The New York Giants have been bulking up their roster through the NFL Draft over the past couple of seasons. Jaxson Dart, Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo, Abdul Carter, and now Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa. All of those players are under the age of 24 and have a long time ahead of them in the NFL.
With those names mentioned, you would think that the Giants are one of the younger teams in the NFL. Well, that is where the dichotomy comes in, as the G-Men are actually one of the oldest.
Youth and veteran experience are shaping the Giants roster
When looking at the roster, the skill positions are filled with younger talent. The aforementioned Nabers, Dart, and Skattebo are all under 24 years old, and recently signed third-round draft pick Malachi Fields out of Notre Dame is 22 years old.
The offense as a whole is a lot older than the defensive side, thanks in large part to the offensive line. Outside of Mauigoa, guard Jon Runyan is 28, tackle Jermaine Eluemunor is 31, and guards Lucas Patrick and Aaron Stinnie are 32.
It is also worth noting that both of the projected quarterbacks behind Dart have a decade on him, with Jameis Winston at 32 and Brandon Allen at 33. Their experience around the NFL will be very important for him as he looks to avoid a sophomore slump in 2026.
Here is how much older the offense is than the defense, and the average age of this entire projected roster for 2026 as it stacks up against the rest of the NFL:
Average NFL roster age entering the 2026 season (sorted from youngest to oldest) pic.twitter.com/h74Tm35Dnu
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) May 6, 2026
Out of the NFC East, the Giants are the third-oldest team, with the Washington Commanders being the oldest in the division and the entire league for that matter. The average age of the offense is basically 27 years old, and the defense is just under a year behind at 26.
The defensive side is headlined by the new guys in Reese and Colton Hood, both under 21, and then Carter at 22. Incoming cornerback Greg Newsome II is 25, and so is Kayvon Thibodeaux, the linebacker who is in every trade conversation ever.
These ages are important because they can paint a picture of whether the Giants have the right amount of youth versus experience. Football is an unforgiving game, and it is rare for players at some positions to make it deep into their 30s. That means many of these players who are at the Giants' average age will only be around for a few more years.
With eyes set on a playoff appearance, head coach John Harbaugh is preparing this roster to strive for that goal on an annual basis. That means these younger players are going to have to grow up fast, and the older players need to try and keep up.
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