SerpApi.Org
After an eventful offseason, the New York Giants are one week away from the start of training camp, with veteran players reporting to the team’s practice facility on June 28.
During this period, Big Blue will have to answer many questions about how their team will come together in advance of their preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings in Week One on Aug. 15.
Among the more pressing questions is how John Harbaugh will lead this Giants team out of mediocrity, given that they endured three consecutive losing seasons under Brian Daboll’s leadership. The front office replaced Daboll with Harbaugh in January, ensuring their next head coach has a wealth of experience.
Harbaugh has a Super Bowl title under his belt from his time with the Baltimore Ravens, which included 12 playoff appearances and a 180-113 record. New York hasn’t had the same success, going 13-38 in their last three seasons.
Durability has been a key concern for this team, especially for the likes of sophomore quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Dart, who was named the starter during Week Four, missed two games due to a concussion. He was also forced out of multiple games after taking head contact on running plays, even though he decided against sliding down.
There’s no question that Dart’s style of play has negatively impacted him. At the same time, it has helped rejuvenate the Giants' offense, as he can use his legs to get them into scoring position. Still, there is room for improvement in being cautious when rolling out of the pocket.
The Giants are also holding their breath on Malik Nabers' availability for this season. The superstar wide receiver has yet to begin practicing after sustaining a torn ACL during Week Four of last season.
Earlier this offseason, he underwent a second surgery and could spend training camp and the preseason on the Physically Unable to Perform List.
Outside of Nabers, their next best options are Darnell Mooney, Isaiah Hodgins, and Darius Slayton.
They also selected Malachi Fields in the third round and added depth to the wide receiver corps, reuniting with former superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., in addition to acquiring Juju Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios.
If the receiving options remain limited, the Giants could rely on tight end Isaiah Likely, who was their marquee signing of the offseason. This is something they could spend training camp developing on, as he produced more than 400 yards and five touchdowns on two separate occasions during his four seasons with the Harbaugh Ravens.
The health of sophomore halfback Cam Skattebo is also a top priority heading into training camp. The 24-year-old Arizona State product showed flashes of being their running back of the future, as he rushed for 410 yards and five touchdowns prior to his season being cut short by a dislocated right ankle and an open tibia fracture.
Alongside Skattebo, the Giants rely heavily upon Tyrone Tracy Jr., who has battled injuries of his own. When on the field, he can consistently produce in a dual-threat role.
New York’s offensive line, on the other hand, is continuing to look better as the league’s No. 9-ranked unit last season. They will have more protection coming from first-round pick Francis Mauigoa, who joins a group made up of Andrew Thomas, Evan Neal, and Jermaine Eluemunor.
The Giants also have one of the league’s better defensive lines led by superstar pass rusher Brian Burns, who ended last season with a career high 16.5 sacks and 67 tackles.
On draft night, they added Ohio State product Arvell Reese at No. 5 overall. His size and speed give Harbaugh another productive player on the edge, on top of having former No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter and fellow first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux.
However, the secondary is New York’s biggest question on defense, as it is one of the league’s weakest in both pass and run coverage. In the offseason, they acquired Greg Newsome II and drafted Colton Hood to add more talent.
For these reasons, the Giants will need to spend training camp finding answers to these questions before they face the Vikings and, eventually, the Dallas Cowboys in the regular-season opener.
