EAST RUTHERFORD – The roster building season for John Harbaugh’s first year as head coach of the New York Giants, for all intents and purposes, is over.
There can still be changes, of course, and there will be.
But the focus now turns to team building season as the Giants continue organized team activity (OTA) practices this week heading into Thursday’s third session. And make no mistake, those players remaining on the roster find themselves within of a group that went 7-27 over the last two seasons, winning just once against NFC East rivals Eagles and Cowboys with four losses in that span while failing to beat the Commanders in four tries.
This is a new era, however, and as clean slates go, altering the perspective is a priority.
“I could [not] care less about what’s happened last year or the year before that or 10 years before that,” Harbaugh said during the Giants’ Town Hall event on Monday, May 18. “All I care about is tomorrow’s practice, because if tomorrow’s practice is the way it’s supposed to be, that will be one more step in the direction of being a good enough football team to kick the Cowboys’ ass.”
From a personnel standpoint, the state of the roster and the anticipated development of players new and old will determine just how close the Giants are to competing in the NFC East, not to mention the chances of challenging for a spot in the playoffs in Harbaugh’s debut season.
How does a team that many oddsmakers believe will be challenged to win more than seven games defy expectations the way the Giants did for Brian Daboll in his first season as head coach in 2022?
Good players play great. Foundational franchise players wreck games, and in a good way.
Rookies and younger players come of age quicker than the masses believe they will.
And, to top that all off, there must be a group of players who take their games to new heights that, for the most part, the league does not see coming.
Here are the five Giants we think can step up and have breakout seasons in 2026. It’s improbable that all candidates hit, but these would be the ones to watch, albeit three-plus months from the start of the new season:
What the Giants learned quickly once the 6-foot-4, 300-pound Mbow arrived is that he a fast learner. Also, his physical gifts are matched by growth in the technical aspects of the game. Last summer as a rookie, his footwork and technique were more advanced than anticipated. But early in training camp, he was overpowered at times by teammates Abdul Carter, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
That gave Mbow something to prioritize and improve, and he did just that.
By drafting Sisi Mauigoa with the 10th overall pick, the Giants added another piece up front, which pushes Mbow down the depth chart a bit. Being the swing tackle behind Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor is still a priority position, especially with Mbow’s ability to play either side.
New York Giants guard Marcus Mbow (71) warms up before a game against the Green Bay Packers at MetLife Stadium, Nov 16, 2025, East Rutherford, NJ, USA.
With Mauigoa kicking inside to guard, at least from the outset with Thomas and Eluemunor locked in, the Giants can truly evaluate the best spot for Mbow not only now but moving forward. Mbow showcased his ability to play center and teased five-position versatility in the pros during Senior Bowl week heading into the 2025 draft, so there has been speculation that the Giants may consider shifting his positions. That doesn’t make sense for right now, and in my mind, Mbow has a chance to be incredibly valuable by serving as the top reserve at tackle and see where things go from there.
Ar’Darius Washington, DB
Washington followed Harbaugh from Baltimore, and he was believed to be on the verge of a breakout season before tearing his Achilles last May during offseason workouts. The 5-foot-8, 180-pounder started 10 games in 2024 and made 64 tackles, two interceptions and one sack with one forced fumble.
Washington fought his way back to the field after a seven-month recovery and his versatility remains an asset. Now he joins a Giants’ secondary with Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin slated as starters, and Washington can play either safety spot while also giving defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson another option with Dru Phillips in the slot depending on matchups. If healthy, Washington is going to play – and the Giants are going to seek ways to let him make plays.
Violent. Explosive. Twitchy.
That was the essence of NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s scouting report for the 6-foot-4, 310-pound Alexander coming out of Toledo, and those undeniable traits jumped out for the Giants as well when they opted to select Alexander at the top of the third round.
Alexander showed well down the stretch of his rookie season and more will be expected. Check that: more will be needed. The additions of veterans D.J. Reader and Shelby Harris should allow Alexander to settle into more of a disruptive role in which he is freed to get up the field and make plays.
Sam Roberts, DL
Solid and sturdy, and a sleeper to be a factor in this interior defensive line rotation.
The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Roberts has posted PFF run-defense grades above 70.7 in each of the last two seasons. He is a space occupier and rarely misses tackles against the run, which is what will give him the chance to contribute as an overlooked addition this offseason. Don’t be surprised if he battles sixth-round rookie Bobby Jamison-Travis, with both players having a chance to earn the trust of the coaching staff, which could put veteran returnee Roy Robertson-Harris in a competition for a roster spot given his salary cap hit and a potential space savings of slightly more than $3.3 million this year.
McFadden played only 12 snaps last season for the Giants after suffering a Lisfranc injury, and it was a big hit to the defense and to McFadden himself in a contract year. He returned on a one-year deal, in part for the opportunity on the depth chart that was there in March and looks a bit different today with No. 5 overall selection of Arvell Reese and sixth-rounder Jack Kelly.
But when healthy, McFadden produced back-to-back seasons of 100-plus tackles. He has good instincts and his presence was absolutely missed. He should also be a cornerstone player on special teams and a valued linebacker in sub-packages if Reese is in a pass rushing role.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Giants players with breakout potential for 2026 season
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