The national media hasn’t always been kind to the New York Giants. Deservedly so, at times. This franchise has had its share of head-scratching rosters and aimless Sundays. But the tides feel like they’re finally turning in East Rutherford, and maybe for the first time in years, the product on the field actually looks like something that was built with intent.
CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan took stock of the NFL’s preseason performances and handed the G-Men a refreshing “A” grade. That doesn’t happen often, not without a punchline right after. But this time, there wasn’t one. Just acknowledgment that New York may have nailed both of its first-round picks, and that the foundation for a real future might finally be taking shape.
There’s a long way to go. No one’s putting together playoff plans in August. But after years of finding ways to make even preseason football feel like a chore, this year’s team gave fans reason to actually watch, and reason to believe this could be the dawn of a new era in East Rutherford.
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Jaxson Dart and Abdul Carter headline a refreshed outlook in New York
Sullivan praised what’s become the clear top storyline of the Giants’ summer: Jaxson Dart. His stat line (32-of-47, 372 yards, four total touchdowns, zero turnovers) is nice, but the real takeaway is how composed and effective he looked while running the offense.
For someone who was dubbed a long-term developmental piece, he already carries himself like he belongs. Whether or not he sees the field in 2025 is to be determined, but the belief in his trajectory has certainly grown.
He wasn’t the only rookie making noise. Abdul Carter, the third overall pick, showed off his athleticism and instincts throughout camp and preseason reps. The pass rush is still coming together, but Carter flashed enough to justify the Parsons comparisons that were thrown around back in April. He has the potential to be an absolute nightmare for opposing offenses this year.
The rest of the offense, under offensive coordinator Mike Kafka’s control again, scored over 30 points in all three preseason games. They were humming. Even the undrafted guys, like Beaux Collins and Dante Miller, made real cases for the 53-man roster.
There’s no trophy for a perfect preseason, and past Giants teams have been burned by drinking the Kool-Aid before the games actually count. So, whether this translates into regular-season success remains to be seen, but regardless, Sullivan is right to give credit where credit is due.
Anything less than an “A” would be disingenuous. Even still, it’s only the preseason. There’s a lot of football left, and if this team wants to claw its way out of the cellar, it’ll need to carry this momentum into September. For now, they did what they had to, and that’s a step in the right direction.