The New York Giants, with plenty to spend in free agency and the third pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, were favorites to win the offseason. They made a solid effort, upgrading at the sport’s most important position, securing a franchise quarterback, and adding more talent to an impressive defense.
Russell Wilson bringing the Giants from bad to below-average at quarterback is pivotal to keeping the defense competitive, and adding edge rusher Abdul Carter makes the pass rush perhaps the league’s most potent.
Signing corner Paulson Adebo and safety Jevon Holland added athleticism and ball skills to a secondary that needed both. General manager Joe Schoen completed the defense, especially after drafting defensive tackle Darius Alexander; and the ground game is more well-rounded with running back Cam Skattebo.
Optimism is in the air in East Rutherford. Then the schedule dropped, and fans were reminded that other teams could get better, too, and almost everyone on the schedule had an advantage at quarterback over New York.
Subsequently, the Giants’ path back to the playoffs has long odds despite their big offseason.
In Bleacher Report’s exploration of how each team can make the playoffs, New York needs the rest of the division to stumble.
“Prescott fails to do that [return to 2023 form], Jayden Daniels suffers a sophomore slump and the Eagles encounter a Super Bowl hangover while Russell Wilson rediscovers some of his old magic,” Brad Gagnon wrote.
Unfortunately for the Giants, the Eagles just won the Super Bowl, the Cowboys are poised to rebound, and the Commanders are living the life New York hopes to live, riding the tide of a franchise quarterback to contention. A lot has to fall in New York’s favor, without the offensive star power to threaten defenses.
The Giants are currently listed at +2500 to win the NFC East and +650 to make the playoffs, the latter being the second-longest odds in the sport.
To New York’s credit, Wilson can run hot, winning six of his first seven starts in 2024. Barring that magic Gagnon mentioned, the Giants’ season will be more about playing meaningful games in December, not January. After last season’s disaster, that would still be a win.
