The New York Giants may be in the early stages of their rebuild under new head coach John Harbaugh, but the clock is already ticking for a few key players.
Harbaugh may have a long runway to get the Giants off the ground. His players do not.
A quick look at Big Blue's books for 2026 shows that this season could determine the futures of multiple starters.
These 4 Giants players' contracts say it all
EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux must prove he's worth paying
After having his fifth-year option picked up, Thibodeaux is set to make $14.75 million in 2026. On an annual basis, that puts him outside of the top 20 edge defenders in the NFL.
The Giants already have Brian Burns and Abdul Carter ahead of Thibodeaux. Arvell Reese's versatility could push him to the defensive line as the season progresses. If he doesn't perform at a high level, Thibodeaux could quickly become New York's fourth edge defender.
He'll need to return to his 2023 form to convince Harbaugh and Joe Schoen that he deserves a contract extension.
WR Darius Slayton is as good as gone after 2026
The three-year, $36 million deal Slayton signed after the 2024 season was almost immediately dubbed a mistake. The 29-year-old receiver caught just 37 passes for 538 yards last season despite the lack of target competition after Malik Nabers' injury.
New York couldn't move on from Slayton this offseason due to the remaining guarantees on his deal. If released today, the receiver would leave the Giants with a $15.5 million dead cap hit. But that number drops all the way to $3 million after the season.
Barring a significant increase in production, this should be Slayton's last year with the G-Men.
CB Paulson Adebo hasn't lived up to his contract
The Giants made a splash signing in free agency last offseason, signing Adebo to a three-year deal worth $54 million. The contract ranks third on the roster in total value, behind only Andrew Thomas and Brian Burns.
While his first season in New York wasn't a disaster, Adebo hasn't lived up to his contract. He's being paid as a top-20 player at his position, but his coverage grade last season ranked 55th out of 69 qualifying cornerbacks.
Adebo needs to prove he's worth the money in 2026.
CB Greg Newsome II must earn a long-term commitment
The NFL seems to have given up on Newsome. The Jacksonville Jaguars let him walk in free agency after trading for him in the middle of the 2025 season. Now, he's fighting to regain his place in the league after signing a one-year "prove it" deal with the Giants.
Newsome is currently competing with Deonte Banks and Colton Hood for Big Blue's second starting outside cornerback spot. If he's unable to win the job, his NFL career might come to an end earlier than expected.
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