We’re less than two weeks from the New York Giants reporting to training camp to prepare for the 2025 season. This is one of the most important seasons in franchise history as both general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are on the hot seat, and at some point, they’ll be looking to usher in rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Despite significant offseason upgrades, many are predicting the team will once again finish last in the NFC East. But those inside the Giants organization feel confident that they can be one of the surprise teams this season.
Training camp always produces intense position battles, along with under-the-radar players having a chance to shine and move up the depth chart. The summer also presents a chance for players who might be in jeopardy of sliding down or possibly being cut to show their worth.
Here’s a look at five players with the most to prove this summer.
Evan Neal
NFL: New York Giants at New York Jets
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After three injury-plagued and dreadful seasons at right tackle, the team is converting Evan Neal to guard this season. During OTAs, the Giants had Neal play left guard, but the plan will be for him to play right guard during training camp as they try to salvage the seventh overall pick from the 2022 NFL Draft.
This year is the ultimate make-or-break season for the 6-foot-7, 340-pound lineman. The writing was on the wall when the team declined his fifth-year option, and if his play at guard mirrors his performance at tackle, his time with Big Blue may come to an abrupt end.
Jameis Winston
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The belief heading into this season is that barring injury, Russell Wilson will remain the team’s starting quarterback until they’re out of playoff contention. Then he’ll be replaced by Dart.
This leaves Jameis Winston, who is currently second on the depth chart, in an unusual situation because there doesn’t seem to be a path for him to become a starter unless Wilson gets hurt early in the season.
For a brief moment this offseason, it seemed the 31-year-old quarterback might be the starter in 2025, as he was signed days before the team signed Wilson. Now, Winston must play well throughout the summer and prevent Dart from supplanting him as Wilson’s primary backup. If Winston doesn’t outperform Dart by a wide margin, the team may look to trade him.
Jalin Hyatt
NFL: Cincinnati Bengals at New York Giants
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To say Jalin Hyatt’s first two seasons with Big Blue have been a disappointment would be a huge understatement. In two years, he has just 31 receptions for 435 yards with zero touchdowns. His lack of production is one of the reasons some fans would be open if the team reached out to Odell Beckham Jr. for a reunion.
The team is hopeful that with Wilson at quarterback, the 23-year-old wideout will have a breakout season. Currently, Hyatt is fourth on the wide receiver depth chart behind Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, and Wan’Dale Robinson. But he’ll be pushed by the other receivers on the roster, including undrafted Dalen Cambre, who had an impressive showing during OTAs.
Hyatt will make the final roster, but if he’s going to have a breakout season, he’ll need to start making plays in training camp and the preseason.
Deonte Banks
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After a promising rookie season, Deonte Banks struggled mightily in year two. Not only did he struggle in coverage, but there were times when he showed a lack of effort.
This was one of the reasons that prompted the team to sign free-agent Paulson Adebo as their new number one corner. With Adebo on one side of the field, Banks will now be in a position battle with Cor’Dale Flott for the other starting corner position.
Banks was once considered to be a cornerstone part of the Giants defense for several years to come. But if he doesn’t have a bounce-back season, he’ll see a significant decrease in his playing time.
Devin Singletary
NFL: Washington Commanders at New York Giants
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The Giants signed Devin Singletary to a three-year contract last offseason to be the team’s new starting running back, in large part due to his familiarity with Daboll’s offense from their time together with the Buffalo Bills. But Singletary was eventually supplanted as the starter by rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Last season, Singletary rushed for a career-low in rus`hing yards (437) and yards per carry (3.9). With the addition of rookie Cam Skattebo, whom the team took in the fourth round (105th overall), New York’s backfield suddenly looks crowded.
Traditionally, Daboll likes to use a running back by committee approach for his ground game as opposed to a workhorse back. In his four years as Bills offensive coordinator and three years as Giants head coach, only twice has a running back carried the ball 200 times or more, and that was Saquon Barkley in 2022 and 2023.
But it’s unknown if Daboll intends to incorporate Tracy, Singletary, and Skattebo to have significant roles in the ground game this year. Singletary still has a ton of football left in him as he will turn 28 in September. But of the running back trio, he is the oldest and appears to be the most expendable. Singletary is number two heading into training camp, but he’ll need a strong summer to have a firm hold on a roster spot.