It takes a certain kind of football team to willingly subject itself to 10 practices in 11 days in the hot West Virginia mountains, but head coach John Harbaugh didn't take the New York Giants job for fun.
With training camp, White Sulphur Springs edition, officially in the rearview (they'll head back to East Rutherford for the rest of their practices), it's time to turn our attention toward the last major event of the offseason.
The preseason opener is right around the corner on Saturday, August 15, against the Minnesota Vikings. And while the outcome won't necessarily mean anything, it's the final testing ground for the roster bubble guys looking to make a move up the depth chart to secure a spot on the 53-man roster.
The excitement for real football is all the way back. But before we get lost in the preseason sauce, here are the eight biggest winners from Giants training camp:
These 8 Giants couldn’t have asked for a better training camp
Abdul Carter
After a rookie season where he found his footing late -- better late than never, I suppose -- Abdul Carter looked like a different species at The Greenbrier Resort.
The 22-year-old pass-rusher spent the week playing with a newfound combination of moves and speed, routinely putting his offensive line counterparts in a blender. Carter clearly used the offseason to match his elite physical traits with a sharper mindset, and if his performance against Big Blue's starters is any indication, he’s on his way toward a major Year 2 breakout.
Deonte Banks
To say Deonte Banks has endured a miserable three years since being selected 25th overall in 2023 would be a huge understatement, but a clean slate under Harbaugh and Co. somehow seems to have changed his fortunes.
Instead of folding under the weight of not meeting expectations, Banks showed up with a brand-new attitude that might've flipped the secondary plans on their head. After having his fifth-year option declined, he showed up ready. The 25-year-old snatched first-team reps away from $54 million man Paulson Adebo at the CB1 spot, which is both a really good thing and a really bad thing. So, there's that. Regardless, good for Tae.
Dominic Zvada
The 22-year-old undrafted rookie kicker out of Michigan put on an absolute clinic in the mountains, essentially putting a padlock on the position battle before it ever really started.
Building on a flawless run through minicamp and OTAs, Zvada-matic showcased eye-popping leg strength and ice-water accuracy that consistently outpaced incumbent Ben Sauls. For a team that threw five kickers at their kicking nightmare last year, watching Zvada light it up in camp was really refreshing and wicked promising.
Isaiah Likely
When New York shelled out a heavy four-year, $40 million contract to bring tight end Isaiah Likely in free agency, it felt like a slight overpay for his lack of production in Baltimore, but his performance at camp made the number look like a steal.
The 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end was the crown jewel of the Giants' free-agency class, and he spent the week looking like an unguardable safety valve no matter where he lined up. His absolute dominance in the red zone was exactly what the doctor ordered, giving fans their first real taste of how Johnny bully-ball's plans to weaponize his new-look, smack-you-in-the-face-with-size offense in 2026.
Malik Nabers
Consider Malik Nabers the list's biggest symbolic winner. After his devastating 2025 ACL tear threw a cloud of medical uncertainty over the early portion of the offseason, seeing the star wideout cut, sprint, and run full-speed individual drills was a massive relief for the organization.
He looks good -- explosive and confident -- teasing the fans a little bit that a Week 1 return isn't completely out of the realm of possibility. There was a collective gasp that shifted the Earth's rotation from East Rutherford when Leek hit the ground after accidental contact with Tyler Nubin, but he popped up unscathed.
Braxton Berrios
The back end of the Giants' wide receiver room was about as close to a cage match as you're going to get without suplexes and people getting hit with chairs, with about a dozen players fighting tooth and nail for a handful of available roster spots.
Braxton Berrios understood the assignment, especially after Gunner Olszewski’s devastating Achilles injury left a void in the specialized weapon rotation. Berrios seized every opportunity by the throat, making plays on offense that he's not necessarily known for, while holding the ultimate ace up his sleeve: his return ability.
Dalen Cambre
Speaking of the final receiver spots, no bubble player helped their roster standing more than Dalen Cambre. After going undrafted out of Louisiana in 2025 and clawing his way onto the active roster late last year after a long practice squad stint, Cambre played like someone who refused to let history repeat itself.
He made a habit of laying out for contested catches in the passing game while working tirelessly on special teams, literally forcing Harbaugh's staff to take notice.
Arvell Reese
The Giants couldn't have scripted a better introduction for their top-five draft pick, who looks every bit like Big Blue's next defensive superstar.
Arvell Reese looked impressive running around in shorts during spring practices, but he somehow looked even better the moment the shoulder pads and helmet came on. New York overhauled their linebacker room this offseason, even moving the former Ohio State superstar off the edge and into a true off-ball role.
The fact he hasn't even needed a full offseason to already look like a defensive demon is a huge win. He and free-agent addition Tremaine Edmunds could form the most physically imposing second-level tandem this franchise has seen in decades.
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