The New York Giants find themselves in a challenging phase as a franchise. With a general manager potentially nearing the end of his tenure and head coach Brian Daboll firmly on the hot seat, the team is coming off a 2024 season that ended in a disappointing last-place finish in the NFC East. With tough competition in one of the NFL’s most competitive divisions, the Giants don’t appear close to contending—at least on the surface.
Despite that, there’s a surprising wave of optimism surrounding the team heading into 2025. The Giants added veteran quarterback Russell Wilson to serve as a bridge to their first-round pick, Ole Miss standout Jaxson Dart. While Dart’s playing time this season remains uncertain, his presence gives fans reason to hope he could be the long-term answer under center. But it’s not just the quarterback situation fueling excitement.
New York boasts one of the NFL’s most promising young wide receivers in Malik Nabers, along with some other intriguing offensive pieces like Darius Slayton, Theo Johnson, and Tyrone Tracy. Still, it’s the defense—particularly the pass rush—that’s generating the most buzz heading into the season.
In a recent piece for The Athletic, Dan Duggan shared his biggest takeaway from the Giants’ offseason practices: this team could feature one of the NFL’s top pass-rushing units. On any given snap, the Giants can line up four former first-round picks across the defensive line, all of them 27 or younger. With Dexter Lawrence anchoring the middle and rookie Abdul Carter—whom the team hopes can make a Micah Parsons-level impact—the potential is sky-high.
Beyond the starting group, the Giants have solid depth. Free-agent pickup Chauncey Golston is coming off a career year, while third-round rookie Darius Alexander projects as an instant disruptor. Veteran Rakeem Nunez-Roches adds size and run-stopping ability. Historically, the Giants have thrived by building dominant defensive lines, and they’ll need that same formula to succeed in the NFC East. If the offense can hold its own and keep games close, New York’s ferocious pass rush could take center stage. For the first time in the Daboll era, the Giants appear to have a true identity—and that could make them one of the league’s most dangerous sleeper teams this fall.
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