Malik Nabers returns from ACL injury as Jaxson Dart leads three bold Giants predictions heading into the 2026 NFL season.
giants, malik nabers
giants, malik nabers
The New York Giants are rebuilding around Jaxson Dart after a disastrous 4-13 finish in 2025 that cost head coach Brian Daboll his job following a 2-8 start. Malik Nabers tore his ACL and meniscus in Week 4 last season, cutting short what looked like a budding superstar campaign after his 109-catch, 1,204-yard rookie year in 2024. With Nabers healthy and Dart entering year two, here are three bold predictions for how New York's 2026 season unfolds.
Malik Nabers Returns as a Top-Five Receiver
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) looks on before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at MetLife Stadium.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Nabers earned Pro Bowl honors as a rookie in 2024, finishing fifth in the NFL in receptions with 109 and seventh in receiving yards with 1,204, while ranking second in the league in targets at 170. His 2025 season ended prematurely when he tore his ACL and meniscus against the Chargers in Week 4, limiting him to just 18 catches for 271 yards before surgery. Despite the injury's severity, Nabers has called his recovery “phenomenal” and avoided the PUP list entirely heading into training camp, a strong signal for his readiness.
Nabers now reunites with a more experienced Dart, who finished his rookie season completing 63.7 percent of his passes for 2,272 yards and 24 total touchdowns. With a full season of chemistry between the two and no lingering physical limitations, Nabers is positioned to return to his rookie form and push into the league's top five at his position by yards or receptions.
Jaxson Dart Throws for Over 3,500 Yards
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) looks on after joint practice with the Miami Dolphins at Baptist Health Training Complex.
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
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Dart became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to record 2,000-plus passing yards, 450-plus rushing yards, 15-plus passing touchdowns and five interceptions or fewer in the same season. He posted a 91.7 passer rating and accounted for 24 total touchdowns in just 12 starts after taking over from Russell Wilson in Week 4, a rate that projects to well over 3,500 yards across a full 17-game slate. His franchise-record nine rushing touchdowns also showed a dual-threat dimension that few rookie passers display.
With Nabers back at full strength and general manager Joe Schoen reshaping the roster around Dart, including retaining playmakers like Theo Johnson and adding depth at receiver, Dart's efficiency numbers should climb in year two. Expect him to clear 3,500 passing yards while cutting down on sacks, which numbered 35 during his rookie campaign.
Giants Defense Takes a Step Forward Post-Dexter Lawrence Trade
New York's offseason included trading star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati for the No. 10 overall pick, a move that signaled a full rebuild rather than a win-now approach on defense. That draft capital allowed the Giants to retool through the draft while retaining core young talent like edge rusher Abdul Carter, giving Daboll's successor a foundation to build around. Combined with the Giants' active free-agency additions on both lines, the defense should show incremental improvement even amid the transition.
New York's 4-13 finish in 2025 marked a floor for this roster, and better health across the board, particularly Nabers returning and Dart's continued growth, should translate to tangible win-total improvement. Expect the Giants to at least double their 2025 win total and finish closer to .500 as the young core matures together.
These three predictions hinge largely on Nabers's health holding up after a serious knee injury, but early signs from his rehabilitation have been overwhelmingly positive. If he and Dart both take the expected leap, 2026 could mark the turning point for a Giants offense built to contend for years to come.
Garrett Kerman covers all combat sports, from MMA and UFC, to boxing, to bare-knuckle, for ClutchPoints. He is also very well-versed in all American sports, especially the NFL, when it comes to news and betting analysis. The Saint Cloud, Florida native has bylines at Playmaker HQ and Vegas Odds.