The Giants head into Week 1 with a few clear storylines already taking shape, and one of the biggest involves Darius Slayton. Josina Anderson of Exhibit News Network reports that three teams have already contacted Slayton’s representation for preliminary discussions. Anderson also mentioned the Colts as a potential destination, given Slayton’s relationship with quarterback Daniel Jones.
On the field, the Giants are trying to build something sturdy around Jaxson Dart, and the early read from around the league is that there’s enough here to make life difficult for good teams. ESPN.com’s NFC East breakdown pointed to Dart, Malik Nabers, the offensive line and a power running game as reasons the Giants can surprise opponents. The piece also noted that Brian Burns and Abdul Carter can make damage happen once the Giants are playing with a lead.
Dart’s development remains a central issue, and The Athletic highlighted just how much adjustment is ahead for him. New offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is expected to ask Dart to play under center far more often than he did in college, and the preseason gave a glimpse of that shift: the Giants offense lined up in shotgun on 46.6 percent of snaps. The report said Dart will need to relearn footwork and timing in Nagy’s system, while option plays are being phased out across the league because defenses handle them too well and the risk to quarterbacks is too high for the return.
There’s also been a broader push in camp to prepare the Giants for the grind of the regular season. USAToday.com reported that the team practiced fast and hard this summer at its New Jersey facility and at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, with most sessions held in the afternoon.
Linebacker Micah McFadden said the goal was to get the team ready for early kickoffs and the conditions that come with them: “I think it was kind of needed that we do those afternoons and make sure we get in that temperature, make sure we’re conditioning ourselves and getting used to playing one o’clock games,” said linebacker Micah McFadden. “I think we were just kind of priming our bodies, making sure we’re in the right type of shape, the way the coaches want us to be.
And then by this time we’re ready for whatever may come.”
Elsewhere, Arvell Reese’s path to the Giants has drawn attention after he admitted he kept some of the truth to himself during the pre-draft process. The Record reported that he played along to avoid hurting his draft stock, even as teams praised his explosiveness, versatility, toughness and the violence he brings.
And as for the bigger-picture question of what kind of team this could become, one view from around the league says the Giants are built to challenge quality opponents and stay in the playoff mix into December. The common thread in all of it is pretty simple: the Giants have talent, but how quickly the young pieces settle in will shape what comes next.
In Other News...
Giants New Pecking Order Is Already Turning Into A Real Camp Story
A fresh training camp approach has already started to show up on the Giants roster, with John Harbaugh and his staff giving opportunities to both familiar faces and players with no prior connection to him. The result is a group being judged less by old ties and more by how they fit what the coaches want, which is exactly the kind of reset that can change the tone of camp before the first full pads practice even settles in.
That shift has kept several key names in the mix, including Kayvon Thibodeaux and Deonte Banks, while also bringing in a few notable changes around the edges of the roster. Veteran lineman Daniel Faalele was dealt away, Najee Harris joined the backfield picture, and the bigger question now is how much this new pecking order will keep evolving once the competition really starts to sharpen. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Week 1 Depth Chart Just Raised Big Questions Before Cowboys
The Giants unofficial Week 1 depth chart offered an early look at how Brian Dabolls staff plans to line up against the Cowboys, and it came with a few notable wrinkles. Deonte Banks is now listed as a starting cornerback next to Greg Newsome II after moving up the chart, while Chauncey Golston is shown as the starting defensive end with Darius Alexander behind him. Cam Skattebo also appears as the starting running back, with several others stacked behind him, giving the backfield a layered look heading into the opener.
One of the more interesting details is what the Giants left off the chart altogether: there is no primary slot receiver listed, a sign they may rotate multiple players through that role. Depth charts this early can still shift before kickoff, but they can also hint at how a coaching staff sees its personnel after camp and the preseason. For a Giants team trying to settle key spots before facing Dallas, the chart raised as many questions as it answered. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Just Answered A Growing Concern On Their Defensive Line
The Giants added some needed experience up front by signing veteran defensive tackle Dean Lowry, a 32-year-old who has spent time with both the Packers and Steelers. He is expected to begin on the practice squad, but the move gives New York another seasoned body in a defensive line group that has been looking for more reliable depth and a steadier presence around the younger tackles.
Lowrys appeal is as much about what he can bring off the field as what he can do on it. The Giants view him as a versatile piece who can help against the run and offer the kind of leadership that can speed up the development of younger players, and in a room that has been under scrutiny, that sort of addition can matter as the season wears on. [Read more 🡒]