There's almost a want or a hope to name just about everyone on the New York Giants' 53-man roster on this list after another miserable season, but cooler heads prevailed.
While Big Blue is slated to have 24 names hit free agency this offseason, we're really only focused on looking at the semi-problematic, polarizing, provocative names that Giants fans will resonate with. There's an argument to be made that almost no one should be allowed back, but I'm getting hand cramps just thinking about that.
Related: Every Giants player entering their final game under contract in Week 18
Changes are coming for Big Blue. Here are seven players who won't be back next year, opening the door for said change.
7 Giants players who definitely won't be back next season
QB Russell Wilson
This is the most obvious inclusion, but one I wanted to highlight anyway. It's painfully obvious Wilson's days playing football are over... at least to everyone not named Russell Wilson. If he can convince another team he can play this offseason, all power to him. The Russ Bus ran out of gas quickly after signing a one-year $10.5 million contract last offseason.
The 37-year-old was benched after three games and is so gone.
OT Evan Neal
Another clear-cut inclusion, Evan Neal's time in Giants blue is donezo. It was a truly terrible season for the 25-year-old. He couldn't cut it even after moving inside this past offseason, becoming a healthy scratch the entire season. He didn't play a single snap in 2025. The G-Men already declined his fifth-year option, all but confirming they're moving on from him this offseason.
CB Deonte Banks
It's time to cut ties with Deonte Banks. Talk to any Giants fan, and they'll say the same thing. The cornerback has gone from 24th-overall pick to return man in three years after failing as a cornerback. It's not like they traded up to get him in the 2023 Draft, right? Oh wait...
Inconsistencies and a clear lack of effort have turned the once-promising defensive back into one of Big Blue's biggest cautionary tales. It's time to move on. If not now, when? General manager Joe Schoen can't keep rostering players who don't contribute.
WR Jalin Hyatt
Speaking of players who don't contribute who were traded up for in the 2023 Draft -- enter Jalin Hyatt. The 2022 Biletnikoff Award winner for college football's best wide receiver has failed to do much of anything three seasons into his professional career.
The 24-year-old has 36 receptions for 470 yards in 41 games. Backup QB Jameis Winston has more career receiving touchdowns than Hyatt with one, so there's also that. If Schoen and Co. are set on building a competent and competitive roster around rookie signal-caller Jaxson Dart, finally cutting ties with the famous hotel chain makes too much sense.
OT James Hudson III
The G-Men signed swing tackle James Hudson last offseason to address their offensive line depth concerns that have plagued their offense for the past couple of seasons. They inked the 26-year-old to a two-year, $12 million deal, and it only took one season to realize they're better off without him.
While filling in for Andrew Thomas earlier in the season, Hudson infamously drew four penalties in the first six offensive snaps of their Week 2 contest against the Dallas Cowboys, including two personal foul penalties -- one for punching Cowboys pass-rusher James Houston in the head.
He was benched and hasn't found a role since, all but confirming the end of his short tenure in New York.
K Graham Gano
Graham Gano has been the kicker for the G-Men for six years. And there won't be a seventh. His inconsistencies and injury history make him too unreliable to keep around. If only there were a replacement already on the roster to render him useless.
Enter Ben "Better Call Sauls" Sauls, who took over for Younghoe Koo, who took over for Jude McAtamney, who took over for Gano, and the rest should be history. Cutting Gano saves the Giants $4.5 million in cap space. Seeing as though they already have his replacement on the roster, moving on from the 38-year-old is an easy decision.
TE Daniel Bellinger
There are a couple of reasons why Bellinger won't be back in East Rutherford next season, the main one being he'll be a free agent and could look for more money and a bigger role elsewhere. He's expected to land a deal around $5 million per season, and with limited cap space and Theo Johnson entrenched as the starter, expect the 25-year-old to leave the nest.
Monetary member: WR Wan'Dale Robinson
For similar reasons to Bellinger, Wan'Dale Robinson's time in East Rutherford will be coming to an end. The 5-foot-8 wide receiver has priced himself out of a roster spot on the Giants, but that might not be as big of a nightmare as fans might think.
For as good as Robinson was this season, he's still an undersized and limited player. Is he truly worth $16-20 million per season? I'm not sold on that number. If he signed for less, I'd be all in on him coming back, but the limited cap space makes the situation messier.