The New Orleans Saints will head back home to Cesars Superdome to host the New York Giants in Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season. To break it down, Ed Valentine of Big Blue View joins us to preview Sunday afternoon’s matchup.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 08: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints runs with the ball during the first quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on December 08, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 08: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints runs with the ball during the first quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on December 08, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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NJ: Jaxson Dart was linked to New Orleans throughout the entire draft process—do the vibes around the team suggest they’ve found their franchise QB of the future, and how would you grade his debut performance?
EV: It is far too early to know the answer for sure. Dart, though, has done nothing to make the organization think it was a mistake to trade up into the first round to get him in the draft. He has swag, he has grit, he has toughness, he can lead, he’s smart, he can make plays with his arm and with his feet.
He has a lot to learn and there will be growing pains. But, as I wrote this week Dart has given the Giants and their fans hope. I will say this—I think the Saints made a mistake by not selecting him at No. 9.
I would give Dart’s debut a B+. Not perfect, but he provided energy, didn’t turn the ball over and the Giants beat an undefeated team.
NJ: Following the devastating news that former LSU standout Malik Nabers will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, how confident are you in the depth of the Giants’ receiving corps heading into Week 5?
EV: No matter whether I am confident or not, Nabers is not a player you replace. You put another guy out there and do the best you can. As Dart said Sunday, Nabers is “one of one.”
It is hard to be confident in the depth. Jalin Hyatt has gotten a lot of hype and done nothing in 2+ seasons. Undrafted Beaux Collins is a rookie. There are some people clamoring for the Giants to sign Odell Beckham Jr. I hope those people realize Odell is a shell of the player they remember.
NJ: The Giants inked former Saints 2021 third-round pick Paulson Adebo to a three-year, $54 million deal this offseason—how has he looked since returning from the broken right femur he suffered in Week 7 against the Broncos last season?
EV: Adebo has been good, but not great. The Giants need the guy who had seven interceptions in his last 22 games with the Saints. He hasn’t shown up yet. I think the Giants are still happy to have him.
NJ: Who is one under-the-radar Giants player that has stood out and might be a difference-maker against the Saints?
EV: I will give you a player who has yet to stand out, but who the Giants are very high on and could see a breakout game soon.
That is DE Darius Alexander, a rookie they selected in Round 3. He has been playing more and more, and he has yet to have a big impact. The talent is there, though, and with one of the best defensive line coaches in football in Andre Patterson, I think it will eventually show up.
NJ: According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Saints (-112) are currently 1.5-point favorites over the Giants (-104) in Sunday’s matchup; what is your final score prediction?
EV: Weird. Your questions came in Monday night. I looked Monday morning and the Giants were favored by that same 1.5 points. The Malik Nabers injury has to be the change. Anyway, I can’t give you a score. I think, though, this is a game the Giants should win. It’s a game they have to win with two games against the Eagles and one against the Broncos in the next three weeks. I think it’s a game they will win.
Thank you again to Ed Valentine for joining us to preview this week’s matchup! You can check out the rest of his work here.