Sportsnaut
We’re less than two weeks from the New York Giants reporting to training camp to prepare for the 2025 season. This is one of the most important seasons in franchise history as both general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are on the hot seat, and at some point, they’ll be looking to usher in rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Despite significant offseason upgrades, many are predicting the team will once again finish last in the NFC East. But those inside the Giants organization feel confident that they can be one of the surprise teams this season.
Training camp always produces intense position battles, along with under-the-radar players having a chance to shine and move up the depth chart. The summer also presents a chance for players who might be in jeopardy of sliding down or possibly being cut to show their worth.
Here’s a look at five players with the most to prove this summer.
After three injury-plagued and dreadful seasons at right tackle, the team is converting Evan Neal to guard this season. During OTAs, the Giants had Neal play left guard, but the plan will be for him to play right guard during training camp as they try to salvage the seventh overall pick from the 2022 NFL Draft.
This year is the ultimate make-or-break season for the 6-foot-7, 340-pound lineman. The writing was on the wall when the team declined his fifth-year option, and if his play at guard mirrors his performance at tackle, his time with Big Blue may come to an abrupt end.
The belief heading into this season is that barring injury, Russell Wilson will remain the team’s starting quarterback until they’re out of playoff contention. Then he’ll be replaced by Dart.
This leaves Jameis Winston, who is currently second on the depth chart, in an unusual situation because there doesn’t seem to be a path for him to become a starter unless Wilson gets hurt early in the season.
For a brief moment this offseason, it seemed the 31-year-old quarterback might be the starter in 2025, as he was signed days before the team signed Wilson. Now, Winston must play well throughout the summer and prevent Dart from supplanting him as Wilson’s primary backup. If Winston doesn’t outperform Dart by a wide margin, the team may look to trade him.
To say Jalin Hyatt’s first two seasons with Big Blue have been a disappointment would be a huge understatement. In two years, he has just 31 receptions for 435 yards with zero touchdowns. His lack of production is one of the reasons some fans would be open if the team reached out to Odell Beckham Jr. for a reunion.
The team is hopeful that with Wilson at quarterback, the 23-year-old wideout will have a breakout season. Currently, Hyatt is fourth on the wide receiver depth chart behind Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, and Wan’Dale Robinson. But he’ll be pushed by the other receivers...
