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Giants news, 12/25: Two key OL miss practice, more headlines

Good morning and Merry Christmas, New York Giants fans!

From Big Blue View

Other Giant observations

The Giants’ salary cap discipline is poised to pay off in a big way | New York Post

While the black-and-white numbers today might not indicate that the Giants are swimming in 2026 projected space ($17.4 million, 19th-most in the NFL per OTC), the salary cap is healthier than it has been throughout most of the past decade of losing, and the ability to create more flexibility through a variety of means is unhindered by past mistakes. The Giants’ relatively blank slate from a salary-cap standpoint — their space jumps to $112 million in 2027 and $238 million in 2028, according to OverTheCap — and ability to navigate free agency or trades without financial limitation is one of the reasons the head coach vacancy is expected to be attractive to top candidates.

The Giants can free up $25.7 million by adding $10.5 million in dead money if they cut linebacker Bobby Okereke, kicker Graham Gano, running back Devin Singletary, swing tackle James Hudson and receiver Jalin Hyatt — none of whom are playing at a level commensurate with their cap charge.

On the back end, last year’s second-round pick Tyler Nubin has struggled. He’s second on the team with 10 missed tackles against the run and has just two passes defended. Offseason free agent acquisition Jevon Holland hasn’t been a difference-maker (58 tackles and one interception) for $15 million per year.

It made the executives and coaches wonder how Xavier McKinney and Julian Love from Schoen’s original roster in 2022 could have turned into Holland and Nubin, especially with Holland making similar money to McKinney.“Couldn’t have a bigger drop-off,” another NFC executive said.

To the several executives and coaches, it highlighted a “bad process” that has contributed greatly to a 2-13 team in Year 4 of Schoen’s roster build.

Baldy: Abdul Carter has shown why he was a high pick

Best Rookie Pass Rusher: Abdul Carter, New York Giants. Carter is the league’s highest-graded rookie pass rusher for the second straight week. The third overall pick in this year’s draft earned an 81.3 PFF pass-rush grade after generating six pressures (one sack) and a 20.7% win rate against the Vikings in Week 16.

Carter has been in a tier of his own this season when it comes to rookie pass rushers, leading the way in PFF pass-rush grade (83.0), pressures (54) and win rate (14.3%). He’s been among the league’s best pass rushers over the past month, ranking second in PFF pass-rush grade (90.4) since Week 13. His recent play has bumped him all the way up into the top 15 of these pass-rusher rankings.

How Contracts for Jaxon-Smith Njigba, Bijan, More Are Impacted by NFL Pro Bowl | Bleacher Report

Brian Burns, LB, New York Giants: $1.8 million incentive for 2025 and salary escalator in 2026 increase 2025 salary to $24.5 million and 2026 salary to $25.5 million

Jaxson Dart isn’t regressing. Giants failing to step up for their QB | The Record

The narratives being pushed about Jaxson Dart right now are so out of whack.

This level of hot take-ish discourse is expected when the New York Giants are mired in yet another historically bad stretch of football as a team with no end in sight. Nine straight defeats. A franchise-worst 12 losses on the road.

Inside the Numbers: Giants vs. Raiders Preview | Giants.com

20: Jaxson Dart leads all rookies with 20 offensive touchdowns. His seven rushing touchdowns are tied for fourth in NFL history among rookie quarterbacks. With two games remaining, Dart trails only Charlie Conerly (27 in 1948) and Daniel Jones (26 in 2019) for the most total touchdowns in Giants history by a rookie quarterback.

Bruce Arians: Giants a team to watch in 2026

Ranking NFL Pretenders Most Likely To Become Playoff Contenders Next Season | Bleacher Report

5. New York Giants. The team represents one of the most attractive landing locations for a head coach and should have its pick of the litter when it comes to desirable candidates. They also have an estimated $26 million in available cap space and plenty of options—such as releasing aging veterans like Bobby Okereke and Graham Gano—to free up finances.

To maximize their chances of winning in 2026, the Giants should prioritize bringing in an offensive mastermind who believes in Dart and has a plan to leverage his unique talents. The Chicago Bears took a similar path this past season when they hired Ben Johnson to work with Caleb Williams. The move has been a resounding success, resulting in the team’s first playoff berth in a half-decade and first 10-win campaign since 2018.

So how much value could the Giants expect to get for the top pick, if they trade down, in a deal with a quarterback-needy team, like the Jets?

The Jets currently are fourth. That pick is worth 490.52 points, according to Rich Hill’s draft trade value chart. The top pick is worth 1,000 points. So the Jets would have to make up a 509.48-point difference. In terms of premium picks in 2026, the Jets have an extra first rounder and two second rounders — Nos. 18, 35 and 45. Their extra first rounder (based on where they are right now) is worth 286.72 points, while their second rounders are worth 170.37 and 131.1 points. So if you combine those three picks, that’s 588.19 — which should be plenty, since teams usually have to pay a premium when moving up for a quarterback.

Neither team would actually be assured of the first overall pick with a loss on Sunday, as there’s still a chance that the team that loses on Sunday could win its season finale the following week, move back up into a tie for the worst record in the NFL, and then lose the tiebreaker. The tiebreaker is strength of schedule, with the team that faced the weaker schedule picking first. The Giants have a weaker schedule than the Raiders, but the 3-12 Browns have a weaker schedule than either of them and could still get the first overall pick if the Browns, Giants and Raiders all finish 3-14.

This week’s opponent

Losing to the Giants this weekend would help that effort, but Crosby was emphatic about such considerations being nowhere on his mind as the season nears its conclusion.

“I don’t give a s—t about the pick, to be honest,” Crosby said in a locker room media session. “I don’t play for that. That’s not my job. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world. That’s what I focus on every day, and being a great leader and being an influence and being that guy on a consistent basis for my team. . . . That’s got nothing to do with me. I’ve learned my lesson in the past. You can’t control everything. That’s not my job description. My job is to be the best in the world at what I do. And that’s wrecking the game.”

In Week 16, facing the No. 1 ranked defense in the NFL, Jeanty finished with a career-high 188 scrimmage yards (128 rushing, 60 receiving). It’s the second-most scrimmage yards in a game by a rookie in franchise history, trailing only Bo Jackson (235) from the 1987 season against the Seattle Seahawks. Jeanty also recorded two touchdowns on plays amassing over 50 yards.

He’s now the fifth rookie in franchise history to reach 1,000 scrimmage yards on the season, joining teammate Brock Bowers (2024), Josh Jacobs (2019), Amari Cooper (2015) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen (1982).

Las Vegas Raiders DC Patrick Graham doesn’t need to return in 2026 | Silver and Black Pride

If the Raiders’ reset, they need to do it in all forms of the coaching staff. A new system, direction and voice are needed at all the key spots. Graham is a solid coach and he has done some good things with the Raiders, but his time should be up if Carroll leaves.

In the end, it is probably best for Graham for him to leave as well. Everyone needs a fresh start. When he came to Las Vegas, Graham was considered to be a top head-coaching candidate and he has received some interviews in recent head-coaching hiring cycles. But his career is stalling in Las Vegas.