Happy training camp opening day to those who celebrate. The New York Giants are in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia (take me home, country roads), at the Sports Performance Center at The Greenbrier Resort. The scenery might be different than the marshes in East Rutherford, but the goal is the same: separate the true contenders from the offseason pretenders.
However, it’s not just the scenery that’s different this summer. The G-Men shocked the world by hiring John Harbaugh to spearhead a cultural overhaul -- and he did. Bringing in a proven champion meant a shift in philosophy, a whole new coaching staff, and a blank slate for a totally overhauled roster. Under Harbaugh, past draft status and favorite-player status don’t mean a thing; every single spot on the 53-man roster has to be earned.
Harbs is jumping straight into the fire, hitting the guys with a stretch of 10 practices (six open to the public) in 11 days from July 28 to August 8. These next 11 days are the players' first real chance to make a statement and prove they belong on the final roster. It's time to start cutting this 90-man group down to 53.
Here's our first prediction for how the opening day roster shakes out: pre-training camp edition.
Giants go full Harbaugh in pre-training camp 53-man roster prediction
Quarterback (2): Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston
Some teams will carry three quarterbacks into the season, but the Giants won't be one of them. Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston are more than ready to crush any and all signal-calling duties for the 2026 season, barring injury.
Brandon Allen is on the offseason roster, but he feels like a really strong option for the Emergency Third Quarterback rule (teams can designate a third quarterback from their 53-man roster to dress on game day without counting against the active game-day roster). Boom.
Dart will look to build on a promising rookie season that saw him navigate his first season without the team's top-two skill position players. That's tough, and not necessarily a recipe for success. Also, he may or may not have tried to run through too many defenders and put himself in harm's way, which will need to be monitored a bit more entering Year 2.
Having the most electric backup in the NFL is icing on the cake. Famous Jameis is the perfect locker-room presence who can also come in off the bench and keep Big Blue competitive. Not bad.
Fullback (1): Patrick Ricard
Not carrying a third QB on the 53-man roster and only carrying three RBs will allow Harbaugh to put Patrick "Pancake Pat" Ricard on display every single Sunday. The G-Men haven't had a traditional fullback on the roster since 2022, when Chris Myarick was leading the blocking brigade out of the backfield.
But you don't get the nickname "Pancake Pat" solely for being a frequent IHOP goer. Ricard is here to bully opposing defenders into another universe. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound stack of flapjacks followed Harbs from Baltimore to East Rutherford to help bring a strong ground game back to Giants football.
Running back (3): Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary
Speaking of running the football down defenses' throats, Harby and new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy are building a smashmouth identity that's going to make Big Blue an absolute nightmare to (try to) tackle.
With new run-game coordinator -- and long-time friend of the Harbaughs -- Greg Roman pulling the strings and calling up a masterclass of ground game, this backfield is tailored for pure, unadulterated physicality.
Cam Skattebo is the bell cow heading into camp. Giants fans collectively held their breath after his viral backflip mishap at Fanatics Fest, but the second-year back is looking healthy and ready to resume running people over like traffic cones.
Behind him, Tyrone Tracy Jr. is the ultimate chess piece. While some have slept on Tracy despite him quietly putting up back-to-back seasons of 1,000-plus all-purpose yards (me), Nagy's arrival means the G-Men are going to do everything they can to weaponize his elusiveness. Devin "Motor" Singletary is the veteran insurance policy to round out the three-man squad.
Wide receiver (6): Malik Nabers, Darnell Mooney, Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin III, Odell Beckham Jr., Malachi Fields
With Wan'Dale Robinson packing his bags in free agency, the receiver room has a completely different feeling to it entering camp.
All eyes are naturally glued to the recovery of Malik Nabers, who is working his way back from last year's devastating Week 4 ACL tear. When he's 100%, he is one of the best wideouts in the game who will see a limit-does-not-exist amount of targets from Dart.
To hold down the fort, the G-Men brought in Darnell Mooney on a one-year deal to inject some life into the offense, alongside hate-him-or-love-him mainstay Darius Slayton. I'm also projecting former Steeler Calvin Austin III to lock up a spot as a gadget guy and return specialist.
Odell Beckham Jr. is back in East Rutherford, and while he isn't the same human highlight reel who broke the internet years ago, his familiarity with both Harbaugh and New York makes him an invaluable locker-room presence for an up-and-coming offense.
Finally, the darling of the early offseason has been third-round rookie Malachi Fields. The 6-foot-4, 218-pound matchup nightmare out of Notre Dame has been absolutely ripping it up, prompting ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler to compare him to Giants legend Plaxico Burress. Fields is a red-zone threat in the making and is building a strong case to push for an increased role before Week 1 rolls around.
Tight end (3): Isaiah Likely, Theo Johnson, Chris Manhertz
If you want to know exactly what kind of offense Harbs and Nagy are trying to assemble in East Rutherford, look no further than the tight end room. They're tailoring this offense to go heavy on two-tight-end sets, creating an absolute mismatch factory for their franchise QB hopeful.
Another Baltimore defector, Isaiah Likely, is the crown jewel of New York's offseason. Big Blue gave the 26-year-old a three-year, $40 million contract, making him the fourth-highest-paid tight end in the league. He's coming off a quiet 2025 campaign where he was buried on the depth chart behind Mark Andrews, but Harby knows his ceiling is sky-high.
The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder is a dangerous weapon who'll line up all over the formation to terrorize linebackers and undersized defensive backs in the passing game.
Next to him is third-year tight end -- and potential breakout candidate -- Theo Johnson, who actually out-produced Likely last season with 528 yards and five touchdowns. Johnson is a 6-foot-6 physical specimen who can attack the seam, and if he cleans up the drops, this duo will be a defensive coordinator’s nightmare.
Rounding out the group is Chris Manhertz, an 11-year vet who is essentially a sixth offensive lineman built to clear the runway for the rushing attack.
Offensive line (10): Andrew Thomas, Jon Runyan, John Michael Schmitz, Francis Mauigoa, Jermaine Eluemunor, Marcus Mbow, J.C. Davis, Aaron Stinnie, Daniel Faalele, Lucas Patrick
To run John Harbaugh’s brand of bully ball, a team needs the proper security detail up front. Andrew Thomas remains the undisputed cornerstone at left tackle, anchoring an ascending offensive line. Directly to his right, Jon Runyan and John Michael Schmitz are locked in at left guard and center slots, respectively. However, both are firmly viewed as weak links along the line entering camp, and they'll need to step up drastically to keep Dart upright.
Jermaine Eluemunor is once again locked in as the team's starting right tackle after securing a three-year, $39 million extension earlier this offseason. Big Blue prioritized bringing the fan favorite back over other free agents like Robinson and Cor'Dale Flott.
One of the biggest prizes of the offseason is rookie Francis "Sisi" Mauigoa. Big Blue sprinted to the podium to grab the Miami mammoth with the 10th pick of the draft. Instead of keeping him outside (he played right tackle at The U), Harbs is kicking his 6-foot-6, 330-pound frame inside at right guard. He has the raw power and mass to pave running lanes for the next decade-plus.
Naturally, Harbaugh had to bring some familiar Baltimore muscle with him, signing veteran guard Daniel Faalele to a one-year deal. Ravens fans spent the last couple of seasons tearing their hair out over Faalele's footwork in pass protection, but at 6-foot-8 and 370 pounds, he's an absolute unit. He isn’t pushing Mauigoa for a starting spot, but as a depth piece in a power-running scheme, he's a literal huge insurance policy if things go sideways.
The rest of the bench is all about utility. Marcus Mbow should handle swing-tackle duties now that James Hudson punched his ticket out of North Jersey, while veterans Aaron Stinnie and Lucas Patrick bring a ton of interior experience to the table. Rounding out the final spot is sixth-round rookie J.C. Davis out of Illinois, a developmental project who started 49 straight games in college and can play all over the line.
Defensive line (5): Darius Alexander, DJ Reader, Shelby Harris, Leki Fotu, Bobby Jamison-Travis
How weird is it not to see Dexter Lawrence on this list? Life after the massive Sexy Dexy trade means a total overhaul, and general manager Joe Schoen did his best "Gotta catch 'em all" impression this offseason, signing just about every available defensive lineman to survive the transition.
Instead of leaning on one superstar, new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson will shift to a fresh-legs, rotation-style approach.
The biggest beneficiary of Sexy Dexy's absence is second-year defensive tackle Darius Alexander. After flashing some real juice with 3.5 sacks as a rookie, a lot is riding on the Toledo product to make a dent in the 6-foot-4, 340-pound void left behind by Dex.
Schoen rebuilt the depth chart by signing DJ Reader, Shelby Harris, and Leki Fotu in free agency. At 330 pounds, Reader is a brick wall specifically brought in to address NY's shaky run defense. Harris and Fotu bring a combined 630-plus pounds of depth, ensuring the interior doesn't skip a beat when the other guys need a breather.
The fun piece here is sixth-round rookie Bobby Jamison-Travis out of Auburn. The front office used the 186th overall pick on him because he is a stout, heavy-set nose tackle who refuses to give up ground against the run. He eats double-teams like Joey Chestnut eats hot dogs, making him a high-upside puzzle piece for this overhauled group.
Pass-rusher (4): Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Chauncey Golston
If you want to know what a nightmare looks like for opposing QBs, this is it.
Brian Burns is the unquestioned leader of the group, coming off an electric 2025 season where he led the NFC with 16.5 sacks. Opposite him, Kayvon Thibodeaux enters a massive Year 5 playing on his fifth-year option. Talk about one hell of a contract year -- the 25-year-old needs a huge summer to prove he warrants an extension.
But the real game-changer is sophomore Abdul Carter. After going No. 3 overall in the 2025 Draft, Carter had an up-and-down rookie season but finished the year on a high note. He absolutely terrorized quarterbacks down the stretch, posting a 90.1 pass-rush grade over the final six weeks to tie Myles Garrett for the second-highest mark in the league. While he only finished with 4.0 sacks, he led all rookies with 66 total pressures.
If the 22-year-old can start turning the pressures into sacks under Wilson, he's going to be borderline unstoppable in Year 2. Veteran Chauncey Golston wraps up the group as an intriguing depth piece waiting to break out himself.
Linebacker (5): Tremaine Edmunds, Arvell Reese, Micah McFadden, Jack Kelly, Darius Muasau
Big Blue's new-and-improved linebacker group is built to play physical and big. It's not every day you see a defense field two off-ball LBs who are at least 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds -- welcome to the new reality.
Tremaine Edmunds is the undisputed quarterback of the defense -- he'll be rocking the green dot. Next to him, rookie Arvell Reese is expected to start in the middle after the G-Men selected the Ohio State star with the fifth overall pick. Moving Reese inside gives the front seven a massive injection of versatility and physicality.
With the rookie taking the other starting job, Micah McFadden slides into a super-sub role after coming back to East Rutherford on a one-year, $3.75 million prove-it deal.
The depth really starts with sixth-round rookie Jack Kelly, who's a multi-faceted defensive tool who can be moved all over the field, including on special teams. That leaves Darius Muasau grabbing the final spot, but he's easily the weakest prediction on this entire exercise. He will need a banger summer for Harby to consider even keeping him on the 53.
Cornerback (6): Paulson Adebo, Greg Newsome II, Deonte Banks, Colton Hood, Dru Phillips, Art Green
This cornerback room is a complete powder keg entering camp. Wilson is a defensive backs guy through and through, meaning he's going to be demanding perfection. He has made it clear that nothing is guaranteed heading into camp, making this one of the most interesting position battles of all of camp.
Paulson Adebo is entrenched as the team's CB1 after signing a massive three-year, $54 million contract last offseason. However, after a knee injury limited him to 12 starts last year, 2026 is a massive make-or-break year for him to prove he’s the guy.
Across from him, the CB2 spot couldn't be more wide open. The G-Men signed former Browns first-rounder Greg Newsome II to a one-year, $8 million gamble back in March. The idea of Newsome has always been better than the player, but all signs suggest he has the inside track to the job if he can have a good camp.
Newsome is getting pushed hard by second-round rookie freak Colton Hood. Stolen at No. 37 overall out of Tennessee, the 21-year-old's aggressive, press-heavy style is perfect for New York's new-look defense. So where does that leave former first-round pick Deonte Banks? Firmly on thin ice. Banks fell out of favor with the old staff, and entering camp, he’s viewed as a legitimate option who has to rebuild his reputation from the ground up.
At slot corner, Dru Phillips is projected to hold down the fort for the third-straight season. That leaves the final roster spot down to special teams value, which is why Art Green gets the final nod here. Green is a special teams demon. Harbaugh’s background as a special teams guy means he values the dirty work. If Green can show he isn't a total liability on defense, his special teams tape locks him into the final 53.
Safety (5): Jevón Holland, Tyler Nubin, Jason Pinnock, Ar'Darius Washington, Beau Brade
Jevón Holland is the supposed leader of the group after Big Blue made him a priority free-agent signing last year. Alongside him, third-year safety Tyler Nubin looks to take a major step forward after a sophomore slump. Jason Pinnock (back like he never left) gives the room a high-floor backup option who has never seen a tackle he doesn't like.
Ar'Darius Washington -- another former Raven (notice the trend?) -- is the group's Swiss Army knife. Reunited with two of his former Ravens coaches (Wilson and Harbaugh), Washington is a nickel/slot hybrid defender who should be viewed as a lock at this point.
Then there's Beau Brade. The G-Men plucked him off waivers after the Ravens cut him last year, and he spent most of his time grinding on special teams under the previous coaching staff. Because he has that experience under Harbs from his time in the Charm City, I'm giving him the inside track for the final safety spot.
That said, I'm going to be totally transparent: if Muasau is my least confident prediction, Brade is a very close second. He has zero guaranteed money on his contract, meaning he has to be a certified special teams demon in camp to keep his spot.
Specialists (3): Dominic Zvada (K), Jordan Stout (P), Ben Mann (LS)
What do you call a group of two undrafted rookies and an All-Pro? New York's fully revamped special teams unit, that's what. Zvada will have to beat out Ben "Better Call Sauls" Sauls to be New York's next kicker, but after an impressive spring session, the 22-year-old is on the inside track.
After they surprisingly cut Zach Triner earlier in the offseason, Boston College's Ben Mann is the man at long snapper for Big Blue. Funny enough, Mann's grandfather, Chuck Mercein, was drafted in the third round (31st overall) by the Giants back in the 1965 Draft. What a really cool, full-circle moment that'd be if he does make the final roster.
Wait, another former Raven who followed Harby to North Jersey making the roster? No way. Stout is about as much of a lock to make the roster as Dart is to start under center: the soon-to-be 28-year-old signed a record-setting three-year, $12.3 million contract, making him the highest-paid punter in league history. Top dollar for the best punter in the league, baby.
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