The preseason is in the books, and all attention for the New York Giants has shifted towards roster cut day before a Week 1 date with reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders. The summer gave us our first look at the 2025 rookie class, while also setting the stage for potential breakout stars looking to crack the 53-man roster.
It was as good a summer as Brian Daboll could have asked for. Big Blue went unbeaten, the offense looked like it was turning a corner, and Jaxson Dart looked comfortable running the offense. Additionally, the defense showed signs of becoming one of the NFL’s most disruptive units.
But as impressive as the preseason was, a few questions do still remain. The G-Men have questions on both the offensive line and the secondary, and the receiver room is largely unproven besides Malik Nabers. The team is more than capable of surprising people, especially after a strong offseason, but the preseason only reinforced those questions.
The 3 biggest questions Giants fans still have following the preseason
How trustworthy is the offensive line?
The same red flag that has plagued this team for over a decade still remains. Daboll’s scheme relies on getting the ball out quickly, but wit on’t be able to function if Russell Wilson is always under duress. Evan Neal has struggled since moving to guard, John Michael Schmitz hasn’t improved, and Greg Van Roten is entering his age-35 season.
Andrew Thomas is one of the best tackles in football when healthy, but has struggled to remain healthy as of late. Luckily for Big Blue, they found a versatile swing tackle in fifth-round rookie Marcus Mbow, who can add stability, but it will be an uphill battle for Carmen Bricillo to see this unit hold its own against top defensive lines.
Who will step up as the No. 2 option behind Malik Nabers?
Nabers looks every bit the alpha wideout the G-Men drafted him No. 6 overall to be, but the supporting cast remains unproven. Wan’Dale Robinson has shown flashes in camp, but he’s entering a contract year, and Jalin Hyatt has had an up-and-down summer yet should benefit from the quarterback change.
Even Theo Johnson has emerged as a popular breakout pick, so between the trio, Darius Slayton, and Tyrone Tracy, the Giants have options. But someone is going to need to take an extra leap so defenses don’t key in on the 22-year-old superstar, and my money is on Robinson.
Does Deonte Banks have a real future as a Giant?
The 2023 first-round pick was drafted to be a cornerstone in the secondary, but two years in, the results have been uneven. The Maryland product was elite as a rookie but a scheme change saw his stats take a nosedive in Year 2.
He’s been amid a position battle with 2022 third-rounder Cor’Dale Flott to be the CB2 alongside Paulson Adebo, and Banks looks to have fallen behind. For a player who was drafted in hopes of being the face of the secondary, that’s a troubling sign, but maybe he can bounce back with a year of experience in Shane Bowen’s system under his belt.
Regardless, 2025 is his final opportunity to prove he is a part of the long-term plans.
These questions don't even account for the obvious "when will we see Dart" discussions heard within the fanbase. Both Daboll and Schoen are fighting for their jobs, so finding answers to these questions could be the difference between whether or not they’re still with the franchise following the season.