“Congratulations, welcome to the Big Apple. I’m excited to see you tomorrow. Protect my quarterback so we can get some touchdowns. Let’s get the celebrations going,” Nabers told Mauigoa as the two shared a conversation on Bleacher Report.

Although Nabers admitted he wasn’t a big fan of the decision to draft Mauigoa and called out the Giants for passing on Caleb Downs twice in the 2026 NFL Draft, he still made it clear he’s happy to have Mauigoa join the Big Blue.

However, Nabers made it known from the first interaction, that the rookie will be held accountable. Nabers should rest assured, though, as Mauigoa promised to protect Dart at all costs.

NY Giants’ Day 1 recap

The Giants entered the 2026 NFL Draft among the teams that owned several first-round selections. Thus, they had lots of eyes fixed on him. Despite the loud buzz around their picks, the Giants didn’t make any trades during the first round of the NFL Draft.

New York drafted linebacker out of Ohio State Arvell Reese with their first selection (No. 5 overall). The Giants followed that selection with Francis Mauigoa, offensive tackle out of the University of Miami, at No. 10.

As soon as that pick was in, the Dallas Cowboys moved up to select Caleb Downs with the 11th pick. If he turns out to be as good as advertised, fans will look back on this NFL Draft moment every time New York and Dallas meet.

Day 1 is in the books

As Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft comes to an end, the Giants get ready to do it all over again on Friday and Saturday. The New York Giants have six picks left: No. 37, 105, 145, 186, 192, and 193 overall.

Though Nabers expressed his frustration at several of the Giants’ decisions, the jury is still out on whether this draft was a success or not. In fact, it’s way too early to tell. Time and again, selections that left fans puzzled on draft night turned out to be great players. Thus, any analysis made tonight could turn futile when the 2026 NFL season kicks off in September.

After being selected, he was asked about what he would do for Jackson Dart and said that he was ready to give everything for him. “I’m ready to die for you, man.” He will be part of the offensive line, and that hunger to give everything was evident.

A 3-year starter, Mauigoa played every game and allowed the lowest pressure rate among all FBS tackles in 2025. According to Ari Meirov, he is likely to be an RG with the Giants.

Doubts about the Giants picks

The Giants’ moves during the draft have been questioned, and there is something that Nabers is saying on behalf of the fans, first disagreeing with the drafting of Arvell Reese after missing out on Jeremiyah Love.

And then for passing on Caleb Downs and drafting Francis Mauigoa, basically not being satisfied with any of the decisions the front office has made, according to the team’s needs.

And he directly criticized the offensive lineman coming from Miami, “I would rather get Downs than play against Downs, that’s all I’m saying,” Nabers said during his live reaction on Bleacher Report. “I understand Jaxson [Dart] did mention he wanted offensive linemen in this draft.”

Nabers simply does not see where Mauigoa would fit into the lineup upon arrival. “Is [Mauigoa] going to play inside? He has to play guard, but a lot of his film in Miami wasn’t at guard,” Nabers stated. “We did the same thing when we drafted Evan Neal. Caleb Downs was available. I’m not saying we don’t need a guard, but I think we could have gotten that probably later. We could have taken a playmaker now.”

“#Giants GM Joe Schoen flew to Arizona to attend Jordyn Tyson’s workout yesterday. Schoen also had dinner with Tyson the night before, sources told me and @RapSheet,” the insider Mike Garafolo revealed on X. “With NYG at 10 after the Dexter Lawrence, Tyson’s odds of being a top 10 pick have now increased significantly.”

Tyson had a great 2025 season with the Sun Devils, which propelled him into the next NFL Draft. Could Jaxson Dart have a new aerial weapon at his disposal next season?

The year that propelled Tyson

Jordyn Tyson capped off a remarkable 2025 campaign with the Arizona State Sun Devils, proving he is one of the most reliable and explosive targets in college football. Despite missing four games due to hamstring issues, Tyson hauled in 61 receptions for 711 yards and 8 touchdowns, averaging 11.7 yards per catch. His ability to produce high-level numbers even with limited time on the field has solidified his status as a elite prospect.

Lawrence’s move opens up the Giants’ outlook

Lawrence finally secured his exit from East Rutherford, and now John Harbaugh and Joe Schoen have two picks in the first round, joining Dolphins, Jets, Cowboys, Chiefs and Browns with this privilege.

The question many are now asking is what decision they will ultimately make the Giants at this stage. Will they go for a defensive player to somehow replace the nose tackle’s departure? Or will they instead target prospects of Tyson’s caliber to better surround Jaxson Dart? An important detail: although they have two high picks, they will skip the third rounds.

The team announced it on their website, this move might be thanks to something else as well. Allen was a Titans player last year, and the new QBs coach of the Giants is Brian Callahan, who was the Titans head coach last season. Hence, there is a connection already.

Allen’s terms haven’t been disclosed yet, but he is likely to be on the veteran minimum’s or somewhere around that mark. Allen has a career 56.7% completion, for 1,882 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Jaxson Dart has plenty of potential

While Allen is just a veteran presence in the locker room, the whole story for the Giants quarterback room is to finally develop Jaxson Dart. He started 12 games, passed for 2,272 yards on 63.7% completion with 15 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Now, it’s avoiding the sophomore slump.

Dart also had quite the injury history during his rookie season, especially with concussions. He is not afraid of contact, but that needs to change if he wants to prevail in this league for a long time. He must mature without losing his X factor.

The Giants have high expectations for this season

The arrival of John Harbaugh as head coach, paired with the recovery of running back Cam Skattebo and wide receiver Malik Nabers are the main reasons of why people are expecting the Giants to be a problem. All joined by another year of Dart in the NFL.

While the defense is not having the best of days because of the complicated trade request by Dexter Lawrence, the Giants are hopeful on keeping the defensive tackle. If they manage to do so, the team is actually in great position to be a drak horse in the NFC.

“My concern with him is going to be more whether or not he can tone down this bravado that he has. I know we talk about moxie and aggression. All that stuff is good. But if you’re not able to play because you’re hurt, then you’re no real use to anybody,” he said on a recent episode of First Things First.

“And I think that could be as much of a limiting factor for him as anything. The way you also infuse a veteran head coach in the organization and that stability. Yeah, it’s on the table for the Giants.”

The feared concussions for Dart

During his rookie campaign with the Giants, Jaxson Dart struggled to stay on the field due to his physical playing style. The most significant concern was a recurring concussion issue; Dart was evaluated for head injuries five times throughout the year, including the preseason.

His NFL season was notably interrupted in Week 10 against the Chicago Bears, where a concussion forced him to miss the following two games and led to the Giants turning to veteran backups like Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. While he proved to be a dynamic dual-threat quarterback with 9 rushing touchdowns, his durability remains the primary focus for the team heading into 2026.

Can Harbaugh control Dart’s physical play?

Dart is a player who takes risks and holds nothing back. However, this brought him many consequences in his NFL debut. John Harbaugh has worked for years with Lamar Jackson, who has similar traits, so the coach could work on this aspect with Dart.

“I do think Harbaugh can sit down there and be like, look, I’ve had the greatest running quarterback ever (Lamar Jackson), and he slid,” co-host Chris Broussard added. “He, you know, he got out of harm’s way. You won’t survive in this league if you keep playing.

“So I think he has a credibility, not only because he’s been a very good coach, but because he coached a running quarterback even much better, obviously, than Dart. So I think that there’s a chance that Harbaugh can get through to him, and yeah, they could, they could make some noise.”

Alternative experience for Dart

At the moment, Dart’s only primary backup on the depth chart is Jameis Winston. Will the Giants look for another quarterback in the next draft? Here are their available picks:

• Round 1 – No. 5
• Round 2 – No. 37
• Round 4 – No. 105
• Round 5 – No. 145
• Round 6 – No. 186
• Round 6 – No. 192 (via Miami)
• Round 6 – No. 193 (via Dallas)

“The thing I would say with that conversation that I’ve had with Jaxson is just what you said. I think it’s a great point. He’s Jaxson Dart. He’s not Patrick Mahomes,” Nagy stated when asked about imparting some lessons about working with Mahomes.

“I was able to be fortunate enough to be around Patrick for many years, and I saw Patrick as a rookie. . .I got to see four more years of him as a vet. We’ve talked a little bit about the process and what he’s been through, but we’ve also made it clear, you have to be Jaxson Dart. He’s going to do that.“

Surround him in the best way will be the key for the QB: “It’s our job to surround him and insulate him, give him direction, but he has to be able to tell us, how he likes it, why he likes it, and so forth. We’re going to be really intentional on how we do that.”

Nagy and Mahomes in Chiefs Kingdom

During the seasons with Patrick Mahomes and Matt Nagy, the Kansas City Chiefs have achieved incredible success, securing three Super Bowl championships (LIV, LVII, and LVIII). Additionally, this duo has led the team to multiple AFC Championship titles and consistent AFC West division victories, establishing a dominant era in professional football.

Boosting Dart

Following a standout rookie year, Jaxson Dart is poised for a leap in development under the mentorship of new Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. During the 2025 season, Dart proved he belonged in the NFL by throwing for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions across 14 games, finishing with a solid 91.7 passer rating.

Beyond his arm, his mobility was a game-changer, as he added 487 rushing yards and 9 rushing touchdowns. Nagy knows that Dart has something special, and his mission will be to harness this versatility while improving Dart’s durability, ensuring the young quarterback builds on the 63.7% completion rate that made him the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year.

“I was able to watch a decent amount of Jaxson last year, when I was in Kansas City,” Nagy said to the press. “We tried to take as little time as possible watching the quarterback position, but every year I will watch just to see the top guys that are there, and I remember coming away impressed with Jaxson and his accuracy.”

The first moves began to be seen in the new era of John Harbaugh. That’s where the new OC truly began to glimpse Dart’s potential.

“I didn’t know how tough he was and how good a runner he was,” Nagy also added. “At the Combine, us not really being in the quarterback market, watching him, just observing how he handled himself in that group of quarterbacks at the Combine, you could see this moxie he had, this it factor. When I got here to New York and started meeting with him, you could tell right away that was true. This kid is different in that way.”

A key piece could leave the Giants

An offer too good to resist from the Bengals might be one way for the Giants to move Dexter Lawrence, who officially requested a trade this week after contract negotiations stalled. Despite being the centerpiece of New York’s defense, the All-Pro nose tackle is seeking a deal that reflects the skyrocketing market for interior linemen, as his current $22.5 million average has fallen behind his peers.

While head coach John Harbaugh has expressed a desire to keep him, the combination of Lawrence’s trade request and Cincinnati’s potential interest—possibly involving high draft picks—has put the Giants in a difficult position as they weigh his massive $35 million-a-year salary expectations against his long-term value to the franchise.

Nagy gets players back

Giants expect Cam Skattebo to be back before Nabers, as the young running back is already jogging and expected to participate in the offseason program following his ankle injury. While both are key pieces for the offense led by Jaxson Dart and the scheme of offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, Malik Nabers’ recovery from a torn ACL has him on a slightly longer timeline, with a projected return closer to training camp or the start of the regular season.

The receiving corps in East Rutherford continues to strengthen, still led by Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, and Darnell Mooney. Miller joined the Giants last December after being claimed off of waivers, without seeing playing action.

John Harbaugh will have many options to provide to Dart through the air. Could this be one of the keys for the Giants’ offense in the 2026 NFL season?

The Dexter Lawrence and Giants saga

Rumors of a potential trade involving Dexter Lawrence and his departure from the Giants are already circulating. The historic New York player has requested a move, and several teams have already shown interest.

The Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears have some advantage over their closest competitors in the race to secure his services, by being able to offer their first-round picks in exchange for the Nose Tackle. The Jaguars and Packers have also shown interest, but they are trailing behind.

The confidence placed in Dart

Jaxson Dart is set to lead the New York Giants once again as their starting quarterback, aiming to build on a promising debut. After a rookie campaign where he recorded 3,450 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, Dart is focused on sharpening his efficiency to surpass those initial numbers and cement his place as the franchise’s long-term leader.

Ryan Fowler revealed via his X account that, in addition to his visit to the Big Apple, one of the most impactful receivers in college football will also meet with the New Orleans Saints and the Miami Dolphins.

Hurst was one of the key offensive pieces for his team, even delivering a standout performance in the Senior Bowl. Can he prove his talent in the NFL?

Hurst’s numbers with the Panthers

In 2025, Ted Hurst delivered a breakout campaign for Georgia State, recording 71 catches for 1,004 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games. This elite production followed a stellar 2024 season where he set a program record with nine receiving touchdowns, proving his consistency as a premier red-zone threat.

His ability to surpass the 1,000-yard mark while maintaining his scoring prowess has solidified his status as one of the most reliable and explosive targets in the Sun Belt Conference.

WRs to watch in the upcoming Draft

As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, scouts are locked in on a deep and talented wide receiver class led by Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, a polished route-runner currently projected as the potential WR1.

Close behind is the explosive Makai Lemon from USC and Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, who has skyrocketed up boards thanks to his elite separation skills.

Rounding out the top tier are Texas A&M’s versatile weapon KC Concepcion, who already received a call from Miami, and Washington’s Denzel Boston, whose impressive size and catch radius make him a premium red-zone target. These five prospects represent the gold standard of the 2026 class, each offering a unique skill set to transform an NFL offense.

“Looking forward to hopefully getting the opportunity to play this year, and this is kind of just the starting point,” he said, when asked by Kay Adams about playing alongside Dart in New York.

“If that opportunity presents itself, I would love to do that and be excited about that.” Inactive since the 2024 season, the wide receiver is seeking a second chance with the team that believed in him from the very beginning.

A memorable run in New York

During his five-season tenure with the New York Giants (2014–2018), Odell Beckham Jr. established himself as one of the most prolific receivers in NFL history.

Across 59 games, OBJ hauled in 390 receptions for 5,476 yards and 44 touchdowns, averaging an elite 92.8 yards per game. His legendary start included winning the 2014 Offensive Rookie of the Year award and earning three consecutive Pro Bowl selections.

Despite missing time due to injuries, he remains the fastest player in league history to reach 200 receptions and 4,000 receiving yards, forever cementing his legacy in Big Blue history.

A ring to his name

After joining the Los Angeles Rams mid-season in 2021, Odell Beckham Jr. became a vital piece of their championship run.

In Super Bowl LVI, OBJ scored the game’s opening touchdown with a 17-yard reception and had already racked up 52 yards on two catches before a tragic ACL injury sidelined him in the second quarter.

Despite the injury, his early dominance set the tone for the Rams’ 23–20 victory over the Bengals, finally earning him his first Super Bowl ring and proving he could still perform on the biggest stage.

Jaxson Dart’s receivers

Heading into his second season, Jaxson Dart will have a significantly upgraded arsenal at his disposal to lead the Giants’ offense. The group is headlined by superstar Malik Nabers, reliable veteran Darius Slayton, and the explosive new addition Darnell Mooney.

Supporting this trio is a deep rotation featuring the recently re-signed Isaiah Hodgins, rookie talent Beaux Collins, and the lightning-fast Calvin Austin III, providing Dart with a versatile mix of size and verticality to stretch opposing defenses in 2026.

It all happened during an interview with Rich Eisen. “Last year, they should have taken Jaxson Dart. He fell to them. It was the best opportunity for them to take a quarterback who has that kind of swag and kind of fits in to that Steeler mold, Steeler culture and to have that standard. They took a defensive end.”

Instead, the Pittsburgh Steelers are still waiting on Aaron Rodgers while also evaluating whether Will Howard can be the answer moving forward. With no clear long-term solution in place, Woodson’s comments only add to the growing narrative that Pittsburgh may have let a potential franchise quarterback slip away.

Will Aaron Rodgers return and play for Steelers in 2026?

Aaron Rodgers’ future remains one of the biggest question marks for the Pittsburgh Steelers heading into the 2026 season. While there have been conversations between Rodgers and head coach Mike McCarthy, there has been little to no real progress in talks, leaving the situation unresolved as the offseason unfolds.

At 42 years old, Rodgers is still carefully weighing his options and has not made a definitive decision about whether he wants to continue playing. The veteran quarterback appears to be taking his time, fully aware that any commitment would come with high expectations for a team still searching for stability at the position.

As things stand, Rodgers does not have many alternatives across the NFL, with the Steelers emerging as his only realistic destination if he chooses not to retire. That leaves Pittsburgh in a holding pattern, waiting on a decision that could ultimately define their direction for the upcoming season.