Former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll wasn’t exactly known for getting the most out of his roster. A 20-40-1 record over three-plus seasons all but confirms it.
But with John Harbaugh now running the show, expectations are very different. The 63-year-old didn’t last 18 seasons as the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens by leaving talent on the table. The Ravens are the poster child for maximizing their roster, and Harby's bringing that same energy with him to New York.
For the past couple of seasons, it’s felt like the Giants have had enough talent to be legitimately competitive, but not the right coaching staff to get the most out of it. With a new era underway in North Jersey, here are three players who could become key pieces of Big Blue’s turnaround.
Giants players who could take off in 2026 without Brian Daboll
Abdul Carter - pass-rusher
New York already got a glimpse of who Abdul Carter could be with Daboll out of the picture late last season, and I’m about as excited to see more of that as I am for Dune 3 to finally hit theaters. He’s not exactly the Lisan al-Gaib, but Carter has all the tools to become Big Blue’s next elite pass rusher, and he’s got the right staff in place to get him there.
Back is outside linebackers coach and run game coordinator, Charlie Bullen. Bullen played an integral role in saving the former Nittany Lion's rookie season last year, and now with Dennard Wilson as the defensive coordinator, there's a strong chance he obliterates his underwhelming rookie totals. Carter got away with just about anything under Dabes. Apparently, sleeping through meetings and showing up late to practice were encouraged.
Theo Johnson - tight end
The Giants just signed Isaiah Likely this offseason -- how?!
I hope Giants fans are ready to learn tight end. It's a John Harbaugh specialty. There's reason to believe Johnson's production will fall off a cliff with the addition of Likely, but Harby loves his two-tight-end sets. While Likely will assume TE1 duties, don't discount Johnson as a key contributor next season.
The 25-year-old already has a good rapport with quarterback Jaxson Dart. After a relatively underwhelming rookie season, the 6-foot-6, 260-pound weapon put together a decent second season, posting career highs in receptions (45), receiving yards (528), and touchdowns (5). Even still, this is a guy who posted a 9.99 Relative Athletic Score coming out of college, so there's so much more he can give this offense. He was being criminally underutilized under Daboll.
New offensive coordinator Matt Nagy has had success utilizing tight ends in the past, which could sneakily set Johnson up for an even better third year.
Darius Alexander - defensive line
Let's put an asterisk on Darius Alexander, as Dexter Lawrence's trade request could complicate his second-year breakout. If Alexander is manning the middle without Sexy Dexy next to him, life will become infinitely more difficult for the 6-foot-4, 310-pound defensive lineman. Even still, prepare for a hearty serving of Alexander this upcoming season.
The 25-year-old struggled throughout most of his rookie season, but he came alive late, recording 3.0 of his 3.5 sacks, 11 of his 20 tackles, and three of his four tackles for loss coming over the last six games. He might never become the run-stuffer the Giants need him to be, but he could definitely become a key member of the collapse the pocket from the inside committee.