Their latest loss to the New England Patriots just proves more of the same for a New York Giants team that has fallen to 2-11. While they have added some good young talent in Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo, and Darius Alexander, they still have a way to go. They have shown that they can compete, but they need to be able to finish games.
The injury bug hit the team hard, and since then, they haven't been able to figure it out. Both the run and pass defense are among the worst in the league, and regardless of who plays and who coaches them, they show no signs of improvement. With limited cap and draft capital, the Giants will have to get creative this offseason at multiple positions.
Giants must reconsider these four positions to close out 2025
1.Linebacker
The linebacker position hasn't been addressed in years, outside of a handful of sixth-round picks and one Bobby Okereke signing. Fans have screamed for years that you cannot simply plug in late-round picks and practice-squad players and think you'll get top-level play. It has reared its ugly head all season, and general manager Joe Schoen hasn't done a thing outside of signing practice-squad players.
They found a decent player in Micah McFadden, but coming off an injury in a contract year, it'll be interesting to see if the G-Men bring him back. Okereke looks like a shell of his former self. He doesn't get off blocks, he doesn't fill gaps, and he looks like he's jogging every play.
The effort is gone, and he needs to be if so at the end of the season. There is also no consistency within the unit. One drive, Swayze Bozeman is lined up, next Zaire Barnes, with a sprinkle of Demetrius Flanagan Fowles when he also isn't' injured. Schoen has almost refused to add an impact player to the unit, and it's a glaring need.
2. Interior Defensive Line
Now let's talk about what's arguably the worst unit on the entire team: the interior defensive line. Dexter Lawrence has been battling through injuries all season and clearly not himself. Outside of third-round pick Darius Alexander, the unit is void of talent. Veterans Roy Robertson Harris and Rakeem Nunez Roches are almost unplayable, D.J Davidson has been inconsistent, and Chauncey Gholston, while versatile, is a bit light to play inside.
The hope for next season is for Lawrence to get back to being healthy and be the game wrecker he used to be. Alexander has been a bright spot, and we look forward to seeing how he turns out down the road. The rest of the unit needs a complete revamping.
Nunez Roches will more than likely become a cap casualty, Harris will be gone, and the unit will see many new faces (hopefully) next season.
3. Secondary
The secondary, as a whole, has been atrocious. Deonte Banks should have been released weeks ago. Instead, they continued to trot him out to play week to week. Dru Phillips has had an up-and-down year, Adebo has been inconsistent, and for some reason, the Giants think sixth-round pick Korie Black is a number two corner.
Add this as another position group the Giants' front office seems to think is ok to plug and play late-round rookies.
Banks is a press man corner being forced to play zone, which is not his strength, but the more pressing concern is the lack of effort. Whether covering the receiver or making tackles, Banks looks disinterested in doing anything, yet he is trotted out there week after week. Black is a practice-squad caliber player who is being thrust into the starting role weekly as well.
Schoen also has to make a decision on safety Dane Belton and corner Cor'Dale Flott, who are both in career years. Holland has looked good when healthy, but Tyler Nubin has been awful this year. He looks far different than the safety the G-Men thought they were getting out of Minnesota. There will be many moves going forward for that group.
4. Wide Receiver
The wide receiver room has had one of the oddest timelines this year. After Nabers went down, Schoen did little to nothing to fix it. Darius Slayton just seems like another player that needs to be gone after this season, while Wan'Dale Robinson is having a career year, in a contract year.
Fans were clamoring for the G-Men to bring receiver Isaiah Hodgins back from the Steelers' practice squad, yet it took five-plus weeks for them to do so. Fans asked for anything at the receiver position, yet a stubborn front office did little to nothing for weeks.
Jalin Hyatt still has had little to no opportunity to play, Ray-Ray McCloud has been on the practice squad for weeks after being claimed, and Big Blue would rather put starting players back at return on special teams while the best return man on their team -- Ihmir Smith Marsette has sat on the practice squad the entire season.
NY's receiver room needs to be revamped. Outside of Nabers and Robinson, the team could see all new players next season. If they bring back Robinson and go into the draft and add an impact player like a Carnell Tate to go across from Nabers, potential franchise QB Jaxson Dart could have a really good young receiving room.
Even though the Giants just re-signed Slayton, he may be a cap casualty if he doesn't take a pay cut to help the team add talent -- his disappointing season needs to be addressed.