It was reported just before the 2026 NFL Draft that the Giants could part ways with Joe Schoen soon after the draft ended. However, now those rumors have been put to utter silence, ending a possible route for drama against the team.

The extension, reported by Jordan Raanan of ESPN, could possibly come from the good chemistry between Schoen and Harbaugh. This comes despite Harbaugh’s desire to not answer to Schoen. Per Schoen, “We were aligned from Day 1. So, it’s been great. It has been a really good offseason for us.“

NY Giants are making things right

Bringing a certified winner head coach like John Harbaugh was the first step. Giving him a young, talented core to work with was also key. Jaxson Dart as a quarterback, Cam Skattebo as running back, and Malik Nabers as wide receiver are highly-talented and haven’t got to their primes yet.

Then, establish a direct line of work with Harbaugh and Schoen is also a great step. Having stability from the front office down to the roster is key for success. The Giants have done everything right so far.

Schoen’s track record isn’t great, but recent moves might have saved him

It would be a lie to say that Schoen has been hitting home run after home run since being appointed as the Giants GM. He gave an undeserved huge contract to Daniel Jones. Then, as collateral damage, he let star RB Saquon Barkley go to divisional rivals Eagles and have a historic, Super Bowl-winning season.

However, he’s shown a good eye for scouting, drafting good young prospects, especially in the last couple of years. That might have been what saved his job, but he’s got to improve in other areas still.

“If Odell Beckham Jr. is healthy, and everything I heard about his workout with the Giants last month suggests he is, nothing I saw today would indicate that there’s no room for him in this WR group,” Art Stapleton of North Jersey stated on his X account.

The Giants may turn Malik Nabers’ injury into a major opportunity for Malachi Fields and the rest of the wide receivers on the roster. Regardless, they’ve entered organized team activities (OTAs) with a rather thin group, and Beckham Jr. could offer a solution.

Beckham’s potential role

Beckham Jr.’s return to the Big Apple has often been portrayed as something that could complicate matters, and while it would indeed raise questions about salary cap space and his exact role in John Harbaugh’s offense, the veteran wideout could still provide value simply through his presence.

In addition to Nabers’ absence, Darius Slayton—the longest-tenured receiver in New York—is sidelined after undergoing sports hernia surgery. The wide receiver’s group could benefit greatly from a veteran voice like Beckham’s, and so could the rest of the locker room.

Beckham Jr. would obviously benefit as well. After spending the entire 2025 NFL season out of the league, he has plenty left to prove and may need every rep he can get in May if he hopes to make an impact once August and September roll around. The Giants may feel no urgent need to sign Beckham Jr. right now, but they could be wise to prepare for a rainy day. After all, clouds are starting to form over the Manhattan skyline.

NY Giants face trouble in WR room

Indeed, the receiving corps in East Rutherford hasn’t changed much, but the Giants are already facing early concerns in a WR room that still carried question marks to begin with. New York believes it has enough depth to withstand the bumps and bruises that inevitably come with an NFL season, but recent setbacks have served as an early reminder that teams can never have too many options.

Fortunately for the Giants, that lesson arrived early enough for them to act on it. Nabers is sidelined, and although the organization is targeting Week 1 for his return, not even Harbaugh would stake his reputation on that timeline. Harbaugh may be new around town, but he knows his way around the NFL. He understands better than to make promises he may not be able to keep—especially regarding injuries that remain out of his control.

NY Giants face decision

If the pitch still wasn’t convincing enough, Darius Slayton is expected back by training camp. In the meantime, though, who exactly are Malachi Fields and the rest of the young receivers supposed to lean on for on-field guidance?

If only there were a seasoned candidate available who just so happens to be familiar with both the organization and the new head coach in Bergen County. Whether the New York Giants want to admit it or not, all roads may lead back to Odell Beckham. Passing on him might prove costly.

Dropped passes may be something the team has to work on going forward. At least, that was an aspect that caught Harbaugh’s attention and the Super Bowl-winning coach couldn’t get out of his mind. As he addressed media after practice, he made that clear.

“[In OTAs] the football shouldn’t hit the ground too often,” Harbaugh said, via Ryan Dunleavy of New York Post. Considering drops tend to drive coaches crazy—and fans, as well—Harbaugh did come up with a subtle way to let his players know it’s something that needs fixing.

Giants’ drops in 2025

Though it appears to have been an area New York struggled with during its open-to-the-public practice session, drops were not exactly a headache last season. Considering not much went the Giants’ way in 2025, it is noteworthy that they were far from the worst team in the league at securing possession.

According to Pro Football Reference, the Giants registered 19 drops throughout the 2025 NFL campaign. That is not too bad considering the Jacksonville Jaguars led the league with 45 dropped passes, while the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots had the safest hands with just 13 drops each.

Big Blue’s receivers dropped just 3.6% of their targets, recording 19 drops on 526 targets. Moreover, 9.4% of the team’s incompletions were the result of dropped passes, with the Giants totaling 203 incompletions overall. The remaining 90.6% can be blamed on the throw or credited to the defense.

NY Giants’ revamped WR room

Even though their numbers from a year ago—actually, just months ago—are quite encouraging, the Giants are looking quite different. Harbaugh has brought in several new weapons, and the wideouts room, as well as the depth additions to the running back and tight end groups, mean these are not the same G-Men from the 2025 NFL campaign.

Furthermore, players like Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, and Cam Skattebo continue to recover from injuries and were all missing from action during OTAs. Thus, Big Blue’s receiving corps featured new faces, many of whom have yet to prove themselves to the Giants.

Perhaps the current group is indeed one that has trouble keeping the pigskin off the dirt. If that is the case, it might be wise on Harbaugh’s part to tackle the issue head-on.

As reported by Dan Duggan of The Athletic, neither D.J. Reader, Shelby Harris, nor Sam Roberts was spotted on the practice field for the Giants. All three defensive linemen were signed during the offseason ahead of the 2026 NFL campaign.

While Roberts was signed in March, both Harris and Reader were brought into East Rutherford after New York traded Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals. Still, neither was in action on Thursday, meaning John Harbaugh and the rest of his staff are still somewhat in the dark about them. In addition to these absentees, the fact that the Giants are facing early injury concerns in the DL room is far from encouraging.

Why were they absent?

Roberts is still recovering from offseason surgery and has yet to be cleared to return to the practice field. Needless to say, the Giants will not rush him back and are taking every precaution.

As for Reader and Harris, neither is listed with an injury, and their absence from OTAs is seemingly a decision between them and the coaches. It is not rare—in fact, it is quite common—for veterans to opt out of voluntary workouts.

Considering both Harris and Reader are new players joining the club, some may argue they are better off practicing with the team and getting early reps with the new coaching staff and teammates. However, it is a very long year, and veterans like them may have more to lose than to gain by stepping into the trenches in May.

Giants stay patient

The Giants should know better than to start second-guessing Harbaugh’s decisions right from the get-go, especially during OTAs. Right now, these practices are all fans and media have, but they will become a distant, irrelevant memory once the actual NFL season rolls around.

Still, those who wanted an early peek at the revamped defensive line without Lawrence—and with his replacements—instead got to see a unit that looked quite similar to its 2025 version, aside from a fair share of rookies and free-agency additions here and there.

“DL Roy Robertson-Harris limped off very gingerly from 11-on-11. Trainers checking his right leg,” Dan Duggan of The Athletic reported on his X account. “WR Jalin Hyatt was riding the bike on the side. Appeared to tweak something running routes early in practice.“

Needless to say, watching two players go down with setbacks during OTAs—in which the aggressiveness and physicality are far from their maximum levels—may raise concerns for John Harbaugh and his staff. Furthermore, the Giants are quite thin at both positions, particularly during the opening stretch of OTAs and the NFL preseason.

Giants’ WR situation

New York is rolling into OTAs with an alternative offense. Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo, and Darius Slayton are all absent as they continue recovering from injuries. That opens up the field for unsung names to showcase themselves.

Hyatt, whose future in East Rutherford is up in the air, falls right into that category. However, he is of little use and can prove nothing to Harbaugh if he is on the sidelines riding a bike instead of running routes with the rest of the team. Based on his current role on the team, it feels as if Hyatt loses more by being injured than the Giants do by being without him. He has something to prove.

Although the Giants could turn Nabers’ injury into a positive by boosting rookie Malachi Fields, and Hyatt is reportedly at risk of being cut from the 53-man roster, New York needs all hands on deck, and another absence in the WR room would be costly.

Giants addressed D-line

Something similar is occurring within the defensive linemen group. The Giants appeared at OTAs without their main replacements for Dexter Lawrence. With Shelby Harris, D.J. Reader, and Sam Roberts unavailable, watching Robertson-Harris potentially suffer an injury is a scare Big Blue would have rather avoided this early in the offseason.

Finding the silver lining, however, some could argue it is better to have these scares early rather than in the middle of the NFL campaign. Regardless, there are questions to be asked.

New York brought in Reader, Harris, and Roberts throughout the offseason. The two former players were direct replacements brought in to fill the void left by Lawrence’s trade to Cincinnati. Thus, there is reasonable concern among fans if the players signed to address a problem are not even on the field.

Giants raise concerns

Roberts is injured, but no injury has been reported for Reader and Harris. Being longtime veterans in the NFL, there is an argument to be made as to why they are not on the gridiron this early in the year. After all, Harbaugh knows what he is doing.

However, fans can—rightfully—express their discomfort if the players supposed to replace one of the franchise’s best players of the century are not even practicing with the team on a warm afternoon in the Big Apple. Needless to say, it is not ideal for the Giants, especially not after the dramatic offseason they have been through.

This would be the perfect time to sell hope to the fanbase. The regular-season roller coaster will already take care of brewing storms. It would be best if the Giants did not bring them upon themselves, too.

Injuries are a part of the league. Every team deals with them year in and year out. It is how one bounces back from those setbacks that truly matters and ultimately decides NFL seasons. Nabers‘ recovery from a torn ACL and meniscus is no different. The Giants are making no excuses for themselves. Instead, they can use it as an opportunity to develop their third-round pick even faster.

“With injuries to Nabers and Slayton, Fields will get a lot of work with the first-team offense this offseason,” as reported on Giants Now. “It’s a great opportunity for him to get extra work with Jaxson Dart. A lot of times rookies don’t get to work with the starting quarterback. Good stuff that Fields and Dart are starting to build that chemistry and continuity.”

NY Giants have exciting rookie on Fields

Selected with the 74th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Giants have always been high on the Virginia transfer coming out of Notre Dame. New York does not expect him to become the No. 1 target for Dart—at least not on paper—but the G-Men hope that Fields can become a reliable option right from the get-go.

With their top two wideouts sidelined to start OTAs, the rookie could get an early chance to showcase his abilities and establish himself in John Harbaugh’s offense. As it stands, the top three pass-catching options for the Giants to start OTAs are newcomers to the roster: Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields, and TE Isaiah Likely. Thus, New York could get a very early preview of what it paid for during the offseason.

Giants find silver lining

Provided both Nabers and Slayton are fully healthy for Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys, their absences may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Although everybody is settling in onto Harbaugh’s new system, these early practices are even more important for Fields and the new players in the Big Apple.

Who knows? Maybe Big Blue will not miss Nabers and Slayton too much during the opening days of camp. By the time the 2026 NFL regular season rolls around, however, that will be a different story. And the Giants will need all hands on deck, especially the old reliable pairs of Nabers and Slayton.

Fields’ stats in college

New York saw something in Fields during his days in Charlottesville and South Bend. It’s all about exploiting it in the NFL. If his numbers are any showing, however, the Giants should be in a good place to start off.

Last season, Fields caught 36 passes for 630 yards (17.5 average) and five touchdowns. Though it was his lowest catches total in a full college season, he still matched his career-best for TDs. In fact, Fields has caught five touchdown passes in all of his last three campaigns. All in all, he closed out his collegiate career with a total of 165 catches, 2,479 yards, and 16 touchdowns.

“That will be one more step in the direction of being a good enough football team to kick the Cowboys’ (expletive),” Harbaugh said. Meanwhile, as these statements were being made public on social media, Lamb responded ironically: “Lol that’s cute.”

Dak Prescott and his Dallas Cowboys will visit MetLife Stadium in Week 1, in what will be a high-profile season opener for both teams. Both franchises have aspirations of contending, and the buildup is already starting to heat up, even though the start of the season is still several months away.

Latest matchups between Cowboys and Giants

The 2025 season series between the Giants and Cowboys delivered two wildly different scripts, resulting in a 1-1 split. In Week 2, the teams engaged in a thrilling offensive shootout at AT&T Stadium, where the Cowboys managed a narrow 40-37 overtime victory sealed by a dramatic 64-yard Brandon Aubrey field goal to force OT and a 46-yarder to win it, despite a massive 450-yard, 3-touchdown performance by Russell Wilson.

However, the Giants got their revenge in the January season finale, capitalizing on an early Dak Prescott exit to dominate Dallas 34-17 behind rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart’s highly efficient performance and a relentless defense, ensuring both division rivals finished their disappointing 2025 campaigns outside the postseason picture.

John Harbaugh and CeeDee Lamb will face each other twice

Beyond their Week 1 opener, the second divisional matchup between John Harbaugh’s Giants and CeeDee Lamb’s Cowboys will take place in Week 17 on Sunday, January 3, 2027.

This late-season clash will kick off at 1:00 PM ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, serving as a high-stakes battle that could carry massive playoff implications for the NFC East right before the regular-season finale.

As reported by Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, the Giants will hold only one joint practice during the preseason, and it will be with the Miami Dolphins. Although the two New Jersey-based teams will meet in Week 3 of the preseason, the Jets and Giants will not practice together.

It’s quite surprising considering the two organizations had held at least one joint practice before their preseason matchup in recent years. It had become a tradition in East Rutherford. Harbaugh and company are determined to wipe the slate clean and get a fresh start, and moving on from this ritual may be another sign of that.

Giants will be in and out of town

According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, the Giants will be away from East Rutherford to begin training camp. The G-Men will spend the first 12 days of training camp in West Virginia. Moreover, they will travel to South Florida for their joint practice with the Dolphins.

Per Duggan, camp in the Mountain State will begin on July 28. The fact that the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final will be held at MetLife Stadium on July 19 may be a factor in why the Giants will not spend much time at their own facilities in the outskirts of the Big Apple.

NY Giants’ preseason schedule

On August 15, the Giants will host the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium in the opening week of the 2026 NFL preseason. The following week, they will travel to face the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. The G-Men will close out their prep for the regular season with the matchup against the Jets on Aug. 28.

Although the game will be played in East Rutherford, the Giants will be designated as the away team. Following their three preseason games, the G-Men will head into the final week of preseason before their regular-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football at MetLife Stadium.

Although the young player’s appearance on the Giants Town Hall could signal Thibodeaux’s trade buzz is over, the writing may already be on the wall for him. Perhaps not even a breakout year from Thibodeaux will be enough to keep him around in the Big Apple.

The Giants have put together a strong roster in which the outside linebacker spots appear to be taken care of. Thibodeaux adds depth for the 2026 NFL season, but New York may have no way of keeping him under contract beyond next season. This could very well be the end of the road.

“Does [Thibodeaux] want a new contract? Absolutely. In keeping it real, few think he gets that with Giants based on current roster construction,” as reported by Art Stapleton of USA Today.

Contract situation of Thibodeaux

Having selected Thibodeaux with the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Giants had a fifth-year option, which they exercised. As a result, the product out of Oregon is signed through 2026, carrying a $14.7 million cap hit next season.

He is entering a contract year, but most signs indicate New York won’t foot the bill for whatever figure he seeks next offseason. As a result, if the Giants decide Thibodeaux won’t return beyond next season, there are two likely scenarios.

Possible outcomes

On the one hand, the Giants may choose to stick with Thibodeaux for the entire campaign. In such a scenario, the EDGE would most likely leave in free agency for a bigger contract than what New York will be willing to pay him.

The alternative is the G-Men trade Thibodeaux ahead of the NFL trade deadline. This option makes the most sense if New York is off to a bad start and record in the upcoming year. If the Giants take on a sellers approach into the deadline, it’s reasonable to believe they’ll look to get something in return for the 25-year-old outside linebacker.

Giants can live with losing Thibodeaux in free agency

If the Giants instead become contenders in the NFL, they might choose to roll with Thibodeaux until the wheels come off. They’ll deal with the consequences later on. If losing Thibodeaux to free agency is the price to pay for a deep postseason run and winning silverware, then virtually everybody in East Rutherford would sign off on that deal.

Even Thibodeaux, as he is well aware that a contract year means he is playing to prove his value to the Giants, and the rest of the league, as well. And there’s nothing that catches the eye around the NFL as effectively as balling out in the playoffs.

“There’s not a better tight end group, I don’t think, in the league, potentially,” the experienced head coach said, via the New York Post. “Jaxson has a bunch of guys to go to.”

The words of Harbaugh are supported by his actions. The coach spent nearly two decades with the Baltimore Ravens and, after his dismissal, decided to bring Isaiah Likely, one of his weapons from the last season, to the G-Men.

Dart will have plenty of weapons at his disposal

Entering his sophomore season, Jaxson Dart is surrounded by a dynamic group of playmakers designed to elevate the New York Giants‘ offense. His aerial attack is anchored by explosive, Pro Bowl wide receiver Malik Nabers, alongside the veteran speed and deep-threat capabilities of Darnell Mooney and Darius Slayton.

Over the middle, the addition of tight end Isaiah Likely provides Dart with a highly physical and reliable security blanket, while versatile running back Cam Skattebo commands the backfield to offer a powerful, dual-threat weapon in both the rushing and passing games.

New York Giants TE room for 2026

• Isaiah Likely
• Theo Johnson
• Chris Manhertz
• Thomas Fidone II
• Tanner Conner

Harbaugh’s philosophy could benefit his tight ends

John Harbaugh’s physical, run-first style is an absolute dream for the Giants’ tight ends. His love for heavy personnel and a bruising ground game forces defenses to crowd the line, which opens up massive lanes over the middle.

For a dynamic target like Isaiah Likely, this means the perfect mix of high-volume targets and juicy play-action mismatches to feast on and rack up easy yards after the catch.

His bold declaration was captured during a high-energy appearance at the Giants’ 2026 Town Hall, a moment shared on X by Dan Salomone. Standing alongside his teammates, Thibodeaux addressed the crowd with confidence, stating, “This is a perfect year for a miracle story,” as the team transitions into a new era.

Cam Skattebo raised injury concerns but made up for it with a championship promise, and Thibodeaux seems to share that same elite-level focus for the upcoming campaign. Kayvon also provided a blunt assessment of the new regime under head coach John Harbaugh, noting that “S—’s different. It’s hard,” while also making it clear he still hates the Dallas Cowboys.

Since when Giants don’t reach the playoffs or make a deep playoff run?

The Giants are currently entering the 2026 NFL season hoping to snap a three-year playoff drought, with their last postseason appearance coming back in 2022. Their most recent deep run remains the historic 2012 Super Bowl victory, and fans are desperate to see if Harbaugh’s arrival can finally propel the team back into the late stages of January football.

During the event, John Harbaugh signaled a shift in the team’s culture that favors grit and loyalty over individual stardom. The front office has been busy surrounding the core with veterans like Tremaine Edmunds and Isaiah Likely, aiming to provide the depth necessary to survive the grueling 17-game regular season schedule.

While trading away an All-Pro like Lawrence leaves a massive hole in the interior defense, the “Harbaugh effect” is expected to maximize the talent of players like Thibodeaux and a healthy Skattebo. Whether this roster is enough to deliver a miracle remains to be seen, but the intensity at MetLife Stadium suggests the Giants are finally ready to compete again.