Giants 2026 Training Camp Preview: What To Watch For As John Harbaugh Era Begins

The Giants' rookies reported to training camp last week and the rest of the roster reports on Tuesday as the team prepares to embark upon their 2026 campaign. 

The 2025 season didn't go to plan, but New York hired head coach John Harbaugh and subsequently made several acquisitions during the offseason which they hope will address their biggest flaws. 

Big Blue won its last two games in 2025 to end up at 4-13, but the team be setting its heights higher under Harbaugh, who went to the postseason 12 times as the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.

Here are some of the biggest stories to watch as practice gets underway...

Strengths and Weaknesses

After an 0-3 start last season, the Giants won two out of three and looked like they were starting to establish themselves as a tough, hard-nosed opponent. Unfortunately, injuries started to take their toll and New York would fall out of contention by losing its next nine in a row. However, those tough attributes should mesh well with Harbaugh's style and will form the basis of the foundation on which he will seek to build.

In Jaxson Dart, New York hopes the team has found a long-time solution at the quarterback position with running back Cam Skattebo and wide receiver Malik Nabers also emerging as potential stars.

On defense, Brian Burns had a monster year in 2025 as he racked up 16.5 sacks. Despite a slow start, rookie Abdul Carter's pressure rates remained high all year and he started generating some sacks down the stretch, so it looks like the pass rush will drive the defense again in 2026.

New York's main weaknesses in 2025 were a lack of consistency on the offensive line and in the defensive secondary. However, Harbaugh and the front office have already taken steps to address this.

New Faces

The Giants brought in several new additions during the offseason, many of whom had played for Harbaugh in the past. Tight end Isaiah Likely should add another dimension to the passing game, Tremaine Edmunds should be a solid replacement for outgoing linebacker Bobby Okereke, and other moves were made that should help the running game and special teams unit.

They also picked up some players in the draft who should contribute immediately. No. 5 overall pick Arvell Reese will start as an off-ball linebacker, but could also bolster the pass rush, while Francis Mauigoa is expected to start at right guard after being selected 10th overall.

Cornerback Colton Hood and wide receiver Malachi Fields could also contribute as rookies.

Position Battles to Watch

Hood has a chance to be a Day 1 starter across from Paulson Adebo, who is entrenched as the team's No. 1 corner. His main competition is Greg Newsome II, who was signed in the offseason but has struggled to hold on to a starting role over the course of his career. Former first round-pick Deonte Banks seems like a longshot after falling out of favor with the previous coaching staff.

The battle for roster spots at wide receiver could be interesting too, with a series of veterans including the recently re-signed Odell Beckham Jr. all competing to make the team.

One other key role that remains undecided is the placekicker. Ben Sauls had some good moments at the end of last season, but he was reportedly outshined by undrafted rookie Dominic Zvada during the offseason program.

Injury Concerns

Skattebo and Nabers are two key players coming off serious injuries, with Nabers' availability for the start of the regular season still up in the air. Skattebo has recovered well, though, and will be ready to participate at training camp.

A further blow came during the offseason when defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris suffered a torn Achilles. In the wake of Dexter Lawrence's departure, that left New York extremely thin at the position, although they moved quickly to add some veteran options including DJ Reader and Shelby Harris.

New York will be hopeful that left tackle Andrew Thomas can remain healthy this season, because the offensive line has tended to fall apart when he's missed time in recent years. He has missed 22 games in the last three seasons.

The other major concern is Dart, who has yet to prove he can protect himself on the field. He took too many big shots last year and was tested for a concussion on numerous occasions. Dart must learn to slide, run out of bounds, or throw the ball away and live to fight another day in spite of his determined mindset. 

A Cultural Overhaul

Harbaugh will bring credibility to a Giants team that underachieved in recent seasons and it's expected that this will translate to a more disciplined group.

Last year, players like Banks and Carter had disputes with the coaching staff and it was clear that the frustration of consistently losing was starting to spill over.

You would not expect Harbaugh to tolerate similar issues in 2026, but at the same time, it's probably good for a few players to have a clean slate. 

If the Giants can approach the 2026 season with a sense of professionalism, and they can have better injury luck than they were dealt with last season, they have a good opportunity to outperform expectations. As a team with a young core, that could set them up to be regular contenders over the next several years.