September has arrived, and the New York Giants are about to get a brutal reality check.
Whether it’s because of Calvin Austin III’s season-ending knee injury or the recent running back drama, the offseason optimism around the Giants is slowly eroding. Fans should prepare to see John Harbaugh’s club predicted to record another double-digit loss season, even after a busy offseason.
ESPN isn’t overly down on the Giants, though they earned the No. 24 spot on the Worldwide Leader’s post-preseason power rankings. Unsurprisingly, that ranked last in the NFC East and fourth-worst in the NFC, ahead of only the Saints (No. 25), Falcons (No. 26), and Cardinals (No. 30).
What to think of the New York Giants’ spot on ESPN’s preseason power rankings
Objectively speaking, the Giants slotting in at No. 24 on ESPN’s list is perfect. The Saints are the only team that you can realistically argue should be above them, though we’d rather have Dart than Tyler Shough.
Unlike several of the teams below the Giants, Harbaugh already has a potential franchise quarterback atop the depth chart. Concerns are already mounting about the Raiders’ (No. 27) plans for Fernando Mendoza, and the Jets (No. 29) likely aren’t expecting Geno Smith to be starting by 2028.
We’ve previously argued that the NFC East feels winnable, though the other three teams escaped the preseason without any significant injuries. However, any predictions involving the Cowboys (No. 15) are always a crapshoot, and much of the goodwill surrounding the Commanders (No. 20) has transitioned into discussions about Jayden Daniels’ viability as a franchise quarterback.
Then, there are the Eagles, who shockingly ranked fifth on ESPN’s list. Tim McManus reported that embattled quarterback Jalen Hurts “looked faster this summer when breaking from the pocket or executing designed runs,” but that’s not enough for us to consider them a top-five team. We’re not even sure the Eagles are a top-10 team, at least not until Hurts proves that last year’s struggles — both on the field and, allegedly, in the locker room — were an aberration.
The question of what constitutes a successful season for the Giants is itself a fascinating conversation, though Dart’s health would obviously be a significant factor in any final grade. Trainers evaluated him for a concussion during last month’s preseason opener, but he passed the test and immediately returned to the game.
Considering how frustrating the Giants’ 2025 season was, landing at No. 24 is slightly positive. We’re less than two weeks away from learning whether Harbaugh’s squad is prepared to climb ESPN’s power rankings or if they’re destined to spend this year as a bottom-10 team.
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