 1,468 touches, one every 183.5. In two NFL seasons, Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions has three fumbles in 536 touches, one every 178.7. Alvin Kamara has 12 fumbles in 2,116 career touches, one every 176.3.

The four backs who seem most likely to touch the ball for the Giants during the 2025 season all have a history of putting the ball on the ground far too often.

Trying to rise from the ashes of a 3-14 season and facing a schedule that will require sound, clean football each week for the Giants to have a chance, that could be a problem.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2446241...-york-giants-biggest-question-at-running-back

 

[New York Giants]

In this 2016 NFL redraft, New York Giants avoid Eli Apple disaster

Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images

Pro Football Focus gives Giants DeForest Buckner instead

The 2016 NFL Draft — more specifically, the Eli Apple draft — ended up as one of the more regrettable points in a long, dark period for the New York Giants since they won the 2011 Super Bowl.

Well, there may be no crying over spilt milk, and no real do-overs in the draft, but we can try to hypothetically change history. Pro Football Focus has done so for the Giants with a 2016 NFL redraft that would have led to a much better result for the Giants.

PFF has a short, simple explanation:

Apple was a miss by the Giants, lasting only three years in New York before getting traded to the Saints. In this redraft, New York opts for Buckner, who has made three Pro Bowls and been one of the five most valuable defensive tackles in the NFL since he was drafted, according to PFF WAR.

Valentine’s View​

Apple was, of course, more than a miss by the Giants. He was just 20 years old and his immaturity seemed to be an issue from the start of his time with the Giants. In his second season, teammate Landon Collins called him a “cancer” and Apple was suspended at season’s end following an argument with a coach.

Five games into the 2018 season, the Giants traded Apple to the New Orleans Saints.

You will likely recall that 2016 was the year the Giants were said to have edge defender Leonard Floyd or offensive tackle Jack Conklin atop their wish list with the 10th overall pick.

It seemed as though GM Jerry Reese got caught flat-footed as the Giants watched the Chicago Bears trade up to No. 8 to select Floyd, then the Tennessee Titans move up to No. 9 to select Conklin.

Conklin has been named an All-Pro right tackle twice in a nine-year career with the Titans and Cleveland Browns. Floyd has started 137 of 138 regular-season games and 66.5 sacks for the Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers.

Buckner, in nine NFL seasons, has made three Pro Bowls, was a first-team All-Pro, and has 67.5 career sacks.

In the PFF redraft, Conklin went No. 20 to the New York Jets. Neither Apple nor Floyd were selected in Round 1.

Giants’ fans can only wish things had turned out this way.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/7/...nts-avoid-eli-apple-disaster-deforest-buckner

 

[New York Giants]

Second-year safety named New York Giants breakout candidate

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Creating takeaways is next step for Tyler Nubin

When the New York Giants lost safety Xavier McKinney in free agency a season ago they drafted Tyler Nubin out of Minnesota in Round 2 to soften the blow.

Nubin had 13 interceptions in 55 games for the Golden Gophers, and it was hoped that he would bring that ball-hawking production to the back of the Giants’ defense.

Nubin played fairly well in his rookie season, making 98 tackles in 13 games and starts. The hoped-for ball production wasn’t there, however, as he had no interceptions and just one pass defensed.

With an upgraded secondary that now includes safety Jevon Holland and cornerback Paulson Adebo, plus a year of experience for Nubin, the Giants are hoping to see that ball production emerge.

Pro Football and Sports Network believes it might, naming Nubin its breakout candidate for the Giants.

From PFSN:

Tyler Nubin made an immediate impact in the New York Giants’ secondary, quickly establishing himself as a reliable presence on the back end. The second-round pick out of Minnesota started 13 games as a rookie before an ankle injury cut his season short, finishing with 98 tackles and four tackles for loss.

Nubin’s instincts and tackling ability helped stabilize a defense among the league’s better units for much of the year before fading down the stretch. With the departure of Xavier McKinney, who earned All-Pro honors in Green Bay, the Giants are looking to Nubin to step into a leadership role in his second season.

Nubin showed flashes of high-level play as a rookie and now has the opportunity to build on that foundation. If he continues to develop, he could become the next cornerstone of the Giants’ defense and a key figure in their secondary for years to come.

Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen has encouraged ball production this offseason, telling players to “be a damn pirate” and using a turnover chest to celebrate when his players earn a takeaway.

A step forward from Nubin would help fulfill Bowen’s goal of creating more takeaways.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/7/...ubin-named-new-york-giants-breakout-candidate

 

[New York Giants]

Fantasy Football ‘25: QB rankings and tiers

The best of the best | Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

A first look at the highest scoring position in the game

As they say in Steelers’ Country, Here We Go! Today’s column begins my 2025 Fantasy Football redraft rankings and tiers. Running back, wide receiver, and tight end will follow, and I’ll update them all in August, closer to when season-long redraft season kicks in for real. Hopefully, these initial looks at each of the major positions will help you to start thinking about player values and draft strategies.

Before we get to the rankings and commentary, here are three quick observations about the quarterback position in 2025. Do with them what you will.

1. QB is loaded! I’ve been playing fantasy for 30-plus years and can’t recall this much quality and depth at the position. Look down the rankings and you’ll see what I mean. There are names well past QB12 that are very appealing starters for fantasy. All that depth means you can wait longer on QB, even in Superflex leagues, if you choose to pass on the elite options at the position. It also means that it’s not difficult to grab two good starting quarterbacks in a Superflex format, and it’s extremely easy in a 1-QB league. I always like leaving 1-QB drafts with two good QBs.

2. QB is young! It’s so young, one of the players is actually named Young! 15 of the 32 projected opening-day starters were taken in three fairly recent NFL drafts: 2018 (4), 2020 (5), and 2024 (6). Only four projected opening-day starters are currently 35 or older: Aaron Rodgers (41), Joe Flacco (40), Matt Stafford (37), and Russell Wilson (36), and at least three of those are starters for the last time. In other words, quarterback should be strong and deep (for fantasy, anyway) for a good while.

3. Running quarterbacks zip past the competition! I’ve written a lot in the past about the evolution of the running QB and how it’s changed fantasy. An elite dual-threat QB is almost like having two players in one. With a point awarded for every ten rushing yards and six points granted for every rushing TD, mobile signal-callers can pile up points a lot more easily than pocket passers. A QB who runs for 500 yards and 5 TDs on the season is getting on average 4-5 more fantasy points per game (FPPG) than a quarterback who doesn’t run much (or at all). There are more mobile QBs now than at any time in the past, and you’ll see how runners are favored throughout my rankings.

I’ve organized the quarterbacks into tiers, as I do at every position. You should do the same. I’ve written a lot in the past on why it’s smart to use tiers for your draft board. In a nutshell, everyone wants the best players, and a tiered approach allows fantasy managers to have a great view of (a) ranges of players who can be expected to have similar fantasy production, (b) where the drop-offs are between those ranges, and (c) how many players in a range remain available at any given time. Tiers really help when position runs come, and they facilitate more effective drafting, regardless of whether you use a snake or auction format.

My QB rankings and tiers assume four points per passing TD. Some leagues award six, which gives some extra juice for the heavier throwers. Season-long rankings shown are on a FPPG basis, and exclude the final week of the season.

You can link to all of my preseason fantasy content here, including all the rankings and tiers (once they’re posted), and much more.

OK, you’ve waited long enough…

Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images
Daniels had a rookie season for the ages

Tier I – The Dual-Threat Studs

1. Lamar Jackson

2. Josh Allen

3. Jayden Daniels

4. Jalen Hurts

Commentary: I generally preach waiting on quarterback and especially now with so much depth, but these four stars bring such a scoring advantage with their running prowess (combined with solid passing) that I can’t fault you for taking any one of them at or near his ADP. Allen has been the No. 1 or No. 2 overall scorer in fantasy for five straight seasons, Jackson and Hurts each have averaged more than 20 FPPG for three straight seasons, and Daniels broke fantasy last season by finishing as the QB4 as a rookie, and will only get better. The tush-push lives on, and these four stud QBs are just about the surest things in fantasy this season.

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Burrow: Big Cat on the prowl

Tier II – The Top Throwers

5. Joe Burrow

6. Baker Mayfield

7. Patrick Mahomes

Commentary: I almost put Burrow (QB3 in 2024) in his own tier, and in leagues that award six points per TD pass I’d probably do that. If Cincinnati’s defense is again just a giant slice of Swiss cheese, then Burrow could repeat or even surpass his gaudy 2024 numbers. But I can’t put him in the top tier because he has to be in the 5,000 yard-40+ TD range to compete with those guys. Mayfield has great weapons and I think he’ll be fine even with OC Liam Coen moving on to Jacksonville. Chris Godwin missed more than half of last season and Mike Evans missed four and a half games and Mayfield still finished as the QB5. The iffy one is Mahomes, who is coming off back-to-back disappointing seasons (for fantasy) where he fell all the way to the QB10-12 range after finishing in the Top-5 QBs in each of his first five years as KC’s starter. His weapons should be good enough for him to do his thing, but if the defense remains stout, he won’t need to light up the scoreboard. I’m not taking Mahomes at his ADP, given the depth below.

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Dak is back!

Tier III – The Upside Guys

8. Kyler Murray

9. Bo Nix

10. Justin Fields

11. Brock Purdy

12. Dak Prescott

13. Drake Maye

14. Justin Herbert

15. Caleb Williams

16. Jared Goff

Commentary: There’s a lot to like in this tier, which offers a range of younger and older QBs, dual-threats and pocket passers. Williams disappointed as a rookie but should benefit from offensive line upgrades, two shiny new rookie passing weapons, and most importantly, new HC Ben Johnson. Fellow sophomores Nix and Maye are dual-threats who showed lots of promise as rookies. Fields is a gifted runner and while it’s not always pretty, he’s performed as a Top-10 quarterback every time he’s gotten a chance to start for a decent stretch. I have Goff (QB7 last season) last in this tier because he’s the only one who won’t give you anything on the ground, plus Williams’s gain (Ben Johnson) is Goff’s loss, and I don’t think Detroit’s defense will be decimated with injuries again. If Prescott can stay healthy, he’ll benefit from the addition of George Pickens in what figures to be a pass-happy offense (and especially in the red zone).

Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images
Is this finally “the year” for T-Law?

Tier IV – The Sleepers

17. Jordan Love

18. C.J. Stroud

19. Trevor Lawrence

20. Tua Tagovailoa

21. Bryce Young

22. Matthew Stafford

23. J.J. McCarthy

24. Michael Penix

25. Cam Ward

26. Geno Smith

27. Sam Darnold

Commentary: OK, none of these guys are “sleepers,” and several of them have had Top-10 seasons at some point in the past. But the position is so deep, I had to call them something. This tier is where the real depth is. I won’t make a lot of guarantees this season (I never do), but I’ll guarantee this: At least one of these 11 quarterbacks will finish Top-12 at the position (making him a QB1). Bank it. My top choices for that would be Love or Lawrence, but I can see a path for just about all of them. Given the uncertainty with second-year QBs, I especially like backing up Maye or Williams (or even Nix) with one of the higher-end players in this tier.

Tier V – The Rest

28. Aaron Rodgers

29. Joe Flacco

30. Daniel Jones

31. Russell Wilson

32. Anthony Richardson

33. Jaxson Dart

34. Saints’ QBs

Commentary: Other than in the deepest of Superflex leagues, these QBs should live on the waiver wire this season, with one caveat. If one quarterback wins and keeps the Colts’ starting job, that player should outplay his ranking and especially since both are runners, and the weapons are good.

Coming next: Running back rankings and tiers, so keep it here!

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/7/15/24468193/fantasy-football-25-qb-rankings-and-tiers

 

[New York Giants]

Giants news, 7/13: Rookies report to camp, Abdul Carter, Jaxson Dart, more headlines

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

New York Giants headlines for Wednesday

Good morning, New York Giants fans!

From Big Blue View​

• Training camp preview: New York Giants biggest question at quarterback
• New York Giants’ Super Bowl teams don’t make list of best teams of the 2000s
• Is the Giants’ 2025 schedule really that tough?
• Fantasy Football ‘25: QB rankings and tiers

Other Giant observations​

Russell Wilson Thinks New York Is the Perfect Place for His Next Chapter | SI.com​

And in New York, with a young Giants team searching for an identity, in a place that rewards those sort of lofty manifestations produced by the type of athlete who can ably filter out the noise of the detractors, it’s worth wondering if this is where Wilson was meant to end up all along.

“Me and Carmelo were talking about this,” Wilson says. “He’s like, ‘Man, this is the perfect place for you to reestablish and have everybody realize who Russell Wilson really is, by not just how you play on the field, but what you do, the community and different things that you’re able to impact.’

Jaxson Dart’s lake throw that went viral​

Jaxson Dart has a absolute CANNON

(via @JaxsonDart) pic.twitter.com/CETxhC2H4D

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) July 14, 2025​

New York Giants training camp 2025 preview: Key dates, notable additions, biggest storylines | NFL.com​

The culture change on New York’s offense will trickle down from the revamped QB room, but what to make of the rest of the Giants’ attack? Aside from star ‘24 rookies Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy Jr., the cupboard is pretty bare at the skill positions. Wan’Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton and Zach Pascal help fill out the WR corps, with a number of jobs up for grabs. Cam Skattebo is an exciting (or at least name-brand) addition at RB, but how big a factor will the rookie play this summer and fall? The tight end corps is anonymous. The offensive line returns its starting five from last year but could be in flux with former starting tackle Evan Neal moving inside to guard and Andrew Thomas returning from a season-ending injury. With Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen’s job on the line again this season, N.Y. needs this offense to be running at full speed out of the gate. A summer addition at WR could be in the offing. Regardless, expect a lot of moving and shaking before Week 1.

5 Edge-Rushers 25 and Under to Buy Stock in Heading Into 2025 NFL Season | Bleacher Report​

Seeing as Abdul Carter hasn't played a down in the NFL yet, he's the biggest wild card and gamble out of all the players named here. His traits are worth betting on, though, and early investors can expect to yield a high return, hence why the New York Giants made him the third pick of last April's draft.

Carter will likely be more of a third-down rusher in year one, since the Giants have Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux on the edge already. However, the 2024 college All-American should get plenty of one-on-one matchups over the next several years, especially with Dexter Lawrence also factoring into the mix, creating opportunities for Carter to put up some big numbers and earn a lot of cash in the future.

Most important non-QB for every NFL team: These players will go a long way in determining their club’s success | CBSSports.com​

New York Giants: EDGE Abdul Carter/ The Giants already have one defensive lineman — Dexter Lawrence — who is essentially impossible to block. They also have two strong edge rushers on Brian Burns and, to a lesser extent, Kayvon Thibodeaux.

But Carter is a higher level prospect than either Burns and Thibodeaux were — a player who drew pre-draft comparisons to Micah Parsons. If he comes remotely close to living up to that hype, the Giants will have a truly dominant defensive front.

Brian Burns: We have studs at every position on the defensive side of the ball​

On the @Giants Huddle podcast I interviewed the edge group & a @Fire_Burns99 1 on 1.

️Burns: https://t.co/gDptWtsDjv
️Edges: https://t.co/Wvu8SGF8dO
Subscribe to the pod: https://t.co/3jrxmgZkq5
Youtube Edges: https://t.co/7WUYNUk091
Burns on YT: https://t.co/Rdko5dkRgx pic.twitter.com/NsP10HBszi

— John Schmeelk (@Schmeelk) July 15, 2025​

Giants 53-man roster projection: Pre-training camp edition | USAToday.com​

Tight ends (4) Starter: Theo Johnson Reserves: Daniel Bellinger, Chris Manhertz, Thomas Fidone II

The Giants could opt to go with three tight ends, but that would put rookie Thomas Fidone at risk. There's no guarantee they could sneak him onto the practice squad, and they aren't likely to part with Manhertz, their best blocking tight end. To start, they go with four.

Top 2025 NFL players by jersey number: From Roquan Smith to Leonard Williams, a 0-99 ranking of the best | CBSSports.com​

59 - Casey Kreiter. One of the few unquestioned vets of the Giants, the Pro Bowl long snapper earned a new deal this offseason after another reliable campaign as a special teams captain.

61 - John Michael Schmitz. This isn’t an endorsement of Schmitz as a top-shelf center — he’s still got a ways to go trying to anchor Brian Daboll’s offensive line — so much as an admission that most elite blockers aren’t wearing No. 61.

Around the league​

Commanders’ Terry McLaurin ‘frustrated’ over contract talks, unsure if he reports to training camp | NFL.com

The Washington Commanders are retiring Art Monk's jersey number | Hogs Haven

NFL insider poll ranks 8 quarterbacks ahead of Jalen Hurts | Bleeding Green Nation

Dallas Cowboys extension for Micah Parsons will cause highest cash-spending team in the NFL | Blogging The Boys

Trey Smith, Chiefs finalizing record extension to make him highest-paid guard in NFL | NFL.com

Sources - Jets, CB Sauce Gardner reach 4-year, $120.4M extension | ESPN.com

Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence: ‘I need to really turn it on’ | NFL.com

Free agent edge rusher Von Miller has three "very interested" teams | Pro Football Talk

NFL’s underrated and overrated teams in 2025: Bills, 49ers could tumble; Chargers looking up | The Athletic

Chaos around NFL contract guarantees, from star quarterbacks to second-round picks | The Athletic

BBV mailbag​

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

BBV YouTube​

You can find and subscribe to Big Blue View YouTube from the show’s home page

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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/7/...-camp-abdul-carter-jaxson-dart-more-headlines

 

[New York Giants]

Malik Nabers cracks NFL’s Top 10 WRs after electric rookie season

SCOTT CLAUSE / USATODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

At just 21, the Giants’ breakout star earns No. 7 spot in ESPN’s receiver rankings

Just one year into his pro career, Malik Nabers has been ranked the seventh-best wide receiver in the NFL, according to an annual ESPN survey of more than 70 league executives, coaches, and scouts. The rankings aim to capture the best players right now — not based on projections or past achievements, but current performance.

And Nabers, at just 21 years old, has already carved out a spot among the game’s elite.

Drafted sixth overall out of LSU, Nabers delivered a rookie season that defied expectations and shattered the mold. Despite playing in one of the league’s least productive offenses — and catching passes from four different quarterbacks he finished with 109 catches, 1,204 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns. His 109 receptions were the second-most ever by a rookie receiver, trailing only fellow rookie tight end Brock Bowers.

“He can go 0 to 60 in three seconds like a Ferrari,” one NFL personnel evaluator told ESPN, “but he’s built like a truck. And he’s not even an elite route runner yet. Just wait until that happens.”

The Giants force-fed Nabers with 171 targets, the second-most in the NFL behind only Ja’Marr Chase. But Nabers proved up to the task, consistently producing despite defenses keying in on him and despite constant change at the quarterback position. He also led all rookie wide receivers with 19 forced missed tackles, showcasing his dangerous combination of strength and speed after the catch.

“Some guys are just different. You don’t have to watch him long to know that,” said an NFC defensive coach.

Nabers is now the highest-ranked Giants receiver on ESPN’s list since Odell Beckham Jr., and many around the league believe he’s the best draft pick of the Brian Daboll–Joe Schoen era.

With Russell Wilson serving as the likely bridge quarterback and rookie Jaxson Dart waiting in the wings, Nabers is expected to be the face of the Giants’ rebuild and a main piece of their offensive future.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/7/...-nfls-top-10-wrs-after-electric-rookie-season