The Giants’ unofficial depth chart for Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys delivered a few expected answers and a couple of eyebrow-raisers.
Jaxson Dart is still listed as QB1, with Brian Burns and Abdul Carter holding down the starting outside linebacker spots. That part tracks. The more interesting movement shows up elsewhere, starting at cornerback, where Deonte Banks has pushed his way back into the mix.
Banks had looked like an afterthought after the 2025 season, when Cor’Dale Flott had already passed him and the assumption was that Banks would be limited to kick returns while Greg Newsome II and Paulson Adebo opened as the starters at corner. Instead, Banks has beaten out Adebo and will line up next to Newsome.
The turnaround comes after what the team clearly views as a strong summer. Banks played well when given chances, looked sticky in coverage during preseason action, and brought a renewed edge to his game. There was some doubt about whether the Giants would trust him against Dallas in Week 1, but John Harbaugh’s staff appears convinced by what it saw.
The defensive line picture is also worth watching. Chauncey Golston is listed as the starting defensive end in base defense, even though the Giants are likely to lean heavily on rotations. In nickel looks with two down linemen, Darius Alexander is the primary backup behind both Golston and Shelby Harris, which hints at plenty of work for him as the Giants move through different fronts and subpackages.
There’s more edge depth reflected on the chart too. Kayvon Thibodeaux is listed as the backup to both Burns and Carter, a sign that the Giants expect to get all three edge players on the field often. The goal is clear: keep them fresh and unleash waves of pressure.
At running back, the Giants are taking a “dealer’s choice” approach. Cam Skattebo is the starter, which is no surprise, but Tyrone Tracy, Najee Harris, and Devin Singletary are all listed as second-string running backs. That points to a backfield that could be used in a more flexible way, with matchups helping determine who gets the workload rather than a rigid pecking order.
One of the stranger details on the chart is the lack of a slot receiver. Calvin Austin III was supposed to fill that role before his season ended with a torn ACL, and the immediate question was who would replace him. The unofficial answer is: nobody, at least not in a traditional sense.
Instead, the Giants are likely to spread the slot duties around. Isaiah Likely, Malik Nabers, Odell Beckham Jr., Darnell Mooney, and Tyrone Tracy can all line up there or motion inside, and the offense should feature more 21, 12, and 13 personnel than it has in recent seasons. That approach mirrors how the Ravens used non-receiver options as pass catchers, and it could show up often for the Giants this year.
It also stands out that the chart lists only four wide receivers, a fairly lean number for a modern NFL offense. One of the Giants’ three return specialists will likely be elevated from the practice squad each week.
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 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 🡒]
John Michael Schmitz Just Got A Quiet Giants Vote Of Confidence
The Giants made a subtle but telling choice at backup center, sticking with Bryan Hudson behind John Michael Schmitz instead of turning to Lucas Patrick. On paper, Patrick offered the more established resume, with more career experience and stronger preseason performance grades, but Hudson brings youth and a cleaner injury history to the job.
For Schmitz, the move reads like a quiet vote of confidence heading into the season. If the team felt uneasy about where the second-year center stands, it could have leaned on Patricks steadier track record. Instead, New York appears comfortable enough to keep the depth chart geared toward Schmitzs continued development. [Read more 🡒]