New York Giants 2026 NFL Season Preview: The Top 5 Burning Questions

We're just days away from the New York Giants ' 2026 season opener against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.

This is a pivotal year in the history of the Giants franchise as they feel they have finally found the right guy to lead the organization in head coach John Harbaugh . New York has made upgrades this offseason in all three phases of the game and to the coaching staff.

But you never know how the additions are going to work until the team takes the field. Here are the top five burning questions for Big Blue heading into the season.

The biggest question surrounding the Giants heading into the season is when Malik Nabers will see his first action since tearing his ACL in October. Ever since it was revealed that he had a second surgery on his knee, there have been concerns about whether he'll be ready for the start of the season.

Although he's participated throughout training camp, as of right now it's not a lock that he'll be on the field for Week 1. He will eventually make his 2026 debut in the early part of the season. But then the question becomes: what will he look like when he's back on the field?

If he's playing like one of the best wideouts in the league he was prior to his injury, the Giants will have one of the best offenses in the NFC. If he's compromised by the injury, the Giants won't have a true number one wideout, and the offense will have a short ceiling.

How big of a leap can Jaxson Dart make in year two?

There's a ton of optimism surrounding Jaxson Dart as he enters his second season in the NFL. Most quarterbacks make their biggest leap from year one to year two, and considering Dart had 24 total touchdowns with five interceptions, some feel the sky is the limit.

However, he is learning a new system under new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, where he'll be in the shotgun less frequently than he did in 2025. Early on in training camp, he and the offense struggled, but gradually got better as the summer progressed.

If Dart has a firm grasp of the offense, New York can be a playoff team in 2026 if he can stay healthy.

Will the run defense be better under Dennard Wilson?

The run defense was the weakest part of the team last season. The Giants allowed 145.3 yards per game, which was 31 st in the league.

The team traded Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals and replaced him by signing DJ Reader, and also added Shelby Harris to beef up the defensive line. But the biggest addition to the defense might be defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, who has emphasized the importance of stopping the run from day one. In his final year with the Tennessee Titans in 2025, the Titans had the 15th-ranked run defense.

If the run defense can be middle of the pack, it will bode well for the team's chances this season. If they're still unable to stop the run, it will be another long season for Big Blue.

Will the corners be able to handle elite wideouts?

Throughout the summer, Greg Newsome, Paulson Adebo, Deonte Banks and rookie Colton Hood have all played with the first-team defense during training camp. Right now, we don't know for certain who will be the two starting outside corners, but whoever the duo is, they'll be challenged early.

In the season opener, they'll face the Cowboys, who had the second-ranked passing offense in 2025. Dallas has arguably the best wide receiver tandem in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens . Last year, the duo combined for 168 receptions, for 2,506 yards with 12 touchdowns.

Things don't get any easier for New York in Week 2 when they travel to Los Angeles to take on the Rams . The Rams had the number one passing attack in 2025, led by reigning league MVP Matthew Stafford . Stafford's top two targets, Puka Nacua and Davante Adams , combined for 189 receptions, 2,504 yards, and 24 touchdowns.

In addition to the first two games of the year, the Giants will face elite receivers throughout the season. The corners must show that they can hold their own in order for the team to have a winning season.

Will the new additions live up to the hype?

Big Blue has received high praise for the additions they made to the team this offseason in free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft. In the draft, they took Arvell Reese , who they felt was the best defensive player in the class, and then selected Francis Mauigoa with the 10 th pick to play right guard to solidify the offensive line.

The biggest acquisitions the team made in free agency were Isaiah Likely, Darnell Mooney, Tremaine Edmunds, and Jordan Stout. Then in June, the team brought back Odell Beckham Jr . At first, people outside the organization may have thought OBJ was washed, but he showed throughout training camp and the preseason that he can still create separation and get open.

Due to these additions, and being led by a Super Bowl-winning head coach, there's optimism that the franchise is headed in the right direction. If they can live up to the hype surrounding their signing, New York will have its first winning season since 2022.