- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,238,315
- Reaction score
- 59
Editor's note: This is Part 17 of 26 in Art Stapleton's New York Giants summer series Q&A
John Harbaugh's first impression of the New York Giants roster even before he became head coach zeroed in on two things: quarterback and the pass rush.
And while the presence of Jaxson Dart certainly played a big part in Harbaugh accepting the job, his attention swung to the other side of the ball and rather quickly.
"How about the pass rushers?" Harbaugh quipped when asked about what stood out in evaluating the Giants' team he was taking over. "That was the obvious first thing."
For now, there are far more questions than answers. But we hope to set the table for the summer and beyond with 26 questions that will define the 2026 Giants season.
26 QUESTIONS: See our growing list of Giants questions for 2026 season
While the offensive line is undoubtedly the most underrated position on the team, maybe in the league, the Giants' group of outside linebackers has the chance to be season altering.
Burns and Carter have a chance to be one of the most productive rush tandems in the league, provided the latter continues to ascend after a strong finish to his rookie season.
Thibodeaux missed the final seven games last year due to a shoulder injury and will play 2026 on his fifth-year option worth around $15 million. Thibodeaux is doing everything he can to align what's best for him with the blueprint for Big Blue success both today and beyond.
After what the Giants went through behind the scenes with Lawrence, you just know Thibodeaux is winning over team brass with his approach.
It's been difficult to imagine Thibodeaux garnering a mega deal beyond this season with the Giants, considering the long term viability of Burns and Carter. Could he force their hand? Sure, no one with say in the organization is willing to rule that out.
Golston is a strong fourth option.
coming off a 16.5-sack season, is in line for a new deal from the Giants that will pay him even more than the $30 million per year he gets now, and deservedly so.
Abdul Carter, drafted third overall in last year's draft, has been running with the first team defense all spring - in the spot Thibodeaux had earned and owned since his rookie year.
Then the Giants added Arvell Reese with the No. 5 overall pick, and even though they saw him as an off-ball linebacker with the versatility to develop into an all-around defensive weapon, Thibodeaux stuck.
Trade rumors have been swirling around Thibodeaux going back to the 2025 NFL deadline last Halloween, and again this offseason, with misleading reports in late April that he was on the verge of being dealt to the Saints for a third round pick.
That never happened, and as Harbaugh began turning this team into one that embodied what he believes a winner must have, there was an unforeseen and unexpected revelation: the coach with 193 career wins and a Super Bowl who knows something about players and success hit it off with Thibodeaux.
Burns has already talked up the "organized chaos" defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson is promising, and the latter offered up this scouting report of the position that remains coached by Charlie Bullen, an ascending future coordinator and potential head coach who returned on Harbaugh's staff.
"I loved the energy and effort [on the first day]. They were so attentive in the room, talking about the style of ball, how we're going to play up front, the violence in which we're going to play with," Wilson said. "The way we're going to build a wall and set violent edges to make teams run in a phone booth, how we're going to play vertical knock-back, how we're going to crush and close, these guys can do it all."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Which NY Giants position group is tops on the roster for 2026 season?
Continue reading...
John Harbaugh's first impression of the New York Giants roster even before he became head coach zeroed in on two things: quarterback and the pass rush.
And while the presence of Jaxson Dart certainly played a big part in Harbaugh accepting the job, his attention swung to the other side of the ball and rather quickly.
"How about the pass rushers?" Harbaugh quipped when asked about what stood out in evaluating the Giants' team he was taking over. "That was the obvious first thing."
For now, there are far more questions than answers. But we hope to set the table for the summer and beyond with 26 questions that will define the 2026 Giants season.
26 QUESTIONS: See our growing list of Giants questions for 2026 season
Question #17: Which position group is tops on Giants' roster?
While the offensive line is undoubtedly the most underrated position on the team, maybe in the league, the Giants' group of outside linebackers has the chance to be season altering.
- Who's here (projected starter in bold): Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Chauncey Golston, Caleb Murphy, Trace Ford
Burns and Carter have a chance to be one of the most productive rush tandems in the league, provided the latter continues to ascend after a strong finish to his rookie season.
Thibodeaux missed the final seven games last year due to a shoulder injury and will play 2026 on his fifth-year option worth around $15 million. Thibodeaux is doing everything he can to align what's best for him with the blueprint for Big Blue success both today and beyond.
After what the Giants went through behind the scenes with Lawrence, you just know Thibodeaux is winning over team brass with his approach.
It's been difficult to imagine Thibodeaux garnering a mega deal beyond this season with the Giants, considering the long term viability of Burns and Carter. Could he force their hand? Sure, no one with say in the organization is willing to rule that out.
Golston is a strong fourth option.
coming off a 16.5-sack season, is in line for a new deal from the Giants that will pay him even more than the $30 million per year he gets now, and deservedly so.
Abdul Carter, drafted third overall in last year's draft, has been running with the first team defense all spring - in the spot Thibodeaux had earned and owned since his rookie year.
Then the Giants added Arvell Reese with the No. 5 overall pick, and even though they saw him as an off-ball linebacker with the versatility to develop into an all-around defensive weapon, Thibodeaux stuck.
Trade rumors have been swirling around Thibodeaux going back to the 2025 NFL deadline last Halloween, and again this offseason, with misleading reports in late April that he was on the verge of being dealt to the Saints for a third round pick.
That never happened, and as Harbaugh began turning this team into one that embodied what he believes a winner must have, there was an unforeseen and unexpected revelation: the coach with 193 career wins and a Super Bowl who knows something about players and success hit it off with Thibodeaux.
Burns has already talked up the "organized chaos" defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson is promising, and the latter offered up this scouting report of the position that remains coached by Charlie Bullen, an ascending future coordinator and potential head coach who returned on Harbaugh's staff.
"I loved the energy and effort [on the first day]. They were so attentive in the room, talking about the style of ball, how we're going to play up front, the violence in which we're going to play with," Wilson said. "The way we're going to build a wall and set violent edges to make teams run in a phone booth, how we're going to play vertical knock-back, how we're going to crush and close, these guys can do it all."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Which NY Giants position group is tops on the roster for 2026 season?
Continue reading...
