QUARTERBACK
Jaxson Dart: 22/32 – 230 yards / 2 TD – 0 INT / 110.2 rat
Dart added 32 yards on 5 carries, putting him number three in the entire league in rushing yards by a quarterback. He finished number one in rushing yards per start. While the level of competition was not exactly the 1986 Bears, Dart played a solid game on all fronts. He hit a few nice throws down the field, kept the ball out of harm’s way for the most part (he fumbled but quickly recovered it himself), and made things happen with his feet. Being at the game, in some ways, makes it easier to evaluate him in real time. I do think he was late multiple times and did not make throws to intended targets that were open. That is a negative to his game I’ve seen a few times. The lack of a quick-trigger can be a combination of factors. From my perspective, it is inconsistent footwork and a lack of confidence. All things considered, especially with who he had to work with, Dart competed hard and made throws when he needed to. He put points on the board and did not turn it over. It really is that simple and it does not need to look a certain way.
Dart is what this entire franchise and its fans are clinging on to. Even when a new coach is hired, Dart is the guy. Overall, it was a very productive rookie season especially knowing he started just 12 of 17 games. Just seven turnovers in those 12 starts, especially for the kind of player he is, is wildly impressive. He is not a cookie cutter, get-the-ball-out-as-soon-as-you-can type. He scrambles, he makes risky throws, he launches it downfield. That may be the top positive coming out of his rookie year, as I believe ball protection is everything. I do hope he adopts the mindset and approach that he has a ton of work to do. He is nowhere near “the guy” yet but, similar to Daniel Jones, there is a good feeling about him as we head into his sophomore season in the NFL.
RUNNING BACK
-Tyrone Tracy: 18 att – 103 yards / 8 rec – 56 yards – 1 TD
Tracy snuck in, by a hair, his first and only 100-yard rushing performance this season. The 18 carries were the third most of the season and he truly did develop in 2025. No, he is not the answer in the backfield, but he can absolutely be a part of the solution to get this running game back on track (they have ranked 18th in yards per carry three straight years) to being a top-ten group league-wide. He has learned where to turn on the jets and where to just push forward into crowds. His eight catches were, by far, a season high (previous high was four). The negative on his sheet was a lost fumble in the second half, his first one of the season. Just one fumble on 200+ touches is a major positive and an example of the development I mentioned, as he put the ball on the ground four times in 2024.
-Devin Singletary added 26 yards on 9 carries with a touchdown, his fifth of the year which tied Cam Skattebo for the running back lead this season. It is funny while watching the game in person, you don’t always keep track of who comes in and who comes out. Even Singletary and Tracy look somewhat similar pre-snap because of the jersey number (26/28). But the instant Singletary touches the ball you can instantly tell who’s in. He moves so light on his feet with fluidity that keeps Tracy from being a complete back. This isn’t good or bad for either of them but it is just noteworthy the separation between their skill sets.
WIDE RECEIVER
-No Malik Nabers. No Wan’Dale Robinson. Darius Slayton was the team’s number one receiver entering the game but failed to make a loud impact. He had 4 catches for 34 yards on 9 targets, tied for the team high, one of which he dropped. He received multiple looks in the end zone but Dart over threw him twice on short fade balls, something he has struggled with all year. Slayton actually did come down with a 72-yard score but was called for an offensive pass interference. I kept eyes on him for a long time afterward and man, he was incredibly frustrated. It was a penalty some guys get away with at times but Slayton simply lacks feel when he needs to track a deep pass. He really did not need to put hands on it but it is a natural thing for him.
-Over the past couple weeks I have noted how Gunner Olszewski should be brought back in 2026. This is the most we’ve seen him play receiver as a Giant and he walked away with a team-high 102 yards on 8 catches. Prior to this week, he had never had more than 2 targets or catches in a single game and remember, he’s been in the league since 2019. He will be 30 next year but he certainly doesn’t move like it and I like him in the return game. Dare I say he is a (very) economical replacement for Robinson in the slot (along with a 2026 draft pick)? That is where I am leaning. Yes, this was a glorified preseason game but this guy can play.
-Isaiah Hodgins finished with 0 catches on 2 targets and simply looked unathletic on a deep ball early in the game. He is a limited guy, we know. He finished with one catch over the last three weeks.
TIGHT END
-Theo Johnson, who was featured at the Knicks game late in the week, missed his second straight week due to illness. This opened the door for one last showcase game for soon-to-be free agent Daniel Bellinger. While he got rocked as a blocker multiple times (one TFL and one pressure allowed), he scored a 29-yard touchdown that was mostly a result of his work after the catch. While nobody is going to mistake him for Tyreek Hill, it was a nice display of vision and speed at 250 pounds. He had one other target which resulted in a 9-yard gain and an NYG first down. 14 of his 19 catches this season went for a first down or touchdown. That 74% rate was second in the NFL among the 55 tight ends who caught 19+ passes this year.
-Chris Manhertz got some extra playing time. He also allowed a TFL, but otherwise was really solid on the edge in the running game. He would have scored a touchdown on a trick play but Olszewski threw it short. It was a rather dramatic reaction from the entire team.
OFFENSIVE LINE
-Marcus Mbow got another start for Andrew Thomas at left tackle and it was more of the same. He allowed a team high 5 pressures in addition to a tackle for loss. He was flagged for tripping (a 15-yard penalty) on a play he actually allowed a sack as well. The anchor isn’t there, we can all see that. What is also somewhat alarming is the lack of accuracy with his hands on deep drop backs. He plays better when he gets sudden contact with the defender and his feet can play quickly. But on the longer, drawn out pass plays he is rather easy to defeat. I’ll beat the drum all offseason that he needs to be considered inside for the future although I am not ready to give up on him at tackle. This will be a tough decision but you need to be more safe than sorry when it comes to the offensive line.
-Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor was hobbling a bit. I respect the grit and power. Once he is engaged with his hands, he is as solid as a boulder. But at the end of the day, he allowed a pressure, a sack, and was flagged for illegally moving downfield in addition to limited lateral range on a game where they ran outside a lot. He tied for the league lead in penalties this season (14) with Cam Robinson, who played 300 less snaps than him. Eluemunor’s contract situation is a tough one. My answer is a very strict, two-year offer worth no more than $10 million per season. It is fair, but likely less than what is out there.
-The interior was, once again, just okay. I have voiced my disappointment in Jon Runyan multiple times this season and Greg Van Roten is an excellent guy to have around, but less than what I want out of a starter. They did not lose a lot in pass protection (Runyan 0 pressures, Van Roten just 1 pressure, and Austin Schlottman 2 pressures). But not only did they fail to create a new line of scrimmage in the run game, they were actually losing ground against the Dallas interior. I will come up with a few plans for the NYG interior offensive line but this front office must be aggressive here. Average is not good enough and I hope they paint it on the walls in their building.
EDGE
-It is hard to not be excited about what NYG has at this spot. Brian Burns and Abdul Carter were impactful even though Dak Prescott was trying to get the ball out faster than a catcher throwing someone out trying to steal a base (season-low 2.34 second average time to throw), they made their presence known. Burns had two pressures and a tackle for loss. He was around the ball often and finished the year with the same effort he began with. For those tracking Joe Schoen’s wins and losses, this was his top move as General Manager. Carter led the team and all rookies (for the eighth week this season!) with 7 pressures including two QB hits. One of his pressures caused a hold and another one forced an interception. Carter has put together highlight-reel rush moves both inside and out in the same game multiple times. While he has some fine tuning to do, this was a big-time rookie season and I think he should finish first or second in “Defensive Rookie of the Year” voting.
-Chauncey Gholston had another tackle for loss for the third straight week. I was underwhelmed by the lack of pass rush he can offer but there is value in having a man in the room. I wouldn’t lose sleep on whatever they opt to do with him or Tomon Fox. You can find these guys every offseason for cheap.
DEFENSIVE LINE
-Being at the game, it was pretty easy to see how much Dexter Lawrence was laboring, He had a limp to his left leg and only played 15 snaps. I will touch on his situation below, as his level of play currently projects as one of the largest spectrums on the roster. He did have 2 pressures and a tackle despite the limited time on the field.
-Darius Alexander played a season-high 44 snaps and finished with a pressure and three tackles. His rookie season was full of flashes that displayed exactly what we saw on his college tape; power, length, and burst in small areas. I am confident he will, at least, be a rotational asset in 2023 at or higher than the level of Roy Robertson-Harris.
-Speaking of Robertson-Harris, he had a tackle for loss, three tackles total, and a pressure. The attitude he brings to the defense is something I like to have around but similar to Gholston, there isn’t much in his game or future that makes me feel he needs to be planned around.
-Elijah Chatman’s quickness made a few impact plays. It is a guessing game with him. If he happens to slant in the right direction, the closing burst can really disrupt the play. If not? The Jaydon Blue touchdown run is a good example. He gets blown off the ball multiple yards by a lone blocker. He can’t maintain gap integrity on certain looks and it makes him a very volatile part of the defensive front.
LINEBACKER
-Bobby Okereke maintained his high level of play down the stretch of the season. Another big decision for this front office will center around him and he has played like he is auditioning for his job in 2026. He had 6 tackles, an interception, and a fumble recovery. Those turnovers turned into 10 points for the Giants. While I think he’s done here because there is too much he cannot do, he has a spot somewhere in the league without question. The lack of range is worrisome and the stiffness bothers me too much to pay him the $14 million number next year.
-Darius Muasau and Demetrius Flannigan Fowles split snaps next to him. They are such different players and it is nice to see and compare them in the same game against the same opponents for the sake of the skill set I feel NYG needs at linebacker next year. I am taking Flannigan-Fowles or the player like him all day. He finished with two tackles and was there for plays at or behind the line of scrimmage a few times. Muasau simply isn’t fast enough and he got torched by Brevyn Spann-Ford in coverage, a slow backup tight end. That play is a clear example of why you don’t want him on the field.
CORNERBACK
-Paulson Adebo, the biggest signing of the 2025 offseason, played the entire game and looked really good against CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens until they left the game at halftime. Again, it was a scaled back version of the Dallas air attack. Overall, I thought it was a less-than-stellar year for him but he has youth on his side and he will undoubtedly enter the 2026 season as the team’s number one.
-Deonte Banks and Rico Payton split snaps on the other side of the ball. Both had their own mishaps. Payton, who played a career-high 26 snaps, broke up a pass but was flagged for a deep pass interference. He also missed a tackle. He was playing real hard and fast but was sloppy with his coverage techniques. Banks allowed a 33-yard pass and was also flagged, but his worst tape continues to come against the run. He simply doesn’t read plays well and he seems hesitant to play physical. The odd thing is, however, that Banks is a tough runner on kick returns. He is plenty physical (and quite effective) in that role so I don’t feel it is a simple toughness shortcoming. He just lacks natural feel and fluid decision-making at corner.
-Andru Phillips was quiet most of the game but he did finish with a tackle for loss. The effective downhill defender had an up-and-down year with a lot of mistakes. He can be a key part to the defense and will likely be the team’s nickel in 2026. But I’ll say this – I’m not looking past a quality nickel because of him. If one can be had and it makes sense value-wise, do it. If he can clean up the penalties (10 were tied for second most) there is a lot he can add to the defense. Year three is big for him.
-I want to give Art Green a shout-out. He is a really impressive special teamer. Fast, aggressive, physical, and savvy. I think every team should save a spot for a special team defender/gunner. He can be their guy in 2026.
SAFETY
-Dane Belton and Raheem Layne manned the middle of the field with starters Tyler Nubin and Jevon Holland out. Belton was all over the field with 11 tackles, but was caught out of position a few times and missed a tackle. His angles were not always the best but again, he was involved on so many plays. Layne had 3 tackles including one for a loss, but also missed one on a Dallas touchdown. There is talent at this position but they don’t have THE guy.
SPECIAL TEAMS
-K Ben Sauls: 4/4 (Made 45, 35, 23, 30) – 2/2 XP
-P Jamie Gillan: 2 punts / 42.0 avg – 42.0 net
Gillan’s 44.5 yard average ranked 32nd in the league and the 38.0 net-yard average was 30th as was his percentage of punts that ended inside the 20-yard line. Clean house with the special teams as soon as possible. No questions asked. It is probably the easiest way to get another win or two (at least) next season.
3 STUDS
-ED Abdul Carter, LB Bobby Okereke, WR Gunner Olszewski
DUDS
-OT Marcus Mbow, LB Darius Muasau, CB Rico Payton
3 THOUGHTS ON DAL
(1) The Cowboys have been one of the more unpredictable teams in the league over the last decade. Very odd handling of contracts of homegrown key pieces and puzzling decisions around the coaching staff have prevented this talented roster from getting over the top. While Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer did an OK job for Dallas in his first year, I’m not fully sold he is a guy they hold onto especially with some of these big names available. After all, the Achilles heel to the 2025 team was their defense. Choosing Matt Euberflus to run that side of the ball just showed how little Schottenheimer had to work with. Perhaps Raheem Morris goes in that direction? But Kevin Stefanski is going to be a sought after head coach (unless he wants the year off) and Dallas may be the ideal fit for him especially if he brings Jim Schwartz with him to run the defense. Remember, hiring a coach is also about their network of assistants. Stay tuned.
(2) If Jerry Jones finds a way to pay wide receiver George Pickens in free agency, this team will have a basement of 7-8 wins again in 2026 and I mean that as a compliment. Pickens and Lamb can make a case to be the top one-two punch in football at receiver. What Pickens did now that he finally has a quarterback who can throw the ball downfield was remarkable. A career-high 1,429 yards (third in the NFL) and 9 touchdowns made that trade a homerun for the front office. Now what? Dallas can franchise him, sure. But how these guys have handled these high level negotiations in recent years does not inspire much confidence.
(3) JaDeveon Clowney was signed by Dallas after Week One. The 33-year old was the team’s top pass rusher and has put three straight strong seasons together. Remember, this was a guy many thought would be on the Myles Garrett level when he came out of South Carolina in 2014. While he has not lived up to that hype, he is a really good player with plenty left in the tank. If the Giants end up trading Thibodeaux for draft capital, this is a name who can be a valuable third edge rusher at an economic price. Clowney made $3.5 million in 2025; Thibodeaux is set to make $14.5 million in 2026. Who do I think will be more productive next year? The former. Think about it.
3 CLOSING THOUGHTS
(1) The end of the season is finally here and we finally get to move on to set our eyes on the 2026 season and beyond. The head coach search will be the biggest move of the winter and while I want to get the ball rolling as soon as possible, I hope Joe Schoen casts a wide net. There are not any true standout names in this head coach market like there was last year (Ben Johnson, Mike Vrabel). But there is a Super Bowl winning coach who ranks 15th all time in wins (Mike McCarthy). There is a 2020 and 2023 “Coach of the Year Award” winner (Kevin Stefanski). There are young up-and-comers from Super Bowl contenders (Chris Shula and Klint Kubiak). I will be posting more of my head coach database over the next 1-2 weeks and I have not come up with a clear answer yet. I can easily talk myself into McCarthy to help stabilize the ship and get someone who has produced high level quarterback production with three different guys. I love the swing for the fence by taking the young offensive mind who can grow with the second-year quarterback. And I love the idea of a defensive guy who will keep the floor from continuing to fall out. At the end of the day, this team needs a real leader who the entire team respects, somewhat fears, and will play hard for. A leader with a strong network of assistants. And someone who truly believes in the core of this roster and will create a strong plan to get this team competitive in 2026.
(2) At this point of the process, what are the biggest needs on this roster now that we have 17 games to look back on? Instead of specific positions (we will have plenty of time for that), I have three macro-level needs for the roster. One, support for Jaxson Dart. Multiple new bodyguards. Look at what Chicago did for Caleb Williams and what New England did for Drake Maye as they entered their sophomore seasons. Both are playing home games in the playoffs this upcoming weekend (after missing the postseason by a mile last year). Two, take pressure off Dart by building the defense to a stable level. Look, it does not need to be a top-ten unit right away. But stability is needed (notably against the run) so Dart and the offense can know what to expect on a more consistent basis. Derek Jeter was in his third season the last time the Giants had back-to-back defenses in the top-10 in points allowed! Get a defensive identity! And three, find a true number two weapon for the pass game. Wan’Dale Robinson isn’t it. Darius Slayton isn’t it (nor is he a number three). Theo Johnson is not it. Dart and the offense absolutely need a guy who can be to Nabers what Tee Higgins is to Ja’Marr Chase. Everything can flow better and you can’t have the offense fall apart if Nabers goes down again. This, ideally, is done early in the draft.
(3) There are two moves I feel are unlikely to occur, but they need to be discussed internally and externally. Is there a trade market for Dexter Lawrence? Is there a trade market for Kayvon Thibodeaux? I have to think there is one for both respectively. No, it is not my first choice to deal either one of them because their defensive front still has the potential to be a force if everyone is healthy with a new scheme in 2026. But all doors must be opened. One thing Bill Belichick did well in New England was trade guys away before the league caught on to what they really were. I’ll go as far as saying this: If Lawrence is going to be in 2026 what he was in 2025, I trade him for anything on day two with the hope there is a bidding war. If anyone wants to offer a top 50 pick for Thibodeaux, I have a hard time saying no to that. Jaelan Phillips, Haason Reddick, Chase Young were all traded for third rounders. A second-round pick is a good value for a guy who you likely will not resign after 2026.
(BONUS) A bonus closing thought regarding Joe Schoen, who was retained as general manager. There is an uproar against it and rightfully so. Personally, I do think it is a better decision to fire him and let the new head coach work with a new general manager. With that said, it does not bother me the way it bothers most of what I read. Schoen drafted who I think deserves the offensive and defensive rookies of the year respectively. The trade for Brian Burns was a brilliant move. And yes, this team is undoubtedly more talented now than what was when he took over. He has dropped the ball on multiple draft picks and the handling of Daniel Jones was a major gaffe. He has been poor on gameday roster management, notably on special teams. And he went from one extreme to the other with defensive coordinators after filling many holes on the roster that were schematic fits for the guy that got fired. More bad than good, yes. But there is an underlying standard general managers deserve five years and that is what he is coming up to. Time will tell, but the fear I have is he will hold onto assets he brought in based on ego. Wan’Dale Robinson, Jermaine Eluemunor, Kayvon Thibodeaux…is he going to let those guys walk after bringing them in? What about Evan Neal? Jalin Hyatt? Building this roster economically and upgrading the depth and allocation of resources will require humble moves by Schoen. Is he capable of looking in the mirror, recognizing mistakes he made, and finding the solutions to fix them? We will learn a lot in the coming months.