Giants news, 5/15: Full 2026 Giants schedule, breakout candidates, injury news

Creating depth and adding flexibility was certainly the theme of Harbaugh’s first offseason in New York. Not only does it appear that second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart has a better offensive line, he gained more weapons, including the arrival of Likely, who played for Harbaugh the past four years in Baltimore. Perhaps adding a playmaker who can get open in a hurry will lead to Dart releasing the ball quicker and reducing the hits he took as a rookie. Dart took 36 hits while passing, but he took more punishment running away from the pocket and was sidelined two games due to a concussion. Offseason grade: A+

Tiki is worried about Malik Nabers

One word for every NFC team’s biggest offseason improvement | CBSSports.com

New York Giants: Foundation. Player who exemplifies it: Francis Mauigoa. John Harbaugh knows successful teams aren’t built overnight, and the Giants did a good job laying a foundation for successful first steps. Arvell Reese is a stupendous athlete and potential game wrecker from wherever he lines up. He has a veteran in Tremaine Edmunds next to him to help him adapt. Mauigoa could start at guard before becoming a long-term answer at right tackle, bookending Andrew Thomas. Harbaugh brought in several capable pieces from Baltimore, such as Isaiah Likely, and added steady veterans D.J. Reader and Shelby Harris to help fill the hole left by Dexter Lawrence’s departure.

Ex-NFL QB makes massive Giants’ Arvell Reese prediction fans will love | NJ.com

When the New York Giants selected Arvell Reese with the fifth overall pick, many fans wondered why they selected another edge rusher. On the latest episode of “Giants Huddle,” NFL analyst and former quarterback Chris Simms was having none of the confusion. The comparison Simms draws to Reese isn’t to just any player — it’s to Green Bay Packers linebacker Micah Parsons, one of the most dynamic defensive players in the league.

“And I’m here to tell you that Arvell Reese is a better linebacker than Sonny Styles every day of the week and twice on Sunday,” Simms said. “He’s young. I mean, he plays physical. He’s got incredible instincts. He’s an amazing open-field tackler. He’s a specimen.”

Simms on the Giants could deploy their pass rush

Jaxson Dart sees a ‘violent’ future for Giants offense under John Harbaugh | New York Post

Jaxson Dart sounds a bit like a movie director discussing his latest project.

It is going to involve some romantic comedy, some drama and just a hint of intrigue. And then the director lowers the boom: This film will also have all sorts of blood and gore. Dart portrays what he envisions the 2026 Giants offense will look like in similarly devilish terms.

How the Giants rebuilt their defensive tackle depth chart in 3 weeks | The Athletic

New defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson deployed a base 3-4 defense on 27.8 percent of the snaps with the Tennessee Titans last season, which was the fifth-highest rate in the league, according to TruMedia. The three defensive linemen to log the most snaps for the Titans were 305-pound All-Pro Jeffery Simmons, 310-pound Sebastian Joseph-Day and 366-pound T’Vondre Sweat.

It’s dicey to extrapolate too much from Wilson’s past since he was dealing with a talent-deficient roster in Tennessee. In his first season as Titans D-coordinator in 2024, he deployed a 3-4 base defense on only 4.9 percent of the snaps; he played a base 4-3 defense on 20.6 percent of the snaps, which was the 11th-highest rate in the league. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens have used sub packages at one of the highest rates in the league in recent seasons, so Harbaugh may steer the defense away from using three D-linemen often.

Around the league

Why the Cowboys’ Caleb Downs can be the NFL’s next elite slot defender as a rookie | PFF

NFL executives differ on Jalen Hurts’ outlook in Philly | Bleeding Green Nationy

Dolphins, RB De’Von Achane agree to terms on four-year, $64 million extension | NFL.com

Report: Micah Parsons could start the season on PUP list | Pro Football Talk

Can more NFL teams copy the Rams’ TE-heavy offense in 2026? | ESPN.com

2026 NFL schedule: Miles traveled for all 32 teams, with 49ers set for historically grueling season | CBSSports.com

How NFL teams create schedule release videos: Memes, cameos and taking a joke (but not too far) | The Athletic

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