2026 NFL offseason preview: New York Giants need head coach who can develop young nucleus

4 days ago 2

The NFL offseason has begun, and Yahoo Sports is previewing the coming months for all 32 teams, from free agency through the draft and more.

New York Giants

2025 season record: 4-13 (u 5.5 wins), fourth NFC East, missed playoffs, 26th in DVOA

Overview

For the third straight season, the Giants are looking at a top-six pick in the draft. While some of the young talent was tantalizing, the Giants didn’t have close to a full competitive roster. After going 2-8 this past season, Brian Daboll was fired as head coach.

Daboll was in charge of overseeing the development of first-round draft pick Jaxson Dart, but relied too much on the rookie’s rushing ability, which sent the quarterback into the medical tent during five games (one of them was in preseason). Dart was an efficient runner, though the idea of avoiding contact needs to be hammered home, and he used his legs to be a top-15 quarterback by EPA per play. However, on plays that resulted in a pass or sack, no scrambles or designed runs, he was just 27th.

Despite talent on the defensive line, the Giants didn’t put together anything that resembled a competent defense. Brian Burns was one of the best edge defenders in the league, but rookie Abdul Carter couldn’t convert pressures into sacks on top of multiple disciplinary issues that had him miss parts of games. Meanwhile, only the Bills allowed a higher rate of explosive run plays.

The Giants now need a new head coach, and have decided general manager Joe Schoen will stick around.

Cap/cuts outlook

The Giants are 20th in effective salary cap space, approximately $3.3 million over the cap for the 2026 offseason, when accounting for top 51 contracts and a draft class, according to Over The Cap. Restructuring the contracts for DT Dexter Lawrence II, DE Brian Burns and CB Paulson Adebo would open up space. The most likely cap casualty would be OL Jon Runyan Jr., who would save $9.25 million on the cap. Trading DE Kayvon Thibodeaux on his fifth-year option would free up $14.765 million. A Thibodeaux trade could be a likely option given the presence of Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, which would also allow the Giants to recoup some draft capital and add a few more rookie contracts.

Key pending free agents

CB Cor’Dale Flott
WR Wan’Dale Robinson
OT Jermaine Eluemunor
OG Greg Van Roten
S Dane Belton
TE Daniel Bellinger

Flott, a 2022 third-round pick, had a breakout season in the final year of his rookie deal. He was the most consistent cornerback for the Giants in 2025 and ranked in the top 32 of adjusted yards allowed per coverage snap. Robinson was Brian Daboll’s preferred target on third downs, trailing only Amon-Ra St. Brown in third-down target share. He had his first 1,000-yard season. Eluemunor has been a productive right tackle for his two years with the Giants.

Positional needs

Offensive line
Interior defensive line
Secondary
Wide receiver

Guard has been a weak spot for the Giants and neither free agency nor the draft has filled it. Runyan was the eighth-worst among left guards by blown block rate, per Sports Info Solutions, while Van Roten was in the bottom third of right guards by that metric. With one guard a pending free agent and the other as a possible cap casualty, the Giants could have both spots open. If Eluemunor leaves in free agency, the Giants could need to fill three spots on the line.

The Giants were 32nd in defensive DVOA against the run, while they ranked 31st in yards before contact and 32nd in yards after contact per opposing running back carry.

Outside of Flott, the Giants failed to figure out the cornerback situation. Deonte Banks never clicked on the outside and free-agent signing Paulson Adebo was in the bottom third of cornerbacks in adjusted yards allowed per coverage snap during his first season as a Giant.

With Malik Nabers out, the Giants relied on Robinson, who had a 29.7% target share that ranked fourth among all receivers. The next-highest Giants receiver had an 11.5% target share. That was Darius Slayton, who was re-signed on a three-year,$36 million contract last offseason.

2026 NFL Draft picks

1st round, pick No. 5
2nd round
4th round
5th round
6th round
6th round (MIA)
6th round (DAL)

Good draft fit

Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

The Giants would do well to pair Tyson with Malik Nabers and help Jaxson Dart continue to develop as a dropback passer. Tyson is an explosive, polished receiver who can step in from Day 1 as a reliable target.

What could move the fantasy needle in 2026?

Support for Jaxson Dart

The Giants essentially have the same assignment for supporting Jaxson Dart as outlined above with the Titans and Ward. New York can attract some interesting candidates at head coach, provided those options are bought in on Dart, who wasn’t viewed as a consensus Round 1 quarterback but showed real-deal flashes this season. From a supporting cast standpoint, the Giants need to add playmakers and more help on the offensive line. The impending return of Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo from injury could be an X-factor, provided they are healthy. — Matt Harmon

Betting nugget

There wasn’t a lot to write home about for the 4-13 Giants, who were favored in only two games this season and went 1-1 against the spread in them. — Ben Fawkes

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