The New York Giants are set to take on the Buffalo Bills in the first of three preseason games. With some new faces and a new sense of optimism on this upcoming season, this is the first step to seeing what the names on paper look like in action.
Related: It’s only preseason but the Giants have more on the line vs Bills than it seems
There are a couple of new Giants that are set to make their debuts, and there are position battles all across this roster. Specifically, there are three players who will draw the attention of the Giants faithful on Saturday.
If they cannot make a lasting first impression, the doubt's and insecurities may already set in.
3 Giants players who must have a strong preseason showing vs. Bills
QB, Jaxson Dart
The future of this organization might be in this young man's hands. The Giants traded a couple of second-day picks, including one for next season, to the Houston Texans to take Jaxson Dart with the 25th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. Now, with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston ahead of him on the depth chart, it is time to see if the kid can let it rip out there.
This is nothing more than a welcome-to-the-NFL moment for Dart. Head coach Brian Daboll and the rest of the front office are eagerly awaiting to see if he has what it takes, and the fanbase is also banking on No. 6 to be the franchise Quarterback of the future. Now that Daniel Jones is continuing on his way in Indianapolis, the G-Men cannot afford a copycat performance from Dart.
CB, Deonte Banks
Remember those position battles described earlier. The second corner spot is a heated and spirited war between Deonte Banks and Cor'Dale Flott. Insert Banks, the third-year man out of Maryland, who needs to get a leg up on Flott in game action after putting in a solid week of practices.
Banks and Flott might do this dance until the end of the preseason, with a victor being announced just before the first week of the season. So, every single defensive drive is going to be like real-game action for both of them.
OLB, Abdul Carter
The final piece to complete a devastating front seven, Abdul Carter, makes his debut with Big Blue this week. It is go time, and also a chance to see if he was well worth grabbing after missing out on two-way star Travis Hunter to Jacksonville.
Carter and Kayvon Thibadeaux have a chance to be a menacing duo on the edges. Couple that with Brian Burns and Bobby Okereke, and that middle of the defense is terrifying. But if Carter doesn't step up in the spotlight and assert that dominating playstyle that we are used to seeing on tape, this could be a problem for the regular season.