While most of the East Coast was asleep, the New York Giants were working on a franchise-altering hire.
The Giants were on the verge of finalizing a deal with John Harbaugh as their next head coach. Even after meeting the Super Bowl-winning head coach at their facility on Wednesday and with reports that Harbaugh was on his way back to Baltimore after the two parties met, Giants ownership clearly did not want him to leave until after they inked the 63-year-old to a contract.
This is definitely exciting news for Giants fans, as the post-Tom Coughlin era has been nothing short of an unmitigated disaster. With a new regime likely to take shape with Harbaugh at the helm, a new culture will also unfold for this franchise. Could that possibly lead to these player seeing their tenures with Big Blue come to an end?
Three New York Giants players at risk of being cut after the John Harbaugh hiring
3. WR Darius Slayton
Even after signing wide receiver Darius Slayton to a three-year, $36 million contract last offseason, there is certainly a strong possibility that the Giants would move on from the veteran, even if Harbaugh wasn't hired as their next head coach or not.
Despite the 29-year-old being one of the longest-tenured players on the team after getting drafted in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Slayton's 2025 campaign was marred by numerous mistakes and misopportunities. The veteran wideout had many instances this past season in which he dropped countless passes, including touchdown grabs, in crucial moments.
This has been something that Slayton has been accoustmed of doing throughout his eight years in the NFL. And with a Harbaugh-led team, that will certainly not fly, which is why he may be out the door this offseason.
2. CB Deonte Banks
One way or another, this seems imminent. Cornerback Deonte Banks has been a huge disappointment during his brief three-year career after being drafted in the first round (25th overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft. It's now time to move on from him.
Despite a productive rookie season for Banks in 2023, racking up a total of 64 tackles, 11 passes defended, and two interceptions in 15 games that season, the now-24-year-old has taken massive steps back. In 14 games during the 2024 season, Banks was ranked 182nd among 222 qualifying cornerbacks, in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus, which led to him not starting a single game in 2025. And when Banks was allowed to show he still has potential, it just hasn't been there.
John Harbaugh is being brought here to turn this place into a winner, and having Deonte Banks on this team won't help.
1. WR Jalin Hyatt
Anybody could have guessed this one.
Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt has been such a disappointment in the NFL that it's almost hard to put into words how we describe his tenure to this point. After drafting him in that third round of that infamous disaster of draft class in 2023, the wideout has basically been a non-factor on the Giants' offense.
Despite showing some promising flashes during his rookie season in 2023 with 23 receptions for 373 receiving yards in 17 games, Hyatt has had a combined 11 catches between the 2024 and 2025 seasons combined. The 24-year-old has also yet to have a touchdown in the NFL.
Hyatt has since seen substantial time on the bench, and even when he does play, he's either dropping easy passes or running the wrong routes. Hyatt should have been let go a long time ago, but better late than never, I guess.