Ten years ago (or thereabouts), stories began to emerge about NFL quarterbacks using virtual reality to augment their training. The talk quieted fairly quickly, apparently because teams that were using it didn’t want to publicize how well it works. That’s what made the inclusion of an extended look at Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels using a VR headset in the new season of Quarterback on Netflix a bit surprising. “They select the play and I’ve got seven seconds to kind of process what coverage I think they’re in and the ball snaps and you’ve got to go out there and make a quick decision,” Daniels said. The two-plus-minute segment includes both head coach Dan Quinn and then-quarterbacks coach (now offensive coordinator) David Blough talking about the benefits of the system. “I can say, ‘Hey, we’re expecting this play against three coverages. Can I get these three coverages brought into the system,’” Blough said. “And then he’s able to see different defenses and operate from there.” “You might have not had that exact play at practice,” Quinn said, “but now that you do, there’s recall that goes with it.” It also gives a quarterback a chance to see, as explained by Cognilize CEO Verena Krakau, everything in the next stadium where a team will be playing, such as the location of the play clock. One coach who, in recent years, was fairly talkative about the VR system was former Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians. In June 2019, he expressed hope that then-starter Jameis Winston had embraced it. (Given that Winston threw 30 interceptions in his first and only season with Arians, Winston possibly didn’t.) The next year, Arians said new starter Tom Brady was “ falling in love ” with the VR system Arians had brought with him from Arizona. And the 2020 season culminated in a Super Bowl win. Basically, any team that isn’t using VR for quarterback training should be. Which further explains the general reluctance of teams that are using it to zip it
The Las Vegas Raiders used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on whom they hope will be the future of the franchise in quarterback Fernando Mendoza . The Indiana signal-caller cemented himself as a college football legend, as he led the Hoosiers to an undefeated season and College Football Championship while picking up the Heisman Trophy along the way. Only three other players have ever won the Heisman Trophy and were selected No. 1 overall: Cam Newton , Jameis Winston and Joe Burrow . All three players were immediately thrown into the starting lineup for their respective teams, but that will not be the case for Mendoza. The Raiders went out and signed veteran Kirk Cousins to start the season, and mentor the young Mendoza. Some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL did not start right away. Patrick Mahomes sat almost his entire rookie season while learning behind Alex Smith , Aaron Rodgers sat for three years behind Brett Favre, and Jordan Love behind Rodgers for two seasons. Even the great Tom Brady sat for over a full year backing up Drew Bledsoe. So, what is the best course of action? Former Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson, who coached Philly to its Super Bowl LII victory against Brady's New England Patriots in 2017, believes that Mendoza should start right away. Pederson faced this same dilemma in 2016, when his Eagles drafted Carson Wentz No. 2 overall. It appeared Wentz was going to sit behind Sam Bradford as a rookie, but the Eagles changed course and shipped Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings prior to the start of the regular season. That opened the door for Wentz to play immediately. As Pederson explains it, he truly believed Wentz was going to be his franchise quarterback, and he wanted to get the growing pains out of the way early. He believes the Raiders should do this with Mendoza. "Let's get this guy out there Week 1, let's start having our growing pains Week 1," Pederson said. "Let's not prolong it into October or November or later in the season. Let's get him out there now. Let's get him working with the guys that he's going to be working with. Making the calls at the offensive line, getting Ashton Jeanty the ball. I think Klint Kubiak's system is going to allow for that, with the play-action pass, the run game, all these things that helped Seattle win a championship last year. But let's get Fernando on the field. I think it's very beneficial..." Pederson said Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott called him in 2018 to ask for advice on how to handle his new quarterback, Josh Allen . Pederson told him if McDermott was completely sold on Allen being the future of the franchise, he should play right away. "I think you put him on the field Day 1." Doug Pederson thinks the Raiders should start Fernando Mendoza at QB Week 1. pic.twitter.com/dfjB8Emd9e Wentz went 7-9 for the Eagles as a rookie, and then started his second season 11-2 before tearing his ACL. Wentz looked like an MVP candidate during that 2017 campaign prior to his injury with 33 passing touchdowns in 13 games. He clearly built confidence after playing a full year in the NFL. If there's one former player you should listen to when it comes to handling quarterbacks, it's Raiders minority owner Tom Brady. The seven-time Super Bowl champion is a proponent of sitting and developing young quarterbacks. He lamented the state of the quarterback in today's NFL during a 2024 interview. "I didn't start my first year. I think it's just a tragedy that we're forcing these rookies to play early," Brady said. "But the reality is, the only reason why they are is because we've dumbed the game down which has allowed them to play. It used to be thought of at a higher level..." . @TomBrady on the tragedy that is being forced on rookie QBs in today’s NFL pic.twitter.com/IReSLdYL1R Since 2020, we've seen 11 rookie quarterbacks start immediately, and every single one of them had growing pains. Even the great Burrow, [... truncated ...]
Good morning, New York Giants fans! NY Giants news: GM Joe Schoen’s contract extension length revealed What do advanced stats tell us about Jaxson Dart’s rookie season passing? Summer scouting: Can safety Koi Perich have a breakout season for Oregon? Who are the best Giants from each region of the country? New York Giants: A+. The Giants started the 2026 offseason with a bang, hiring Harbaugh after his departure from Baltimore . The new coach wasted no time rebuilding the roster in his image. New York signed four players who played for the Ravens last year — including breakout TE candidate Isaiah Likely — and notable defenders like LB Tremaine Edmunds , CB Greg Newsome II and DTs DJ Reader and Shelby Harris . Then Big Blue proceeded to absolutely crush the draft, picking up Reese at No. 5, Mauigoa at No. 10, CB Colton Hood at No. 37 and WR Malachi Fields at No. 74. My colleague Gennaro Filice ranked their draft class second among all 32 teams. The G-Men arguably improved in every facet this offseason and are one of my favorites sleeper teams in 2026. What has been the most underrated move by your team? The upgrade at inside linebacker. The Giants signed Tremaine Edmunds and drafted Arvell Reese fifth out of Ohio State. Even though many had Reese pegged as an edge rusher at the NFL level, the Giants do not. He’s an inside linebacker for them. Now New York has two long, physical linebackers in the middle of its defense. Reese and Edmunds are both listed at 6-foot-4 and should make it difficult for opposing quarterbacks to find passing lanes. It should be an upgrade from last year’s starting combination of Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden . The Giants now have McFadden, a proven NFL starter, in a reserve role. Fellow Giants quarterback Jameis Winston was recently asked about Dart prior to his second year in New York. Winston praised the young quarterback for his confidence and work ethic. “He’s so confident,” Winston told Giants Huddle. “His obsession with learning every single day and challenging his teammates and challenging his coaches, it’s so inspiring.” 7. Jaxson Dart was his own worst enemy in the pocket. The Allowed Pressures section of the QB Annual doesn’t just measure how often a quarterback is pressured — it also identifies QB-fault pressures, where the quarterback’s own pocket management or decision-making contributed to the pressure rather than the offensive line. It’s an important distinction when evaluating how much of a quarterback’s pressure profile is self-inflicted. In 2025, Jaxson Dart recorded the highest QB-fault pressure rate among qualifying starters, with 39.1% of the allowed pressures he faced attributed to his own decisions in the pocket rather than breakdowns in protection. Viewed alongside traditional pressure statistics, the split helps separate offensive line performance from quarterback responsibility. It provides another layer of context for evaluating whether pressure is primarily a protection issue, a quarterback issue or a combination of both. Tier 3: Promising Prospects. The mystery is the blessing (and potential curse). None of these quarterbacks played more than a single season. Each showed some level of promise during their rookie season. There are legitimate reasons to believe that each of these quarterbacks could be in line to do something special this fall. New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart. While he’s not Lamar Jackson , Dart nonetheless has impressive physical gifts and equally impressive determination. John Harbaugh is again tasked with helping his quarterback maximize his talent while also helping him avoid taking unnecessary hits, which has been Dart’s Achilles heel. Cardinals TE Trey McBride excited to have RB Jeremiyah Love ‘on our side’: That dude’s a ‘stud’ | NFL.com Texans waive DB Ajani Carter, LB Xavier Thomas off of IR | Pro Football Talk Denver Broncos’ defense searching for more turnovers in 2026 | ESPN.com Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to bigb
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Offering up predictions for an upcoming NFL season is always fun. You throw out things that you believe are going to happen, and if you are feeling particularly spicy then you toss out some that you feel a bit less confident in but could still see happening if things broke a certain direction. On Wednesday the worldwide leader in sports did just that by offering several bold predictions for the league at large . These vary in type and some are specific to players as opposed to teams. But the theme of them all was that they were of the bold variety. There is one involving the Dallas Cowboys. This is the kind of thing that requires the right environment. The “right” environment means one conducive to it happening. Players generally only throw for 5K because their teams were in positions for them to do so. This is a nice way of saying that they had bad defenses. Dak Prescott came close to 5K back in 2019 as noted by ESPN. They note that a big factor in that was how quickly the Cowboys offense moved that season and that they shared a similar level of speed last year which is why the prediction is what it is. It has been done 14 times by nine different players: Peyton Manning , Drew Brees , Tom Brady , Patrick Mahomes , Ben Roethlisberger , Dan Marino, Matthew Stafford , Justin Herbert and (I’ll give you a billion guesses for the last name) Jameis Winston . The most recent 5,000-yard passer was Mahomes in 2022. To clear 5,000 passing yards in a 17-game season, a quarterback must average 294.1 passing yards per contest. In Prescott’s best season (2019), he averaged 306.4 yards per contest and fell just 100 yards short of the 5,000-yard mark since there were 16 games. Interestingly, the Cowboys weren’t particularly pass-happy that season, with a 60.7% dropback rate that was below the league average. But they had a high total number of plays because they were moving fast . In their first season under offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, no team snapped the ball with more time on the play clock. Only five offenses had more plays per game; only six ran no-huddle more frequently. Last season, the Cowboys rediscovered their superspeed ways in their first year under coach Brian Schottenheimer and coordinator Klayton Adams. The Cowboys once again led the league in play clock remaining at the snap, and this time, they led the league in offensive plays per game. Prescott had a career-high 600 total pass attempts. The volume will be there for Prescott to not just lead the league in passing in 2026 but to once again challenge for the 5,000-yard milestone. Volume is the first half of the riddle; explosiveness is the other half. To that end, the Cowboys must successfully get wide receiver George Pickens to play on the franchise tag for Prescott to reach the mark. Pickens unlocked a new level to his game in just one season with the Cowboys, as Prescott provided him with stable quarterback play for the first time in his NFL career. It did take Dallas some time to riddle out the chemistry between Pickens and incumbent WR1 CeeDee Lamb , and Lamb missed four games early in the season with a high ankle sprain. When both Pickens and Lamb were on the field, Prescott averaged 8.1 yards per pass attempt. When at least one was not on the field, that fell to 6.7. Lamb had a weird year in general, with a career-worst eight drops and his worst season for YAC since he was a rookie. It’s fair to project an improvement in the Cowboys’ passing game in Year 2 under Schottenheimer and Adams, as they’ve had time to iron out the wrinkles in the Lamb/Pickens pairing. While the Cowboys’ offense should get better in 2026, it’ll likely remain a below-average unit, forcing them into shootouts that give Prescott additional dropbacks. There’s some concern in pass protection at both tackle spots for Dallas, but no environment can be perfect. As Prescott gets older, he’ll scramble less and instead throw more against pressure. Cincinnati ’s Joe Burrow is another good c
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In 2025, the New Orleans Saints faced an unusual decision going into the season: who would be the starting quarterback in Week 1? Between Drew Brees , Jameis Winston and Derek Carr , it’s a question the franchise has rarely had to deal with in recent decades. Alas, despite much speculation that the battle was merely a formality before Tyler Shough was handed the keys by preseason, it was second-year pro Spencer Rattler who got the nod from Kellen Moore. A year on, a different question persists in the QB room: who’s the backup? Having taken over the reins halfway through last season, Shough is now the established starter heading into 2026. But whether Rattler is in at QB2, we’re yet to have a definitive answer for. Rattler’s rookie deal sees him under contract for two more seasons. Meanwhile, former 2021 second overall pick Zach Wilson is also in the building, having signed a one-year contract with the Saints for the season ahead. Wilson struggled to establish himself through three seasons with the Jets before stints over the last two years with Denver and Miami . A highly touted prospect coming out of BYU, he’s yet to live up to what many hoped he could be at the professional level. Rattler, meanwhile, had his moments as the starter a year ago, and threw just one interception in his first six starts. But he ultimately lost his spot after the Saints fell to 1-7 on the year. Which QB starts the year behind Shough will be a story to follow as the Saints move through the offseason. Who do you want to see as the backup in Week 1? Let us know in the comments!
Good morning, New York Giants fans! Eli Manning on how NY Giants QB Jaxson Dart can make a Year 2 leap ESPN offseason grades: Did the NY Giants close the gap? NFC East Grades: Where do the Giants stack up at tight end? Who wins the NFC East? It is the start of July. That means your favorite Giants players and coaches are somewhere other than the team facility, probably on vacation. The early weeks of summer are upon us, and if you cannot muster up some level of optimism about your favorite team, you are either a doomsayer or do not want to get your hopes up, at all. New York Giants futures picks: Under 7.5 wins (-110). I get having optimism with the Giants considering the wins left on the board last year and the likely upgrade at head coach. I’m just not sure the offense will be ready to push for a winning record in Dart’s first year under Matt Nagy, who was largely underwhelming in Chicago before serving as offensive coordinator in Kansas City , where the offense took a step backward the last two seasons. If Dart’s play style results in injury, the offense turns over to Jameis Winston , who is capable of making big plays for either team on every drive. I think this is probably a seven-win team and if the market will give me even odds on Under 7.5 at some point, I’ll likely jump on it. At least the Giants can feel better about the running back position with Skattebo near full health. Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. give them two solid options at the position. Tracy has averaged 4.3 yards per carry in his first two professional seasons and topped 1,000 total yards in each of the campaigns. Skattebo flashed with seven total touchdowns in eight games. Skattebo seems to be the kind of running back that Harbaugh prefers. “I thought he was just what you saw, a downhill runner, a tone-setter type runner. He’s a tough tackle. That’s what you look for,” Harbaugh said. “How many guys can make yards when they’re not supposed to make yards on their own? It seems to me he was that kind of guy at Arizona State and the exact same guy that I saw on tape last year. You guys know better. You watched him up close and personal. He’s a top tier back, and he’s planning on playing that way this year.” Jaxson Dart tops the leaderboard after converting more than half of his scrambles into first downs or touchdowns as a rookie. His confidence as a runner noticeably increased throughout the season, particularly as he became more comfortable extending plays outside the pocket. 5. New York Giants: Brian Burns and Abdul Carter . This is a bit of a future hedge, but also rooted in some underlying numbers. While Carter posted only four sacks as a rookie, he also notched 23 quarterback hits, ranking tied for 13th across the league. He also got better as the season progressed. After totaling more than one quarterback hit just once in his first 11 games, Carter did so three times over the final six. All told, he had 14 of his 23 QB hits over that span. As for Burns, he’s long been one of the premier pass rushers in the league. When New York acquired Burns from the Panthers, it gave up second- and fifth-round picks, while also signing him to a five-year, $141 million extension, including $87.5 million guaranteed. Last year, Burns earned second-team All-Pro honors after a career-best 16.5 sacks, 22 tackles for loss and 31 quarterback hits. League-wide, those figures ranked second, third and fourth, respectively. The Giants Foundation will host their annual 5K Race and Kids Run presented by Quest, on Sunday, November 8, at 9:00 a.m. at MetLife Stadium with net proceeds benefiting The Giants Foundation. In addition to the 5K Race and Kids Run, the one-mile fun run introduced in 2025 will return for its second year. Following the conclusion of The Giants Foundation 5K, the event continues with a 100-yard Kids Run for ages 6 and under starting at 10:30 a.m. Registered participants will get the chance to run out of the Giants home tunnel, run 100 yards a
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Good morning, New York Giants fans! NY Giants’ top 10 most important players: No. 8 — LB Arvell Reese NFC East Grades: Where do the NY Giants stack up at safety? Survey: Which player will be the NY Giants’ hidden gem? Speaking of former first-round picks in that scheme: Maybe there is still hope for Deonte Banks with the Giants? The Giants then, predictably, declined Banks’s fifth-year option for 2027, turning this year into a contract year. And the fourth-year pro has responded with a nice spring, flashing confidence that seemed to have left him, and may be a product of going back to a system, run by John Harbaugh’s new DC Dennard Wilson, that’s like Martindale’s. Now, if Banks is going to start, he’ll have to earn it. Paulson Adebo is locked in at one spot, Greg Newsome II is coming aboard from Jacksonville , and the team got what was widely seen as a steal in Colton Hood in the second round. But so far, so good for the 25-year-old. 15. Patrick Ricard , FB, New York Giants. A perennial Pro Bowl fullback, Ricard will be integral in helping the Giants establish the physical brand of football that new head coach John Harbaugh wants. Ricard’s lead-blocking skills will clear rush lanes for dual-threat quarterback Jaxson Dart and a balanced running back room that gets Cam Skattebo back from injury. Likely was in attendance at the Tight End University (TEU), run by George Kittle , Travis Kelce , and Greg Olsen . Established in 2021, TEU brings tight ends together for a three-day immersive program. During that time, players bond, collaborate, and learn from one another while participating in film study, on-field drills, recovery sessions, rehabilitation work, and more. Retired legends also provide attendees with the opportunity to learn from some of the best to ever play the position. It was easy to forget. Watching all the Giants’ work this spring, all the time on the field, all the 7-on-7 drills and full-team periods, seeing quarterbacks Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston and Brandon Allen firing the ball hither and yon to a bevy of targets — wide receivers, tight ends and running backs — it was easy to forget who was not out there. 20. New York Giants. Jaxson Dart’s performance as a rookie saw the Giants move up seven spots in our QB rankings. Dart started 12 games as a rookie and scored 24 total touchdowns, 15 of which came through the air. However, his 6.7 yards per completion ranked ahead of just four quarterbacks with at least 300 pass attempts. Jameis Winston returns as the veteran backup after starting two games in 2025. Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux . Thibodeaux will play the 2026 season on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract for $14.751 million. He will do it as the Giants’ third edge rusher behind Brian Burns and Abdul Carter . It appears the Giants are going to make Thibodeaux play it out. There hasn’t been any talk of an extension. He knows it’s a big season for him after two injury-plagued years. Thibodeaux has missed 12 games over the past two seasons and compiled just 8.0 sacks. This year will determine whether he can get the big long-term deal he desires. Commanders tackle Laremy Tunsil takes Josh Conerly under his wing: ‘I see myself’ in him | NFL.com Falcons, star TE Kyle Pitts agree to 3-year, $54M deal | The Athletic Jaguars sign tight end Brenton Strange to three-year contract extension | Pro Football Talk What’s Zay Flowers’ value to Ravens? Lamar Jackson weighs in | ESPN.com The 49ers are reportedly considering relocating their practice facilities | Yahoo Sports Bills owner Terry Pegula helps open team’s new $2.1 billion stadium | FOX Sports Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to bigblueview@gmail.com and it might be featured in our weekly mailbag. BBV on X: Follow @BigBlueView | Ed Valentine: @Valentine_Ed | Threads: @ed.valentine Bluesky: @edvalentine BBV on Facebook: Click here to like the Big Blue View Facebook page BBV on YouTube: Subscribe to the Big Blue View YouTube channel [... truncated ...]
A fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. burst onto the scene as a rookie by recording 1,123 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns on 230 touches across 17 games (12 starts). However, Tracy Jr. lost the RB1 role in New York to 2025 fourth-rounder Cam Skattebo (ankle) early last season. Skattebo (ankle) suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 8, which allowed Tracy Jr. to reclaim the starting role and top 1,000 scrimmage yards for the second consecutive season. Entering 2026, Skattebo is expected to be fully healthy and should reclaim the lead role in the Giants' backfield. Still, Tracy Jr. could remain a valuable player to roster for dynasty managers. The 26-year-old is a former college wide receiver who has recorded 74 catches for 572 yards on 101 targets across his first two NFL seasons, which could allow him to provide fantasy production even while playing a complementary role. Additionally, Skattebo's violent play style gives him a heightened injury risk and makes Tracy Jr. a high-end handcuff option. For the right price, Tracy Jr. could be worth buying low on entering 2026
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — In a recent meeting of the New York Giants ' offense, coordinator Matt Nagy posed a quiz of sorts. Nagy was installing a play for a group of Giants players learning a system. He asked quarterback Jaxson Dart to rattle off a full call without looking at the board. Then Nagy continued down his list of quarterbacks, asking Jameis Winston to call the play as if it were run from the other hash and thus flipped to the opposite direction. Nagy prompted quarterback Brandon Allen to call the play with still yet a further tweak. "When I'm doing that, I usually don't get much eye contact from other people in the room because they don't want me to call on them," Nagy told Yahoo Sports during a Monday interview. But Nagy nonetheless called on receiver Malik Nabers to quiz Nabers as he'd quizzed the quarterbacks. "On a tough call, and he said the whole formation, motion, shift and play to a T," Nagy said. "He doesn't say a whole lot, but he's listening and he's taking it all in. "I see why he's as good as he is." Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournament The Giants do not question whether Nabers is a No. 1 receiver who will elevate their offense. But they do need to determine when they'll have him available to game plan. After a Pro Bowl rookie season in 2024, Nabers tore his right ACL last September during Dart's first career start. He underwent cleanup surgery to remove scar tissue in April, per multiple reports. Nabers is not yet practicing. But his recent participation in a charity dodgeball game showcased a player "moving in the right direction" even as he made his franchise nervous, general manager Joe Schoen said. Schoen is optimistic that Nabers will suit up when the Giants open their season on Sunday Night Football, hosting their division-rival Dallas Cowboys . "I still think he'll be fine Week 1," Schoen told Yahoo Sports on Monday. "So we'll see. He's trending in the right direction. Again, these things take time, so it's not instant. Every patient is different." The Giants' receiver group has become deeper in recent weeks even as its ceiling, as long as Nabers is sidelined, gives reason for question. Veteran Darius Slayton , who caught 37 passes for 538 yards and a touchdown last year, returns. He's joined by free-agent signings in Calvin Austin III , Odell Beckham Jr. , Braxton Berrios , JuJu Smith-Schuster and Darnell Mooney . Austin led that bunch last year with 372 yards and three touchdowns. The Giants also selected Notre Dame receiver Malachi Fields in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. None compare to the Giants' envisioned ceiling for Nabers, who broke out as a rookie to the Pro Bowl tune of 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns. Nabers had 271 receiving yards and two touchdowns last season in three-and-a-half games. He's yet to establish chemistry with Dart, catching just two passes from the 2025 first-round pick before tearing his ACL. "Do we have that true No. 1 alpha 22-year-old Malik Nabers out there if he's not available? No, but I think there's enough to go," Schoen said. "There's going to be a good competition at receiver throughout camp, but there's enough for me from the backfield, the tight end position, there's enough at receiver where we'll be able to move the ball and still be a productive offense – and it'll be a cherry on top if Malik's out there." The Giants' tight ends and running backs fuel the optimism. At tight end, the Giants are returning 2024 fourth-rounder Theo Johnson after he caught 45 passes for 528 yards and five touchdowns, finding rhythm with Dart. Harbaugh also brought tight end Isaiah Likely and fullback Patrick Ricard from Baltimore . And at running back, the Giants posed three threats last season among Tyrone Tracy Jr. (740 yards, two touchdowns), Devin Singletary (437 yards, five touchdowns) and Cam Skattebo (410, 5 touchdowns in just eight games). The strong run game helped set up Da
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Winston enters the 2026 season as the clear backup to 2025 first-round pick Jaxson Dart with Russell Wilson currently a free agent. Though now entering his age-32 campaign, Winston has consistently shown the ability to generate production when called upon, compiling 567 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions across three appearances in 2025, while also adding 23 rushing yards and a score. Dart battled injuries during his rookie season, in part due to his aggressive play style, which makes Winston one of the more likely backup quarterbacks to see action at some point in 2026. As recently as 2024, Winston appeared in 12 games with the Browns, making seven starts and totaling 2,121 passing yards with a 13:12 TD:INT
The 2025 season was the year we finally saw a team win the NFC East in back-to-back seasons. The Philadelphia Eagles ' second consecutive division title snapped a streak of 20 straight seasons without a repeat champion in the NFC East, which was the longest streak by any division in NFL/NBA/MLB/NHL history, but even 2025 wasn't a successful season for Philly. Despite going 11-6, the Eagles became the first defending Super Bowl champion to lose in the wild-card round since the 2019 New England Patriots , as Philly was quickly ousted from the postseason by the banged-up San Francisco 49ers . The offense took a major step backward, as Jalen Hurts ' unit averaged the fewest points (22.3), total yards (311.2) and rushing yards (116.9) of the Nick Sirianni era. In fact, 2025 wasn't a good season for any team in the NFC East. The Dallas Cowboys looked smart in trading for wide receiver George Pickens , but the defense sank this team, as they were the only franchise to allow more than 30 points per game last season. The Washington Commanders had similar issues, as their defense ranked dead last in yards allowed per game, but star quarterback Jayden Daniels also missed 10 games due to injury. Washington went from the NFC Championship Game to 5-12. Then there was the New York Giants , who went 4-13 while starting Russell Wilson , Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston at quarterback. Brian Daboll was fired and replaced by John Harbaugh. What does the unpredictable NFC East have in store for us this year? Now that the full 2026 NFL schedule has been released, we can really start to break down the league. Let's dissect the 2026 win totals for each NFC East team, courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook. I may be ready to get on the Cowboys bandwagon . The offense ranked No. 2 in the NFL last year, but the defense ranked dead last in points allowed per contest. I do think the defense is improved with the additions of Caleb Downs , Malachi Lawrence , Dee Winters , Cobie Durant and Rashan Gary . Seriously, how did NFL general managers allow a guy like Downs to fall out of the top 10? He was the first true defensive back to finish top 10 in Heisman voting since 2011, and was the first defensive back since Eric Berry to be named a unanimous All-American twice. With the NFC East seemingly in flux, the Cowboys getting to double-digit wins looks enticing. Jalen Hurts is at a crossroads , having lost A.J. Brown; the Commanders are back to being a bottom-feeder without Jayden Daniels; and the Giants are a major question mark. I like the Cowboys getting to 10-7 at plus money. Verdict : Over 9.5 There's reason for optimism in New York, but let's keep things in perspective. The Giants have won eight games in a season just once since 2016. Landing a Super Bowl-winning head coach like John Harbaugh is great, but I'm not sure the Giants are going to be some kind of sleeper in 2026. Defensively, I'm excited to see what the Giants are capable of. Abdul Carter and Brian Burns may be a fun duo at pass rusher, Tremaine Edmunds and Arvell Reese at linebacker look great, then Paulson Adebo and Greg Newsome II are solid cornerbacks with rookie Colton Hood expected to contribute. Offensively, I have more questions. Jaxson Dart became the second rookie quarterback all-time to throw for 15 touchdowns and rush for nine touchdowns, joining Cam Newton . However, he crossed 247 yards passing in just 1 of 12 starts, and was evaluated for concussions in 5 out of the first 10 games he played, including preseason. Cam Skattebo is an exciting running back, but he's coming off a major ankle injury, and then Malik Nabers suffered a torn ACL that was "not a simple knee injury," per Harbaugh. Nabers needed a second procedure, and there's no guarantee he's ready for the season opener -- or that he will be the same explosive player. The Giants have gone Under their preseason win total in eight of the last nine seasons. I'm going to take the Under here as well with the Giants going 7-1
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Giants QB Jameis Winston addressed the team's recent internal conflict involving Jaxson Dart and Abdul Carter, stating that the team has "grown from it" and is focusing on winning football games while acknowledging their broader influence. Winston emphasized the importance of respecting differing views and uniting as a team
The Giants’ special teams ace may be lost for the year in May. Gunner Olszewski was carted off the practice field on Friday, and the team fears that he tore his Achilles, which would likely end his 2026 season before it even began. Olszewski will undergo additional testing to confirm the injury, but it’s a brutal break for the special teams savant, who also played sparingly on the team’s offense as things fell apart last season. The Giants’ wide receiver had a career high of 145 receiving yards and his second career touchdown last season, while also posting one of the highlights of the whole NFL season during a game against the Detroit Lions . As a returner, he compiled 682 kickoff return yards and 216 punt return yards for Big Blue. Olszewski threw a 33-yard touchdown pass against the Detroit Lions to Giants backup quarterback Jameis Winston , who caught a jump ball and broke multiple tackles to carry himself into the endzone for a touchdown. The Giants wound up losing that game 34-27 in an otherwise pitiful regular season that saw them go 4-13 and pick No. 5 overall in the NFL Draft. Big Blue wound up selecting Arvell Reese with the pick. Things are expected to take a major step in the right direction in 2026 with new coach John Harbaugh leading the program for the proud franchise. Harbaugh opted to keep Olszewski around despite his free-agent status and signed him to a one-year deal with the Giants in March. An open roster spot at receiver could further suggest the Giants are bringing back Odell Beckham Jr., who Harbaugh has publicly said could be in the mix for the team before this injury
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart introduced President Donald Trump at a political rally, sparking criticism from teammate Abdul Carter. The team held a meeting to discuss the situation, with players like Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Jameis Winston speaking. Dart and coach John Harbaugh later addressed reporters, with Dart emphasizing his respect for the office of the President and his love for his teammates regardless of political differences
by Ari Koslow | Giants Correspondent | Fri, May 29th 6:59pm EDT Jameis Winston was at Giants OTAs on Friday. ( Dan Duggan on Twitter ) Fantasy Impact: Winston had been away from the team last week. He remains in line to open the season backing up Jaxson Dart. Players practicing today who were missing/sidelined last week: QB Jameis Winston, FB Pat Ricard, WR Jalin Hyatt, DL DJ Reader, CB Colton Hood and CB Dru Phillips. More Jameis Winston : News , Rankings , Projections , Stats
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart addressed teammates in a meeting on Wednesday, discussing his decision to introduce the President of the United States at a campaign-style rally for Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in New York last week. According to NFL Media , which also reported that other team leaders such as edge rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux and backup quarterback Jameis Winston were heard from at the meeting, the Giants are "moving forward" and "worked to put it behind them." According to ESPN , among the topics discussed at the meeting was the need to keep things internal and not air frustrations publicly. Dart was previously criticized by fellow 2025 first-round pick Abdul Carter for introducing Donald Trump at the rally. "Thought this (expletive) was AI," Carter wrote in a since-deleted tweet, in reference to a video showing Dart's introduction of the president. "What we doing, man?" The post went viral, and the perceived political disagreement between teammates quickly turned into a controversy, with people on Twitter predictably taking sides based on their respective leanings. Carter, however, stated the next day that he and Dart were on good terms. "Me & JD6 are good!" he wrote in another since-deleted tweet. "We spoke earlier as Men. Yall can keep yall narratives." Per ESPN , Carter was not present at Wednesday's meeting due to a pre-planned religious obligation. Giants tackle Jermaine Eluemunor also downplayed the idea of the incident creating any sort of division within the locker room, quote-tweeting a post from a reporter that claimed Dart had divided the locker room and responding that said locker room is "fine." The public disagreement between teammates was the first real misstep in a Giants offseason that has generally been extremely well-regarded after the team hired John Harbaugh as its new head coach, selected Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa in the top 10 of this year's NFL Draft and signed several quality free agents. New York finished last season with a record of just 4-13 and will need to take a significant step forward in what will be Dart's first full season as the starter if it is going to approach or exceed its preseason over-under of 7.5 wins
Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart addressed his teammates after introducing President Trump at a rally, leading to team discussions involving other leaders like Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. While the team aims to move forward internally, external questions are expected when players speak to reporters
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart addressed his teammates about his recent introduction of President Donald Trump at a campaign-style rally, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report . The meeting occurred on May 27, the first day of the second session of the Giants' OTA practices. The specifics of the conversation were not disclosed, but Rapoport reported team leaders including Brian Burns , Kayvon Thibodeaux and Jameis Winston spoke at the gathering in addition to Dart. Meanwhile, Garafolo noted the Giants players "worked through" the disharmony during the meeting. "They are moving forward," Garafolo wrote in a social media post. OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans) CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs) RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions) WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears) OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans) OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans) CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs) RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions) WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears) Dart's introduction of Trump occurred May 22 at a rally for Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in Suffern, New York. The 23-year-old quarterback gave a brief speech, led the crowd in a "Go Big Blue!" Giants chant and shared a handshake and hug with the president before leaving the stage. Dart drew effusive praise from the president, who called the quarterback a "future Hall of Famer" and a "beautiful guy" with "legs like tree trunks." He also referenced the signal-caller while discussing his policy goals, including his desire to ban transgender athletes from competing in women's sports. "I'm looking at Jaxson," Trump said. "I’d like to know, is there any woman in the audience that thinks they can tackle that guy? Because I'd like to meet you. I’d like to shake your hand. I don’t know. Jaxson, you think you can play against women OK?" "Don’t get involved Jaxson," Trump added. "Don’t answer that question." Dart's appearance drew the ire of his teammate and fellow 2025 first-round pick, Abdul Carter , who questioned his teammate's decision to attend the event in a since-deleted post on X. "Thought this (expletive) was AI," Carter wrote in a May 23 social media repost of Dart's introduction. "What we doing man." Carter's social media barb quickly went viral, just as video of Dart's appearance at the rally initially had. That prompted the 22-year-old edge rusher to make a second post explaining he and Dart were "good" after the two had a conversation about the matter. "Me & JD6 are good! We spoke earlier as Men. Yall can keep yall narratives," Carter wrote in an X post that has since been deleted while identifying Dart by his initials and jersey number. Dart did not respond to either of Carter's social media posts and has yet to publicly comment on his introduction of Trump. USA TODAY Sports' Nick Brinkerhoff and Nate Davis also contributed to this report . This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jaxson Dart addressed Giants teammates after Trump introduction
New York Giants second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart addressed his teammates in a meeting on Tuesday to discuss his introduction of President Donald Trump last week at a political rally, sources told Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Other team leaders spoke up as well, and Dart and the players worked through what was a very controversial topic of the weekend. The team is moving forward. It was a very questionable decision for the 23-year-old to put himself out there politically like that, and it caused some social-media backlash by defensive lineman Abdul Carter, among others. It's not going to be much of an issue by the time the regular season rolls around, but new head coach John Harbaugh had to do a little damage control for the locker room. On the football field, Dart, a first-rounder in 2025, heads into his first full season as the starter for the G-Men as a low-end QB1 target in fantasy drafts. Despite playing in only 14 games as a rookie, Dart was a top-15 fantasy QB thanks to his impressive dual-threat abilities under center. The Ole Miss product threw for 15 touchdowns and ran for another nine. With a strong group of offensive skill players all around him, Dart is set up for success in 2026 and into the future under Harbaugh
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