Which Giants have the most on the line in 2026?

Heading into the 2026 season, there is excitement around the New York Giants that hasn’t been felt in years. A new coach, a young QB and many promising pieces on the roster are the cause for this excitement. 

With only two winning seasons in the past decade and six seasons of five or fewer wins, the Giants hope to end the struggle. 

Ending the struggle starts with the stars and their play on the field, but there are plenty more Giants who can make a significant impact this season.

Which Giants have the most on the line in 2026?

1. The defensive tackles

The Giants enter 2026 looking to replace a three-time Pro Bowl gap in their defensive line. Back in April, Dexter Lawrence was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for the pick used to draft lineman Francis Mauigoa.

Lawrence was one of the game’s best nose tackles in the league during his tenure with the Giants, averaging 53.3 tackles and 4.8 sacks a season. 

Last season, the Giants ranked in the bottom five in rushing yards (2,470) and rushing touchdowns (21) allowed and ranked worst in the NFL in yards per carry (5.3).

Blame cannot be assigned to one player specifically, but can rather be pointed to a whole team-wide issue. But an uncharacteristically unproductive season from Lawrence and the rest of the defensive tackles only made things worse. 

Looking forward, the Giants are hoping their defensive woes are behind them. According to ESPN, the Giants’ depth at nose tackle includes veterans DJ Reader, Shelby Harris, Zacch Pickens and Leki Fotu, along with rookie Bobby Jamison-Travis and second-year player Darius Alexander. 

Not just one player needs to step up and replace the production of Lawrence. Together, the entire position room needs to step up. 

As long as defensive tackle is not a position of weakness, the entire defensive production should see an uptick compared to last season. 

2. WR Darius Slayton

2025 saw layton thrust into the No. 2 wide receiver role behind Wan’Dale Robinson after a Malik Nabers injury. Slayton finished the season with 37 receptions for 538 yards with one trip to the end zone. 

What troubled Slayton’s season the most was a problem with drops. Despite only finishing with five drops on the season, it was the timing of the drops that was more detrimental to the team. 

After losing Robinson in free agency and Nabers’ status for Week 1 still up in the air, Slayton is most likely to assume the No. 1 wide receiver role going into the 2026 season.

Entering his eighth year in New York, Slatyon has dropped at least five passes four times throughout his career.

If he can lock up this issue and limit the number of drops, then Slayton can turn it around and become a reliable target in New York. 

3. CB Deonte Banks

Drafted 24th overall in 2023, Deonte Banks was initially thought to be the next top cornerback for the Giants. 

With only two career interceptions, Banks has seen his number of starts decrease each year, starting in only six games last season. 

The past three seasons have been disappointing, leading the Giants to decline Banks’ fifth-year option on his rookie deal, so after this season, he is a free agent. 

But it’s not too late for the former Maryland Terrapin. Still just 25 years old, Banks can still carve out a role on this team, just not as the top defender. Maybe even entering a contract year can help boost Banks’ production. 

The Giants signed Greg Newsome II and drafted Colton Hood this offseason to bolster the cornerback room. If Banks can be at least an average contributor and not a defensive liability, then that can unlock another level of this Giant defense.