The New York Giants have done a commendable job acquiring talent over the past couple of years, positioning them for their best season since 2022.
The Giants will compete in a rugged NFC East in 2026. The Philadelphia Eagles remain stacked for the time being, the Dallas Cowboys have the ingredients to field one of the NFL’s most potent offenses, and the Washington Commanders will welcome Jayden Daniels back from injury as they seek to recapture the spark that carried them to the NFC Championship Game in 2024.
Nevertheless, the Giants were more than a rebuilding team last season. They showed clear signs of a squad ready to make noise in the division.
Enter head coach John Harbaugh, who has been widely praised as the leader capable of turning the franchise around. The talent is already in place in New York; what the team needs most is continuity to produce a winning season in 2026.
Here are three X-factors poised to have a direct impact on the Giants’ win total next year.
Abdul Carter
Carter had an eventful rookie season with the Giants in 2025. The Penn State product finished as a finalist for AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after recording 4.0 sacks and two forced fumbles with a combination of speed and refined technique.
The Philadelphia native will be playing on familiar turf in 2026, giving him an excellent opportunity to take the next step and help the Giants win more games. Three of New York’s four victories last season came in contests where Carter generated five or more pressures.
Although the Giants’ pass rush has not lacked talent in recent years, Carter’s ability to serve as a consistent disruptor and relentless pursuer of the quarterback could enable the defense to make a significant difference in the standings.
Darius Slayton
Slayton led the Giants in receiving in four of his first five NFL seasons, eclipsing 700 yards each time. After the team drafted Malik Nabers in 2024 and Wan’Dale Robinson emerged as the No. 2 target that same year, his production faltered.
Robinson’s departure in free agency has cleared a path for Slayton to step back into the No. 2 receiver role in 2026.
The 29-year-old has already delivered exactly what a contending team needs from a reliable secondary pass-catcher on four occasions, with his yards per reception dipping below 14 only once, in 2021. Slayton is capable of posting approximately 800 receiving yards to complement Nabers’ potential 1,200 or more, helping transform the Giants into a legitimate passing attack.
Slayton just has to eliminate his poorly-timed drops.
Francis Mauigoa
The Giants’ offensive line has improved steadily since their historically poor 2023 season, when they allowed 85 sacks—the second-most in a single season in NFL history.
New York is in strong hands with former second-team All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas and highly regarded right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor.
Mauigoa, a versatile and highly touted tackle/guard who can play either side, possesses the determination to run through a wall for quarterback Jaxson Dart and the surprising mobility, even at more than 300 pounds, to maneuver around one.
With Mauigoa anchoring the right guard position, Dart should enjoy better protection from inside stunts and interior power rushes, resulting in fewer overthrows under pressure and more efficient operation from the pocket.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: 3 New York Giants X-factors who could change the 2026 season
Reporting by Matt Legros, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
