You know what sounds like a completely reasonable way to spend roster-cut night? Taking all 53 players who survived the New York Giants’ roster purge and ranking them from worst to best. What could possibly go wrong?
The top of the list came together pretty quickly. The middle and bottom? Not so much. With the initial 53-man roster officially set, let’s rank every Giant from No. 53 all the way down to No. 1.
Bubble survivors & I'm just happy-to-be-here crowd
53. Nic Jones, CB
Jones sneaks onto the very bottom of the roster after a late preseason injury to Art Green cleared his path, but let’s be real – his absolute ceiling this year is chasing down returners as a special teams gunner while Dru Phillips locks up the slot.
52. Bobby Jamison-Travis, DL
The G-Men likely kept the sixth-round rookie out of Auburn on the initial 53-man roster so they wouldn’t lose him to the waiver wire, but he remains an incredibly raw developmental project who’s a prime candidate for a weekly healthy scratch.
51. C.J. Okoye, DL
New York just traded a 2028 seventh-rounder to Baltimore to reunite Okoye with Harbaugh, bringing in a massive 6-foot-6, 365-pound space-eater with 13 games of experience who had never played organized football before being discovered through Giants legend Osi Umenyiora’s African football talent initiative, The Uprise, and earning his shot via the International Player Pathway Program.
50. Zaire Barnes, LB
Barnes parlayed a strong training camp and an interception against the Jets in the preseason finale into a roster spot, though a brutal 48.9 overall PFF grade from last season indicates his primary utility remains tied to the third phase. He’s a good special teams guy, so it only makes sense that Harby kept him on.
49. Elijah Campbell, SAF
Speaking of special teams, the 31-year-old journeyman survived stints in the AAF and XFL to carve out a seven-year career, ultimately holding off JT Woods, Raheem Layne, and Beau Brade to serve as Harby’s trusted special teams ace who moonlights as a safety.
48. Ben Mann, LS
Everyone loves a good legacy story. The undrafted rookie out of Boston College -- and grandson of 1960s Giants running back Chuck Mercein -- officially locked down the job after New York cleared the way by cutting veteran Zach Triner earlier this offseason.
The next-men-up
47. Bryan Hudson, C
The 25-year-old former practice squad undrafted free agent climbed from the third team to eventually beat out Lucas Patrick after Patrick missed camp time with a knee injury. Patrick’s rocky injury history paved the way for Hudson to seize the role.
46. Darius Alexander, DL
Alexander was penciled in as an all-but-guaranteed breakout star following the blockbuster trade of Dexter Lawrence, but a miserable preseason showing has cast a lot of doubt on the second-year defensive lineman. He likely cost himself the starting spot, and no one blew a bigger opportunity this offseason than Alexander.
44. Jon Runyan, OL
Jon Runyan entered the offseason as a potential $9.25 million salary cap casualty, but he quieted the noise by holding onto the starting left guard spot despite an effort to upgrade the line. Even still, he’s clearly the weakest link on the offensive line.
44. Thomas Fidone II, TE
Big Blue is leaning heavily into Harbaugh’s philosophy of being bigger and stronger. Instead of keeping six wide receivers, he opted to run light with five while keeping four tight ends. Fidone had a heck of an offseason, looking like a legitimate difference-maker at times.
43. Devin Singletary, RB
No matter how many running backs you put in front of Devin Singletary, the 28-year-old always bounces back. Singletary is who he is, and expecting “Motor” to be anything more than a glorified depth piece would be asking too much of him at this point in his career.
42. Odell Beckham Jr., WR
I cannot believe it’s happening. Sheesh, if this were 2015, Odell would likely be in the top spot, but my, how the times have changed. It’s still shocking that he made the roster, but the prodigal son proved he can still get open and make some plays when called upon.
41. Aaron Stinnie, OL
In one of the biggest twists of... ever, the Giants seemingly had so much offensive line depth this offseason that they were able to trade pieces to other teams for draft picks. Stinnie isn’t going to blow anyone away, but he’s a solid interior depth lineman.
40. Chris Manhertz, TE
Blocking, blocking, and more blocking. Chris Manhertz is on the team to essentially be a sixth lineman when he takes the field. He knows his role, and he does it well.
39. Jack Kelly, LB
The 23-year-old linebacker out of BYU might end up becoming the steal of the 2026 Draft. Out of all rookie LBs this preseason, “Cannonball” Kelly ranked third in PFF, grading out with an impressive 81.4.
38. Marcus Mbow, OL
Find me a spot on the line that Marcus Mbow can’t play. I’ll wait. He's the ultimate Swiss Army Knife off the bench who can play anywhere on the line in a pinch and not compromise the integrity of Jaxson Dart's security detail.
37. John Michael Schmitz, C
When will former second-round pick John Michael Schmitz step up? If not this year, then when? The former Minnesota standout is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and if it weren’t for Runyan, his starting spot would be the most suspect on the offensive line.
This ranking might be a bit too high for JMS, but color me optimistic, I guess.
36. J.C. Davis, OL
Holy moly, J.C. Davis. The rookie offensive tackle dominated the preseason and looks every bit the backup swing tackle Big Blue has needed for seemingly... ever. He could make his spot here look foolish by the end of the year.
35. Darius Slayton, WR
Rumored to be a surprise cut due to his hefty $15.9 million cap hit and sluggish return from offseason hernia surgery, Slayton instead played 33 snaps deep into the preseason finale. That workload certainly didn’t scream “locked-in starter,” and the 29-year-old will have to earn his reps in a suddenly crowded receiver room this season.
34. Jason Pinnock, SAF
Not all reunions this offseason were between Harbaugh and a former Ravens player. Welcome back, Jason Pinnock.
After spending a season with the 49ers last year, the 27-year-old is back and ready to put pressure on Jevón Holland and Tyler Nubin for a larger role, seeing as though neither of them is necessarily a “sure thing.”
Ask me again in October
33. Jameis Winston, QB
Fameis Jameis is either a top-five player when he’s playing his best or a bottom-five player when he’s playing his worst. There’s rarely an in-between.
Welcome to the Jameis experience.
32. Colton Hood, CB
General manager Joe Schoen refused multiple trade-down offers to secure the physical cornerback at No. 37, and while learning how to speak NFL is still a work in progress, his press-man traits give him a huge opportunity to seize a starting cornerback job as the season rolls along.
31. Najee Harris, RB
We all know he’s still a relative question mark after an ugly Achilles injury ended his season last year in Pittsburgh, but he looked like his old self when he finally took the field against the Jets and gave this offense a legitimate short-yardage hammer to spell Skattebo.
30. Shelby Harris, DT
Signed to a one-year, $3 million contract following the offseason trade of Dexter Lawrence II, the 35-year-old journeyman will lock down one of the starting interior spots as a short-term solution to help fix the run defense for the 2026 campaign.
29. Chauncey Golston, DL
A neck injury derailed his 2025 debut, but he capitalized on Darius Alexander’s sluggish summer by stealing first-team reps during training camp and positioning himself as a potential starter heading into Week 1.
28. Ar'Darius Washington, DB
The small but explosive defensive back overcame an injury-riddled 2025 season to lock down a backup spot, using his versatility and experience with Harbaugh to give the secondary a reliable insurance policy at both nickel corner and safety.
27. Deonte Banks, CB
The 25-year-old former first-round pick completely transformed from a potential cut candidate into a training camp standout, using an impressive offseason under new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson to fight his way back into the cornerback battle with Paulson Adebo and Greg Newsome II.
26. Dominic Zvada, K
The undrafted rookie from Michigan locked up the kicking job by going a perfect 3-for-3 in the preseason finale against the Jets, hitting from 23, 46, and 53 yards to pull ahead of Ben Sauls. Zvada-matic has the kicking power to smoke 60-plus-yarders through the uprights and could potentially be the answer to Big Blue’s infuriating kicking woes.
25. Micah McFadden, LB
The 26-year-old linebacker returns on a cheap, one-year prove-it deal after a Lisfranc injury ended his 2025 campaign just 11 snaps into Week 1, but he now faces an uphill battle for playing time after the front office brought in Tremaine Edmunds and rookie Arvell Reese to take over the starting roles.
Still, he’s about as good a depth option as Big Blue could ask for.
24. Darnell Mooney, WR
Trade rumors swirled around the former Falcon after he missed a preseason game to serve as the best man at his brother’s wedding, but a season-ending ACL injury to Calvin Austin III secured his role as a vital deep option for Jaxson Dart in the 2026 offense.
23. Tyler Nubin, SAF
Tyler Nubin is the starting safety... for now. The third-year safety is on the thinnest of ice, but Dennard Wilson is a defensive backs guy, and learning how to take better angles on tackles and improve in coverage could put Nubin in good standing entering the final year of his rookie deal next offseason.
22. Dru Phillips, CB
After a promising rookie season in the nickel spot, Dru Phillips sophomore-slumped his way through 2025. Penalties were a killer for the 5-foot-11, 180-pound corner last year, so if he can clean up the mental mistakes and unforced errors, there’s reason to believe he’ll be back in a big way.
21. Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB
Say what you will about two poor preseason lowlights, but Tracy Jr. has gone over 1,000 scrimmage yards in back-to-back seasons to start his career -- the first Giants player to do that since Saquon Barkley.
I’m not buying the narrative that he’s not going to have an integral role in the offense this season.
20. Malachi Fields, WR
Let the run of feeling bullish on Big Blue’s highest-performing rookies commence!
Fields has routinely looked like the team’s WR2 throughout the summer. The 6-foot-4, 218-pounder has the potential and skill set to become the ultimate complement to Malik Nabers.
19. Francis Mauigoa, OL
Francis “Sisi” Mauigoa and his 6-foot-6, 330-pound frame have everything needed to become one of the league’s best interior linemen. He just posted an 87.8 overall grade against Gang Green in the preseason finale, signaling that the sky is the limit for the 21-year-old.
18. Arvell Reese, LB
Arvell Reese could make this ranking look downright foolish come January, but the only tape we have of him is from the preseason and training camp. He’s dominated both.
The 21-year-old has real Defensive Rookie of the Year juice and the potential to become NY’s next defensive cornerstone.
Guys you shouldn't have to worry about
17. Theo Johnson, TE
Depending on how often the Giants run two-tight-end sets, Theo Johnson could be a major factor as the team’s TE2 behind Isaiah Likely. Johnson is coming off a pseudo-breakout second campaign last season, and with a tight end lover like Harbs as Big Blue’s new head coach, the 6-foot-6, 260-pound weapon could be cleared for takeoff in Year 3.
16. Paulson Adebo, CB
Paulson Adebo didn’t start his second offseason on the right foot, but he closed on a heater. Adebo certainly didn’t live up to his $18 million price tag last year and needs a bounce-back season like a lake needs water.
He was coming off a brutal season-ending leg injury the year before, so I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt as we enter Year 2 of the Adebo experience.
15. Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE
Please, please, please, Kayvon Thibodeaux, put it together this year.
It seems like every season, Giants fans are left scratching their heads as to why Thibs didn’t have a monster year. We’ve heard it before, but the 25-year-old is coming off a scorching-hot camp, making it impossible not to get swept up in the hype… but like I said, we’ve been here before.
I am ready to get hurt again.
14. Greg Newsome II, CB
Someone had to be Big Blue’s CB1. The idea of Greg Newsome has always been better than the player, but the former first-round pick has been the team’s most consistent – and best – corner throughout the offseason.
13. Jevón Holland, SAF
Jevón Holland’s first season in East Rutherford could have gone better. Still, he’s a very talented player who didn’t just forget how to play at an elite level. I expect Dennard Wilson to get the most out of Holland, potentially getting him back into the Pro Bowl conversation.
12. Patrick Ricard, FB/TE
Did someone order pancakes?
Pat “Pancake Pat” Ricard is the best fullback in the NFL, and Harbs will unleash him as a bulldozer to plow the way for the new-look ground game taking shape in North Jersey.
11. DJ Reader, DT
No one is expecting DJ Reader to fill the 6-foot-4, 340-pound void left behind by Sexy Dexy, but it’d help tremendously if the 6-foot-3, 330-pounder tried his hardest.
It’s been a strong offseason for the 11-year vet, and it’s not dramatic to say New York’s defense could live or die by Reader’s production in the middle.
10. Jermaine Eluemunor, OT
There’s a reason Big Blue chose Eluemunor over Wan’Dale Robinson and Cor’Dale Flott this offseason: he’s important. Keeping Jaxson Dart upright will be paramount to this team’s success this year, and the 31-year-old will look to build on arguably the best season of his career last year.
9. Cam Skattebo, RB
A gruesome dislocated ankle stopped Skatt’s rookie season short, but he’s all the way back. The human-sized fire hydrant will look to become the lead back this season, fully leaning into the cult-hero madness that follows him like a shadow.
Expect big things from Skattebo this season.
They could be dangerous
8. Jaxson Dart, QB
Jaxson Dart might not become a top-10 quarterback in the NFL this year, but the hope here is he uses the minds of offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and QB coach Brian Callahan to become an efficient and reliable leader who can flash brilliance when needed.
With an improved weapons room around him, Dart could take a big leap in Year 2 -- we’re all hoping for it, and I’m expecting it.
7. Jordan Stout, P
Putting a punter in the top 10 is a choice, but Stout is coming off an All-Pro, Pro Bowl campaign last season and just sent a punt 81 yards in the preseason finale. He’s the best punter in football and has literal field-switching ability. Sue me.
6. Tremaine Edmunds, LB
New York’s pricey free-agent pickup is exactly what the team needed after struggling with the linebacker position for far too long. Running backs have worn this run defense down to irrelevance over the past couple of seasons, but Edmunds and his 900 career tackles are here to finally save our eyes -- err, the day.
5. Isaiah Likely, TE
It’s odd to see Isaiah Likely crack the top five, but the G-Men signed him to be Dart’s security blanket, and if the offseason was any indication, he’s going to be heavily involved in the offense. Expect big things from Likely this year as he smokes his former career highs and potentially puts together a Pro Bowl-worthy season.
4. Abdul Carter, EDGE
Abdul Carter is poised for a major breakout after an up-and-down rookie season challenged him mentally. It seems like things have clicked this offseason, with the 22-year-old looking nearly unblockable at times.
I expect him to be Big Blue’s biggest breakout this season, pushing for a top-three spot on this list sooner rather than later.
Blue-chip cornerstones
3. Malik Nabers, WR
Is this spot too high for a coming-off-a-season-ending-ACL-injury-last-year Malik Nabers? Maybe. But also maybe not. Before he got hurt in Week 4 last year, Leek was on pace to beat his record-setting rookie numbers. All signs point to him starting Week 1, and he is by far the team’s best skill-position player.
It’s not even close.
2. Andrew Thomas, OT
When healthy, Andrew Thomas has a strong case for best offensive tackle in the league. The problem is, he’s not always healthy.
The 6-foot-5, 315-pound 27-year-old is coming off his best season as a pro, earning a 90.3 overall grade from PFF and an 87.3 pass-blocking grade, ranking fourth and third, respectively, out of 89 eligible players.
The former fourth overall pick has as strong a case as anyone to be first, but never playing an entire season through six years is holding him back.
1. Brian Burns, EDGE
After an NFL-leading 16.5-sack 2025 season, Brian Burns gets the No. 1 spot in the power rankings.
It ultimately came down to Burns vs. Thomas, but Thomas’ health concerns always seem to linger, making Burns the choice for the top spot. It’s only fitting that he was the lone Giants player to crack the NFL’s Top 100 Players entering 2026, coming in all the way up at No. 14.
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