ESPN isn’t buying into the Giants hype just yet.
New York fans may be looking at the roster and seeing the outline of something better - a team with a promising young quarterback, a respected coach and a few pieces worth building around. ESPN’s latest ‘ Future Power Rankings ’, though, paint a much cooler picture. For the 2027-2029 seasons, the Giants land at No. 22 in the 32-team NFL.
The breakdown is where the skepticism really shows up. ESPN slots the Giants at No. 29 in overall roster talent excluding quarterback, No. 18 at quarterback, No. 14 in coaching and dead last at No. 32 in front office.
The quarterback spot is the one that gives New York its best argument for hope. ESPN says the Giants “look like they might have a franchise quarterback in Jaxson Dart,” and the team also has “a tenured and historically successful coach in John Harbaugh.”
ESPN also points to young talent like Malik Nabers and Abdul Carter as potential cornerstones for what comes next. But that optimism comes with a warning label, especially around the team’s health.
“Reason for concern: As exciting as the upside is for Dart, Nabers and RB Cam Skattebo, their availability worries me. Nabers is coming off a significant knee injury, Skattebo is returning from a significant lower leg injury, and Dart has to modify his play style by reducing the number of hits he absorbs. -- Riddick”
And it’s not just the Giants that matter here. ESPN has all three of their NFC East rivals ranked ahead of them, which only makes the road look steeper.
The Philadelphia Eagles check in at No. 2, the Dallas Cowboys at No. 16 and the Washington Commanders at No. 20.
If Dart turns into the quarterback the Giants believe he can be, and if the young talent they’ve started collecting can stay on the field, New York should beat a No. 22 projection. But the NFC East hierarchy ESPN laid out makes one thing clear: this isn’t going to be a gentle climb.
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