Honestly, if you look at the New York Giants roster depth chart right now, it feels like a fever dream compared to where things were just two years ago. We’re sitting in January 2026, and the "Daniel Jones Era" feels like ancient history. The building is different. The vibe is different. But the questions? They’re as loud as ever.
After a 2025 season that saw Brian Daboll get the axe in November and a revolving door at quarterback, the Giants are staring down a 2026 offseason that is basically a giant "reset" button. You’ve got a young core that looks legitimate, but the depth? It’s thin. It’s "one-injury-away-from-disaster" thin.
The Jaxson Dart Gamble and the QB Room
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. The Giants traded up for Jaxson Dart in the 2025 draft, and he’s clearly the guy they’re betting the next five years on. He showed flashes—some big ones—but the roster around him didn't exactly do him many favors.
Behind Dart, the depth chart is actually surprisingly veteran-heavy. You’ve got Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson sitting there. It’s a weird room, right? You have a rookie starter being backed up by two guys who have seen it all, for better or worse. Most people assume Jameis is just there for the vibes, but he actually pushed Dart during the back half of last season when the rookie’s confidence wavered.
Wilson is the wild card. He’s an impending free agent, and there’s a good chance he’s gone by March. The Giants need to decide if they want a true "coach on the field" backup or if they’re going to hunt for more youth to develop behind Dart.
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Why the Malik Nabers Injury Changes Everything
If you watched any Big Blue football last year, you know Malik Nabers is the sun that this entire offensive solar system orbits. But he’s coming off a massive ACL injury. That’s the reality.
When Nabers is off the field, the giants roster depth chart at wide receiver starts to look a bit shaky. Darius Slayton is still the reliable veteran, the guy who just produces no matter who is throwing him the ball. But he’s 29 now. He’s not a long-term WR1.
- Wan’Dale Robinson: He had a 1,000-yard season in 2025. Massive. But he's a free agent. The rumors say he’s looking for $15-20 million a year. Does Joe Schoen pay that with Nabers coming back? Probably not.
- Jalin Hyatt: Still the speedster, still inconsistent. He’s currently listed as questionable for the start of training camp with an illness, but he needs to prove he’s more than just a deep threat.
- Xavier Gipson and Beaux Collins: These are the guys who have to step up. Collins, especially, has the size that this room lacks if Nabers isn't at 100%.
The scary part? If Nabers has a setback and Robinson walks, Jaxson Dart is throwing to a bunch of "guys." Not stars. Just guys.
The Trenches: A Tale of Two Lines
The offensive line is still... well, it’s the Giants' offensive line. Andrew Thomas is the anchor, but he spent a chunk of 2025 on IR with a hamstring issue. When he’s out, the drop-off to James Hudson III is noticeable.
John Michael Schmitz Jr. is the guy they need to see more from. He’s been dealing with a finger injury that landed him on IR, and the center position became a total mess without him. Austin Schlottmann and Bryan Hudson are fine as backups, but they aren't starters in this league.
On the defensive side, it’s a different story. Dexter Lawrence is still a god among men, even if his sack numbers dipped to 0.5 last year. Teams are triple-teaming him. Literally.
But look at the edge. Brian Burns had a career year. He’s the real deal. And then you have Abdul Carter, the Penn State rookie. This is where the depth chart gets interesting. Carter had 3.5 sacks in the games Kayvon Thibodeaux missed.
There’s a real conversation happening in the front office about whether Thibodeaux is a "cap casualty" or a trade piece. He’s set to make $15 million guaranteed. For a guy who had a "disappointing" season by most metrics, that’s a tough pill to swallow. If they move him, Carter becomes the full-time starter, and the depth behind him (guys like Tomon Fox or Trace Ford) becomes a major concern.
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The Secondary: Veterans vs. Regressing Youth
The Giants spent a lot of money on Jevon Holland and Paulson Adebo. They wanted to fix the "leak" in the back end.
Adebo has been solid. Holland is a star. But the kids they drafted to play alongside them? Deonte Banks, Tyler Nubin, and Dru Phillips all took a step back in 2025. It was ugly at times.
Interestingly, the guys who stepped up were the "roster filler" types. Cor'Dale Flott and Dane Belton were actually more reliable than the high draft picks. Both are free agents. The Giants are basically forced to re-sign them because they can't trust the youngsters yet.
- Paulson Adebo (CB1) - Locked in.
- Deonte Banks (CB2) - Needs a massive bounce-back year.
- Korie Black (Rookie/Depth) - Showed some juice late in the year.
- Jevon Holland (FS) - The heart of the defense.
- Tyler Nubin (SS) - Coming off a neck injury, huge question mark.
Special Teams and the "Gano Factor"
Graham Gano is 38. He’s still the guy, but the Giants brought in Ben Sauls as a backup/eventual replacement. It's a small detail on the depth chart, but in a division where games are decided by three points, it's everything.
Jamie Gillan (The Scottish Hammer) is still booming punts, but the return game is a total toss-up. Gunner Olszewski is a free agent. If he leaves, who’s back there? Is it Hyatt? Is it a draft pick? These are the depth issues that drive fans crazy in Week 4.
What Needs to Happen Next
The 2026 New York Giants roster depth chart isn't a finished product. It's a skeleton.
Joe Schoen (or whoever is running the show) has to prioritize the interior defensive line and the offensive line depth. You cannot go into 2026 hoping Andrew Thomas stays healthy for 17 games without a better plan B.
Also, watch the Thibodeaux situation. If he’s traded, the Giants will almost certainly use that capital to find a WR2 or another interior disruptor to help Sexy Dexy.
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If you're a fan, keep a close eye on the free agency status of Wan'Dale Robinson and Cor'Dale Flott. Those two signings (or departures) will tell you exactly how the Giants feel about their "young core" moving forward. The draft will be about finding a "bell-cow" running back to take the pressure off Dart, as the committee of Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary feels more like a temporary fix than a long-term solution.
Solidifying the backup tackle position and finding a veteran slot corner should be the next two moves on the checklist. Without those, the foundation remains way too shaky for a rookie quarterback to thrive.