Giants news, 5/7: 6 players on the bubble, D.J. Reader’s time in Detroit

Teams on the brink: 3. New York Giants. The Giants’ biggest upgrade might be at head coach, where they brought in proven winner John Harbaugh to change the culture and set the foundation for long-term success for a franchise that desperately needs it. Quarterback Jaxson Dart showed potential to be a game-changing dual-threat quarterback last season. Going all-in on a young, promising quarterback’s sophomore season has proven to be a successful formula for big NFL turnarounds.

The Giants didn’t make huge splashes in free agency, but they added useful pieces such as receiver Darnell Mooney and tight end Isaiah Likely, who has experience uncovering in scramble drills. Fullback/tight end Patrick Ricard will help unlock the Giants’ heavy personnel running game. The Giants took advantage of so much draft capital, and their draft was universally loved. First-round pick Francis Mauigoa played tackle in college but will likely bump inside and bolster the interior of the line. Arvell Reese will play off-ball linebacker, and his ability to blitz is going to boost an already dangerous pass rush.

D.J. Reader on his football mindset

5 Underrated NFL Players Who Will Surprise With New Teams in 2026 | Bleacher Report

FB Patrick Ricard, New York Giants. Harbaugh relied heavily on the ground game during his time in Baltimore—ranking top-five in rushing in 10 of his 18 seasons and outside the top-11 in that same category just four times—and is clearly positioning his new team to utilize a similar strategy. The combination of Ricard’s devastating blocks alongside a hard-charging lead back in Cam Skattebo will instantly give the Giants one of the NFL’s most tenacious rushing attacks.

New York already rated as a top-five rushing team in 2025 and should only improve on its 129.1 yards per game average this coming season. With Ricard paving a path for the backfield tandem of Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy, the Giants have a real chance to lead the NFL in rushing. Given Ricard will provide game-changing blocking and chip in with some pass-catching work, all while making less than $5 million per season, he could go down as the best bang for the buck pickup of the 2026 offseason

Albert Breer’s Notes: The Five Types of Available Free Agents | SI.com

One thing I feel pretty confident about is that the Giants are going to go forward with the plan to have Francis Mauigoa, the 10th pick in the draft, at guard this year. Why? New York just signed Jermaine Eluemunor to a three-year, $39 million deal, and he did it wanting to play tackle and only tackle. So he’s the right tackle, and Andrew Thomas is the left tackle. And maybe Mauigoa will eventually wind up at tackle. Or maybe, as was the case with Tyler Smith in Dallas, he’ll end up being such a good guard that the Giants never want to move him.

The Giants know all too well about how hype over an NFL draft sweep can go wrong | New York Post

Warning: Reading the following may be harmful to the psyches of those anointing the Giants as big winners after selecting linebacker Arvell Reese (No. 5 overall) and offensive lineman Sisi Mauigoa (No. 10) in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

But fans should not to get carried away, as the team has seen draft hype before that didn’t always work out.

Could New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart flirt with 4,000 yards in 2026? | USAToday.com

Reaching the 4,000-yard milestone in 2026 would require Dart to average 235.3 passing yards per game over all 17 contests. Excluding his first two games in which he attempted no passes, his average last season was 189.3 yards per game.

It’s reasonable to project Dart averaging around 223.5 passing yards per game (not quite the same leap made by Drake Maye from Year 1 ot Year 2), which would yield approximately 3,800 yards next season. The 4,000-yard mark is well within reach.

Baldy on Malachi Fields

Fantasy Football: Veterans who benefited from the 2026 NFL draft | PFF

Cam Skattebo’s path is clear: New York opted against drafting a running back while adding top-tier tackle Francis Mauigoa (87.0 pass-blocking grade) to the line, cementing Skattebo’s role as a high-volume dual-threat starter for 2026.

Around the league

Cowboys rookie minicamp: Caleb Downs stands out for reasons beyond his No. 18 jersey | The Athletic

Eagles front office changes include hiring another former Jets general manager | Bleeding Green Nation

Russell Wilson tells The Post he’s mulling Jets contract offer as TV networks pursue QB | New York Post

Frank Reich: Geno Smith is “perfect” fit for offense, his best football is ahead of him | Pro Football Talk

Vikings begin search for new GM, request interview with Bills’ Terrance Gray | NFL.com

Sources: NFLRA schedules vote to ratify new CBA with NFL | ESPN.com

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