Training camp is almost here for the Giants, and the early read on this roster is pretty clear: the front seven could be a problem for opponents, but the middle of the defense still looks shaky.
Bleacher Report pegged New York’s biggest strength as its pass rush, and it’s not hard to see why. Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux already give the Giants three legitimate edge threats, and the team added Ohio State’s Arvell Reese in April.
Reese is expected to play off-ball linebacker as a rookie, but he still brings another layer to the rush. The expectation is that new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson will lean into that strength.
The concern comes inside. Bleacher Report listed defensive tackle as the Giants’ biggest weakness, pointing to the loss of Dexter Lawrence in a trade to the Bengals and the setback from Roy Robertson-Harris, who suffered a torn ACL during OTAs.
New York has brought in Shelby Harris, D.J. Reader and Leki Fotu, but the interior of the defensive front is still viewed as a 2026 liability.
That pass-rush talent also shows up in The Athletic’s ranking of the Giants’ most indispensable players. Brian Burns came in at No. 1 on the defense, with the outlet noting not just his production - he posted an NFC-best 16.5 sacks last season - but also his standing in the locker room. The turnout from teammates at his charity softball game this spring was cited as another sign of how central he is to the group, especially with Dexter Lawrence no longer around.
Another major talking point as camp opens is the workload John Harbaugh plans to put the team through. NJ.com described this as a much tougher camp than Brian Daboll used to run, and the schedule backs that up: four straight practice days to start camp, then an off day, then six straight practice days before the next off day. The question is whether that kind of grind sharpens the Giants into better shape or increases the injury risk.
There’s also a spotlight on Andrew Thomas, who landed at No. 7 in PFF’s tackle rankings ahead of the 2026 season. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the league’s best blindside protectors.
The issue has been availability - he has topped 900 snaps only once in the past five seasons. Still, in 13 games played in 2025, Thomas tied for fourth among qualified tackles with a 90.3 PFF grade.
He allowed just 13 total pressures, including one sack, and posted a career-best 84.5 run-blocking grade.
Abdul Carter is also drawing national attention. NFL.com included him on its All-Under-25 Team, noting that the 22-year-old entered the league with big expectations as a top-three pick and then delivered a strong rookie season that flew under the radar.
Carter finished with four sacks in 2025, but he was seventh in quarterback pressures with 72, just five behind Myles Garrett. He also finished fifth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and turns 23 in October.
The biggest offensive storyline, though, may be Malik Nabers. CBS Sports called his health the most important development at Giants camp, and that’s hard to argue with.
Nabers is coming back from a torn ACL that also involved a full meniscus repair and an extra procedure to remove inflamed scar tissue. The Giants did not place him on the physically unable to perform list to open camp, which offered some hope he could be ready for Week 1.
When Nabers is right, he changes everything. He has 127 career receptions through 19 games, the second-most in NFL history behind only Odell Beckham Jr.’s 133. With quarterback Jaxson Dart’s development tied to the passing game around him, the Giants need Nabers back at full strength, and camp will tell the story on that front.
In Other News...
Giants Tight End Battle Already Hit By An Early Camp Setback
The Giants opened training camp with a few players on the active/PUP list, and for a young tight end trying to carve out a place, that kind of early missed time can matter more than it might later in the summer. Thomas Fidone II is among the players starting from behind, and in a position group where every practice rep helps, the first week of camp is often where coaches start sorting out who can be trusted.
New York can afford to be patient, especially this early, but the timing still stings for Fidone because he needs every chance he can get to build momentum in a crowded competition. With a new staff evaluating the roster and trust being earned quickly, those lost snaps are the sort of setback that can linger even if the player eventually gets back on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Just Added A Veteran Lineman With Something To Prove
The Giants have added another experienced body to their defensive front, signing veteran defensive tackle Marlon Davidson as they continue sorting out depth up front. Davidson, a former Falcons draft pick, has also spent time with the Titans and Texans, and New York is bringing him in with the expectation that he can help at defensive tackle.
For Davidson, the move is another chance to stabilize a career that has been interrupted by injuries and stop-and-start opportunities along the way. The Giants are looking for dependable interior help, and his arrival gives them a veteran option with enough versatility to matter in their front, even as the bigger question remains how quickly he can carve out a role and stick. [Read more 🡒]
Giants May Already Have A New WR1 Problem Brewing
The Giants have spent enough time talking about receiver depth to know the conversation is not going away soon. With the current group carrying durability questions and uneven production, the front office may already need to start thinking about the 2027 draft as a chance to reset the room with a younger, longer-term answer at the position.
That is where the next wave of college talent comes into focus, especially for a team that wants more than just another body in the rotation. New York has a roster built around a few established names, but the age and experience gap behind them leaves little margin for error, and the idea of adding a receiver who can grow into a top role is starting to feel less like a luxury and more like a necessity. [Read more 🡒]