Everything changed the moment John Harbaugh put pen to paper.
For years, watching Big Blue felt like a slow-motion car crash, but the vibes at MetLife have shifted practically overnight. After a messy 4-13 finish in 2025 that saw Brian Daboll shown the door, the G-Men didn't just find a new coach—they found a culture setter.
Harbaugh is in. A five-year deal is signed. And suddenly, the starting lineup for the New York Giants looks less like a rebuilding project and more like a unit that could actually do some damage in the NFC East.
The Jaxson Dart Era is Officially Here
Forget the Daniel Jones era. Honestly, it feels like ancient history now.
Jaxson Dart is the guy. The kid from Ole Miss took his lumps as a rookie in 2025, but he finished the year with a statement win over the Cowboys that basically shut down any talk of the Giants drafting a quarterback with their top-5 pick. He’s got that "it" factor. He threw for over 2,200 yards and rushed for nine touchdowns in a season where his best weapons were mostly in the training room.
But here’s the thing: availability is the only question.
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Dart plays like his hair is on fire. That reckless, gunslinger style is why fans love him, but it also landed him in concussion protocol multiple times last year. If he’s going to survive 17 games under Harbaugh and new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, he’s got to learn when to slide.
Restoring the Weapons: Nabers and the Backfield
The 2025 season was a "what if" story.
What if Malik Nabers hadn't torn his ACL in Week 4? The star wideout was on a record-breaking pace before the injury. Heading into 2026, he’s the undisputed WR1, though some insiders wonder if he'll be 100% by training camp. Behind him, the depth chart is a bit of a jigsaw puzzle. Jalin Hyatt and Darius Slayton are still around, but don’t be shocked if Joe Schoen uses that No. 5 overall pick on someone like Carnell Tate to give Dart another elite target.
The running game is where things get interesting.
- Cam Skattebo: The "dirty yards" specialist. He was a revelation before his ankle injury.
- Tyrone Tracy Jr.: The lightning to Skattebo's thunder. He’s the home-run hitter who can catch passes out of the backfield.
- Devin Singletary: The veteran presence who keeps the chains moving.
Harbaugh loves a power-run game. Expect to see a lot of Skattebo and Tracy rotating to keep legs fresh.
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A Defensive Front That Actually Scares People
If there’s one thing John Harbaugh and his brother Jim agree on, it’s that football is won in the trenches.
The Giants' defensive line is anchored by Dexter Lawrence, who remains a one-man wrecking ball in the middle. But the real story for the 2026 starting lineup is the emergence of Abdul Carter. The Penn State product led the team in pressures as a rookie and seems destined for a double-digit sack season alongside Brian Burns.
Kayvon Thibodeaux is still the wild card here. When he’s on, he’s unblockable. When he’s not, he disappears. Under Harbaugh’s new regime, there won’t be much room for "disappearing."
The Offensive Line: Still a Work in Progress?
We have to talk about the O-line. We always have to talk about the O-line.
Andrew Thomas is the bedrock at left tackle. That’s the only sure thing. The interior is where the headaches start. John Michael Schmitz has been inconsistent at center, and there’s already chatter about the Giants chasing Tyler Linderbaum in free agency to reunite him with Harbaugh.
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Jermaine Eluemunor and Greg Van Roten provided some veteran stability last year, but they are hitting the open market. It’s a transition period. If the Giants want Dart to stay upright, they can't rely on "stop-gap" players anymore.
Secondary Concerns and Special Teams
The back end of the defense is... okay.
Deonte Banks is a legitimate CB1, and Paulson Adebo was a solid addition. But the safety spot is a bit of a mess. Tyler Nubin struggled in his rookie campaign, leading many to believe the Giants might go after a blue-chip safety like Caleb Downs if they decide against a wide receiver in the draft.
And then there's the kicker. After a revolving door of legs in 2025—including Younghoe Koo and Jude McAtamney—rookie Ben Sauls seems to have the inside track on the job. He finished the year strong, but in New York, you're only as good as your last 40-yarder.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're tracking this roster, keep your eyes on these specific pivot points:
- The Draft Strategy: Watch the No. 5 pick. If they go WR, they are betting on Dart’s arm. If they go OL or Defense, they are building the "Harbaugh Way."
- Nabers’ Recovery: His participation in OTAs will tell us everything about the explosiveness of this offense.
- Free Agency Re-signings: If the Giants let Slayton or the veteran guards walk without a clear plan, the depth will be dangerously thin.
- Coaching Staff Chemistry: Todd Monken’s ability to blend his "Air Raid" roots with Harbaugh’s "Power I" preference will determine if Jaxson Dart takes the "Year 2" leap.
The starting lineup for the New York Giants isn't just a list of names on a depth chart anymore. It’s a group with a pedigree at the top and a lot of chips on their shoulders. 2026 is about proving that the "Big Blue" identity isn't just a marketing slogan, but a brand of football that wins games in December.