Do the New York Giants have three of the most important players in the NFL on their roster?
CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles named Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, wide receiver Malik Nabers, and outside linebacker Brian Burns as three of the 100 most important players for the 2026 NFL season.
QB Jaxson Dart (No. 81)
Dart had plenty of “wow” plays and plenty of head-scratchers as a rookie. He was one of the league’s best scramblers and finished with nine touchdowns on the ground (as well as 15 through the air). But he also took a beating, including one concussion and several other times tested for one, threw five interceptions — and had four dropped — and fumbled five times. He’s a fiery competitor who has to improve his consistency, but the good plays can be really good.
Dart’s assertiveness when scrambling out of the pocket enabled him to rush for 487 yards last season. Time and again, the Utah native showed signs that he is capable of becoming a star quarterback in the NFL with more experience under his belt.
The Giants have a legitimate chance to capture the NFC East crown next season, and Dart will be the catalyst to make that a reality — especially with more weapons around him in the team’s receiving corps.
WR Malik Nabers (No. 31)
An electrifying talent, Nabers tore his ACL early in the season and recently had a second surgery to clean up his knee. The uncertain timetable certainly isn’t a good thing for a team looking to take a step in the right direction in its first season under John Harbaugh, and Jaxson Dart would love to see his WR1 back sooner rather than later.
The Giants’ passing attack next season will hinge on Nabers’ performance. The LSU product is returning from a torn ACL that derailed his 2025 season. The hope is that Nabers can return to the level he played at as a rookie in 2024, when he recorded 1,204 receiving yards for the Giants.
LB Brian Burns (No. 55)
Burns posted a career-high 16.5 sacks in what was otherwise a dismal year for the Giants’ defense, showing off the freakish athleticism that has always made him such an intriguing talent. Will he fare without Dexter Lawrence demanding double teams in the middle?
Burns was the most impactful player on the Giants’ defense last season. He recorded 16.5 sacks and earned second-team All-Pro honors.
The Giants will be without Dexter Lawrence and Roy Robertson-Harris on the defensive line next season, which places even more pressure on Burns to disrupt opposing offenses in 2026. He has the potential to perform at an All-Pro level once again and become a player that opposing offenses dread facing.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: 3 New York Giants named among 100 most important players of 2026
Reporting by Matt Legros, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
