The New York Giants have gotten mixed results so far in NFL free agency. While they brought in tight end Isaiah Likely, who will now be reunited with new head coach John Harbaugh, they lost wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who is coming off a 1,000-yard season, to the Tennessee Titans.
However, there still seems to be some cautious optimism throughout the Tri-State Area about the Giants’ chances for this upcoming season. The franchise seems to think it has found its future franchise quarterback in Jaxson Dart, and it has several stars and studs throughout its roster on both sides of the football.
One man who has paid attention to what New York has done lately is Dez Bryant, the former Dallas Cowboys star wideout. After Likely chose the Giants, Bryant went on Twitter and boldly proclaimed that the team, along with the Cowboys, will be competing for NFC East supremacy this coming season.
“This signing makes my analysis correct! Likely Cold! He will be the #1 tight end in NY…. Makes sense why Dallas locking in the way they are! Cowboys and Giants will be competing for the NFC east! You heard it first here! Eagles and Commanders won't be a thing this coming year!”
Will the Giants (and Cowboys) be all that in 2026?
The Giants have been a bad or mediocre team for most of the time since they won the Super Bowl championship during the 2011 season. Their fan base is perhaps the most frustrated one in all of the NFL, but there are reasons to believe that the team will be competitive in 2026.
Dart’s ability and promise may not be startling, but he played solid football this past season. The loss of Robinson stings, but stud wideout Malik Nabers, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2024, could be ready for Week 1 after suffering a torn ACL in Week 4 of 2025. Likely isn’t a powerhouse tight end, but he will give Dart another pass-catching option in certain situations.
Running back Cam Skattebo tantalized New York fans before a dislocated ankle in Week 8 ended his 2025 campaign. Tyrone Tracy Jr., their other main threat at tailback, turned in 740 rushing yards, 288 receiving yards and four total touchdowns this past season.
There are some concerns about the interior of New York’s defensive line, as well as its secondary, but Brian Burns is coming off a sensational season during which he tallied 16.5 sacks, 31 quarterback hits, 22 tackles for loss and seven passes defended. Dexter Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux continue to be fixtures on the team’s front seven, and Abdul Carter, the pass rusher it took with the No. 3 pick in last year’s draft, could still have untapped potential.
On the other hand, the Giants also released Bobby Okereke, who was a very productive outside linebacker for them over the last three years.
Plenty may need to go right for the Giants to finish over .500 this fall, let alone have a real shot at first place in the NFC East, but they may have enough pieces in place. They also now have a proven, Super Bowl championship-winning coach in Harbaugh, and he presided over some very strong defenses during his 18 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
As far as the Cowboys winning the division, that’s a much different story. After going 7-9 in 2025, they haven’t brought in any difference-makers so far this offseason, and they traded key defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday.
Bryant may end up being at least somewhat right about New York, but he will probably be disappointed in how his former team does in 2026.
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