The offseason ramps up with on-field practices starting this week
The New York Giants take the field this week for Phase 3 of the offseason program, commonly known as OTAs. This is the spring fun stuff — actual on-field practices.
There will be 10 practices over a three-week period, beginning on Tuesday. Media will have access to watch three of those practices and talk to players and coaches. Our first access is Wednesday.
Here are 10 things to watch.
Russell Wilson
Wilson is the starting quarterback, but he won’t be the one anyone is most interested in. That will rookie first-round pick Jaxson Dart. How will Wilson handle the dynamic of having the player who will take his job — this year or next — already in place? Wilson, by many accounts, can be an acquired taste. There were reports out of Pittsburgh that some Steelers teammates weren’t buying his leadership efforts. How does the dynamic between Wilson and his teammates look, and feel?
Oh, and how does the passing game look with Wilson at the controls?
Jaxson Dart’s every move
Like rookie minicamp, there will probably be an over the top interest in everything Dart does. How do he and Wilson interact How much time does head coach Brian Daboll spend focused on the rookie? What does Dart do while Wilson is taking reps? How does he look when Dart does take reps?
Evan Neal at guard
This will be our first chance to see the 2022 No. 7 overall pick at guard after three injury-plagued, unsatisfactory seasons at right tackle. Neal is expected to compete with Greg Van Roten and others for the right guard job.
With practice being held in shorts it isn’t easy to get a read on offensive line play. Still, we will get a look at how well Neal is moving around. Does he look comfortable? Is he taking reps with the first team? The third team?
If Neal can adapt to guard and have a Mekhi Becton-like transition, or even a modestly successful one like Ereck Flowers did after leaving the Giants, that could be a boost to the offensive line.
Abdul Carter’s alignment
The No. 3 overall pick is an edge defender. He was drafted to play there, and edge is where he will make his mark in the NFL. Still, with Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux in place, Carter’s versatility will give defensive coordinator Shane Bowen options in terms of how to get his best players on the field as often as possible.
Will we see Carter lined up a bit at off-ball linebacker? Might we see him with his hand in the ground as a pass-rushing end? Watching that evolve is going to be interesting.
The rest of the draft class
Getting a first glimpse of the rookies mixing in with the veterans on the practice field is always interesting. How comfortable are they? Can you see signs that the skills they were drafted for will translate to the NFL? Does anyone give off a vibe that indicates the transition to the NFL might be a rocky one?
UDFA standouts
One of the fun parts of this time of year is trying to identify a couple of undrafted free agents who could bid for roster spots when training camp arrives.
Let’s be honest. At this time of year, when there are no pads and as little contact as humanly possible, it is the work of the receivers and defensive backs that is easiest to get some type of read on.
The Giants have wide receivers Da’Quan Felton, Juice Wells, Jordan Bly, Dalen Cambre and Beaux Collins vying to make an impression. On defense, cornerbacks O’Donnell Fortune and T.J. Moore, and safety Makari Paige will be trying to make a positive impact.
Lisfranc recoveries
The Giants have two key offensive players — star left tackle Andrew Thomas and starting tight end Theo Johnson — returning from Lisfranc injuries. Reports on both this offseason have been positive. How much will they do this early How do they look if we see them moving around? The health of Thomas, of course, is crucial.
Who’s calling offensive plays?
Daboll, of course, took over play-calling last season after offensive coordinator Mike Kafka had that responsibility in 2022 and 2023. Daboll has been under some pressure to turn that job back over to Kafka, but has been non-committal thus far.
At rookie minicamp, it was Kafka calling the plays while spent a lot of time zeroed in on Dart. If history is a guide, who is handling that job during OTAs and mandatory minicamp will likely tell us who will call plays during the season.
Deonte Banks
The 2023 first-round pick was looked at as the Giants’ top cornerback a year ago. His play, and his demeanor at times, showed he wasn’t ready for that role.
Now, after Jerome Henderson — the defensive backs coach who admittedly banged the table for him in the draft — has been replaced by Marquand Manuel, Banks is looked as the biggest question mark in an upgraded secondary.
After posting an unseemly 124.7 passer rating against in 2024 and having a couple of incidents where he was called out for lack of effort, Banks needs to both play better and show more professionalism in 2025.
The presence of Paulson Adebo across the field from him will help.
Veteran free agents
In addition to Wilson, this will be our first look as Adebo, safety Jevon Holland and other veteran free agents as Giants.
Full offseason schedule
OTAs: May 27-28, May 30, June 2-3, June 5, June 9-10, June 12-13
Mandatory minicamp: June 17-18
