Unless you have an elite roster, teams with a franchise quarterback always have the best shot at competing in the postseason. Sadly, this is something the New York Giants have been lacking since the Eli Manning days. Brian Daboll and company are hoping this will change with the addition of Jaxson Dart, but even if he proves to be 'the guy,' that impact might not occur until a few years down the road.
If NFL front offices were to pick a quarterback to start a franchise around, Dart would not be high on their list. The Ole Miss product was questioned for his ability to read a defense after coming from a gimmicky, one-read Lane Kiffin offense, and there's hardly a guarantee that things will go smoothly when he sees the field.
However, two young Giants players should already be talked about as some of the most valuable non-quarterbacks in the NFL... and for good reason.
The New York Giants as sitting on a gold mine with Malik Nabers and Abdul Carter
The first is Malik Nabers. The former LSU product lit up the SEC as a junior before declaring for the NFL Draft and becoming the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He didn't disappoint. As a rookie in 2024, Nabers raked in 109 receptions for 1,204 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
Though Nabers' outstanding production came with questionable efficiency (51.2 percent success rate, 7.1 yards per target), this was largely because of who was throwing him the football last season. The Giants were forced to deploy a despicable combination of Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito, and Tim Boyle in 2024.
On film, however, Nabers already showcased an innate ability to create space and make things happen after the catch. He's got the makings of a bona fide WR1 in the NFL, and he's still just 21 years old heading into his second NFL training camp.
If you were to stack Nabers up against the most valuable non-quarterbacks to build around, his name would be near the top of the list. While it's easy to point to superstars like Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Micah Parsons as some of the most valuable non-QBs in the NFL, Nabers' combination of promise and youth already makes him a golden asset for the Giants.
But there's another Giants player who may have already joined him, before even taking a snap in the league.
Abdul Carter is completely unproven in the NFL, but his lack of experience hardly means he doesn't hold tremendous value. Carter, the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was a talented enough player to be taken with the No. 1 pick in most years.
During his junior season at Penn State, Carter racked up 24 tackles for a loss and 12.0 sacks while showcasing enbelievable speed, quickness, bend, and pursuit to get after the quarterback. It was his exceptionally rare skill set that had many experts comparing him to NFL All-Pro Micah Parsons.
Claiming that Carter is already one of the most valuable non-quarterbacks in the NFL is, admittedly, a bold take. But when you take into consideration the value of the edge rusher position and the fact that he will be 21 years old for almost the entirety of the 2025 season, this is a player you can build a franchise around—even if he only turns out to be 80 percent of the prospect advertised.
The New York Giants hardly have the league's most complete roster. But where they lack in above-average starters and depth, they make up for it with foundational, cornerstone building blocks. This team is sitting on a gold mine with Malik Nabers and Abdul Carter, and nobody's talking about it.