The New York Giants are drawing plenty of buzz heading into 2026, and on paper it’s easy to see why. Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo, Malik Nabers, John Harbaugh, Abdul Carter, Brian Burns and others give this roster the look of a team ready to make noise.
But Dan Duggan of The Athletic landed on a projection that says a lot about where the Giants are right now: 7.1 wins, with a verdict of “just right.”
"Projected wins: 7.1. Verdict: Just right," Duggan writes. "This may seem like a disappointment in John Harbaugh's first season, but there needs to be an understanding of the situation the Super Bowl champion coach inherited."
That number would not exactly light the fan base on fire. A seven-win season would feel underwhelming for a team carrying this much preseason hype. Still, Duggan’s point is rooted in what the Giants have actually done lately, not what they hope to become.
Over the last two seasons, the Giants have won just seven games total. So if they land in that same neighborhood in 2026, it would not be the breakthrough many are expecting, but it would at least count as movement in the right direction.
A 7-10 finish is hardly a destination. But for a team trying to build something sturdier, it would represent progress - and that matters for a Giants group that has not had much of it in recent years.
The age of the roster also matters here. Dart, Nabers and Skattebo are still young, Carter is young too, and Arvell Reese and other important pieces are not close to the end of their careers. That makes this feel less like a one-year fix and more like the early stages of a longer plan.
So yes, seven wins would probably leave some disappointment on the table. But in Harbaugh’s first year with the Giants, with a young core and a rebuild still taking shape, it would at least be a start. For a franchise trying to claw back toward playoff relevance in the NFC East, that may be enough for now.
In Other News...
Cam Skattebo's Practice Fire Just Put Giants On Notice
Cam Skattebo keeps showing up as the kind of running back who plays with an edge, and the Giants got another reminder of that during practice. On a non-contact period, Skattebo slid after a catch and came close to the legs of defensive backs Jevon Holland and Greg Newsome, a sequence that quickly turned chippy and brought the defense into the moment. For a team trying to set a tone around its new lead back, the incident fit the profile of a player who brings force and urgency every snap.
Head coach John Harbaugh pointed to Skattebos energy later in the workout, even after the rookie was assessed a 15-yard penalty at the end of practice, and said the challenge is keeping that intensity pointed in the right direction. That balance matters for a Giants offense planning to lean on Skattebo after he rushed for 410 yards and five touchdowns in eight games as a rookie before a broken ankle ended his season. If the physical style is part of what makes him special, the Giants will still have to live with the fine line that comes with it. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Receiver Room Just Sent Another Clear Message
The Giants kept churning through the back end of their receiver group this week, with Ryan Miller moving on after being waived and then claimed by the Dolphins the following day. It was a quick turn for a player who had joined New York last December, stuck around by re-signing this offseason, and still found himself squeezed out by a wideout room that has become crowded enough to make even a retained player vulnerable.
Miami had to clear a spot for Miller by waiving Tahj Washington, a reminder that roster movement at the bottom of the depth chart is often a one-for-one game. For the Giants, the episode adds another small piece to the larger picture at receiver, where the numbers game has already made the competition tight and the margin for keeping depth is getting thinner. [Read more 🡒]
Giants May Have Their Dexter Lawrence Replacement In Sight
Dexter Lawrences departure to Cincinnati leaves a glaring hole in the middle of the Giants defense, and it is the kind of vacancy that usually sends a front office searching for a long-term fix rather than a quick patch. One early idea has already surfaced: an ESPN mock draft from Jordan Reid projects New York to use the No. 9 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft on Ole Miss defensive tackle Will Echoles, a player whose college production has made him stand out as a name to watch.
It is only a projection at this point, of course, and a lot can change between now and draft season. Still, the fit is easy to understand for a Giants team suddenly needing size, disruption and stability inside after moving on from one of the leagues most imposing tackles, and Echoles strong play gives at least a plausible starting point for that conversation. [Read more 🡒]