The New York Giants have plenty of needs to address this offseason. It all start with figuring out who will be leading them into battle in 2026 and beyond (hopefully). However, that's only one piece of a much bigger puzzle: Jaxson Dart's development.
Dart's electrifying inaugural NFL campaign has positioned him to be the Giants' franchise quarterback. With that in mind, everything they do moving forward should be with his best interests in mind. Getting the head coach hire right is imperative, but so is ensuring he has an adequate supporting cast to work with.
You're only as good as the sum of your parts. That rings especially true for signal-callers in football; behind every field general is a strong group of soldiers. With that in mind, building around Dart ought to be atop the Giants' to-do list in the coming months.
Getting help for Jaxson Dart is Joe Schoen, Giants' No. 1 offseason priority
Whether it be protecting Dart or reinforcing his skill position corps, the G-Men can't afford to screw up. They have the means to make meaningful upgrades via the draft. There will also be opportunities in the open market for them with a passer on a rookie contract.
New York is slated to pick second overall this spring ahead of its regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys. They can fall as far as the No. 7 spot depending on how things shake out, which would be far from ideal. Either way, the G-Men can add another top-end young talent to an already-promising youthful core headlined by Dart and fellow newcomer Cam Skattebo.
Currently boasting the 18th-most projected cap space in 2026, the Giants must spend their money wisely. That doesn't include their own key pending free agents, like wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, who've been critical to Dart's progression. Nevertheless, devoting some funds to interior offensive line renovations or another viable pass-catcher is a necessary hurdle for general manager Joe Schoen to clear.
There are several established guard and center options the Giants can pursue. The Cleveland Browns' Joel Bitonio/Wyatt Teller, Alijah Vera-Tucker of the New York Jets or Buffalo Bills standout Connor McGovern are a handful of examples. Any of them would certainly go a long way in keeping Dart upright.
While there aren't as many appealing wideouts to choose from, at least in the Giants' price range, they can select one. Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson and Carnell Tate of Ohio State are high-profile prospects who can form a dynamic trio with Robinson and superstar Malik Nabers. Pair that with burgeoning tight end Theo Johnson and the backfield duo of Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Dart suddenly has an exciting group.
Look around the league at teams that have overhauled the pieces around their young QBs and the results. Drake Maye transformed into the 2025 MVP favorite after the New England Patriots gave him an alpha receiver in Stefon Diggs. The Chicago Bears took a similar approach with Caleb Williams, then secured their first NFC North crown since 2020 and snapped a four-year playoff drought.
All signs point toward Schoen's job being safe heading into what is a pivotal moment for the Giants. He has to see Williams and Maye's respective ascensions in improved situations as proof of concept to lean into maximizing Dart.