The New York Giants effectively reloaded this offseason through both free agency and the 2026 NFL draft.
New York will enter the 2026 season with a plethora of new faces on both sides of the ball. They signed veteran Tremaine Edmunds to bolster linebacker depth, while also drafting former Miami star Francis Mauigoa, who is expected to start at right guard.
ESPN recently listed the Giants as the third most likely team to go from worst to first in 2026. New York will begin the season with an 11.6 percent chance of winning the NFC East and a 22.2 percent chance of making the playoffs (25th in the NFL).
Here is what ESPN’s Aaron Schatz wrote about New York’s chances of turning things around in 2026:
The Giants got to take two highly skilled players in the top 10 of the 2026 draft. They have wideout Malik Nabers, their best target on offense, coming back from a knee injury that cost him most of last season. They’re also getting back running back Cam Skattebo, who was an exciting part of the offense until a midseason ankle injury. And they’ve added a good amount of veteran talent to improve the defense, including linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and linemen Shelby Harris and DJ Reader.
The Giants also have a new coaching staff, led by John Harbaugh. New York fans are hoping Harbaugh’s strong track record in Baltimore means he’ll turn things around quickly.
This is all well and good, but of course the biggest reason why the Giants might win their division would be QB Jaxson Dart making huge second-year improvements. It worked for the Bears and Patriots last season, so it could work for the Giants this season. Dart was already a surprising 17th in QBR (57.5) among qualifying QBs in 2025, thanks in part to his value as a runner. You can’t expect him to suddenly become a top-10 quarterback, but it’s possible, especially with Nabers back to catch his passes.
The Giants will enter the 2026 season as one of the youngest and most promising teams in all of football.
Star quarterback Jaxson Dart should quickly begin to shine with improved protection and additional weapons, while New York’s defense looks completely revamped following a handful of critical additions both up front and in the secondary.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: ESPN: New York Giants primed to go from worst to first in 2026
Reporting by Jake Boico, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jake Boico, Giants Wire | USA TODAY Network
