Giants 2025 Season Preview

Coming off a horrible year where a bad team then suffered injuries to key players, it seems there is only one way to go. The Giants did make some improvements to their team, but face a very difficult schedule making a significant improvement in the win column difficult.

I generally like what they did in the draft, but on offense, Russell Wilson takes over at QB1.  This is not the 2018 Russell Wilson. At this point in his career, he is an average QB at best. It so happens that this represents a significant upgrade over last year (Daniel Jones and injury replacements). If Andrew Thomas is healthy (a big if) the line should be average which would also be an upgrade over an injury depleted team from last year. The running back crew looks good led by last year’s rookie breakout player Tyrone Tracey and exciting new rookie Cam Skateboo. The receivers are led by star Malik Nabers, who will be recognized as a top 5 receiver by the end of the year, but there is a drop off after that.  Theo Johnson has significant potential at Tight end.  The Giants offense looked great in the pre-season but it’s the pre-season; but it does feel like they could be improved.  The Giants spent significant draft capital on Jaxson Dart.  He played very well in the preseason but its premature to assume that really means something.  Of course it would be a game changer if he could be a quality QB on a rookie scale strategy.  I think Marcus Mbow will prove to be a 5th round steal and wound up a s a started on offensive line by next year.
 
 
The defense has the chance to be very good with some new additions.  Top draft pick Abdul Carter has the potential to be a Pro bowler.  He has elite pass rushing talent.  It will be difficult to double him with Burns and Dexter Lawrence also rushing the passer. Their pass rush should be elite. They improved their secondary with a couple of key signings, CB Paulson Adebo and S Jevon Holland.  I'm not sold on the Giants GM ability to identify talent and also to properly value talent.  It feels like they overpaid for every one of the free agents. The questions will be their run defense.  It was poor last year and they have not really improved it.  A healthy Bobby Okereke should help materially as he was not healthy last year.  Brian Burns also apparently played through significant injury last year and should be healthy this year.,
 
Given a better team and a tougher schedule (but not as tough as expected with Micah Parsons gone), I expect the Giants to go 7-10.  By the end of the year,  Wilson will be benched to give Dart a chance to show he could be the QB1 next year.