The Giants look like they’re going to play mostly backups against the Buffalo Bills in Saturday’s preseason opener. But that doesn’t make this exhibition game any less important.
Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll need to set a different tone for the 2025 season, and that effort continues with how the team performs at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.
Here are five priorities for the Giants to emerge from this game feeling encouraged about the foundation they’ve laid for both the short and long term of the franchise:
PROTECT JAXSON DART
The Giants’ backup offensive line needs to protect rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart so the first-round pick has a chance to show what he can do and stays healthy enough to compete next week against the Jets. Forming a strong pocket could be a challenge if Schoen and Daboll rest their starters, though.
Josh Ezeudu, Stone Forsythe and fifth-round rookie Marcus Mbow are the backup offensive tackles behind the top three of Andrew Thomas, Jermaine Eluemunor and James Hudson III. Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tyrod Taylor and Tommy DeVito all have taken beatings behind the Giants’ offensive line, especially their reserves, in recent years. This time has to be different.
Dart obviously needs to learn to deal with pass rush pressure in games, too, so being thrown into the fire has to happen for the rookie quarterback to grow. Still, the Giants want to see how Dart functions in their offense in a game setting. Forcing Dart to improvise and use his full skill set at times can be constructive. But if he’s running for his life, it won’t do anybody any good — especially the developing QB.
DEMONSTRATE DISCIPLINE
Penalties have been a concerning issue for the Giants this summer. They’ve had two practices in the past week in which they committed 15 total penalties as a team (eight one day, seven the other). Schoen’s and Daboll’s Giants have consistently been penalized more than the league average in their first three seasons, with pre-snap penalties being a particular nagging problem.
Daboll grew restless at Wednesday’s practice with the constant pre-snap flags and continues to kick players out of team drills for those infractions. Guard Evan Neal and defensive tackle Darius Alexander got booted most recently, for example. But it’s time for the Giants to find a way for those words to create more responsible actions and discipline on the field.
Pre-snap penalties on offense will force Jameis Winston, Dart and DeVito into unfavorable downs and distances, which would help the Bills’ pass rush tee off without having to honor the run. Penalties on defense extend drives and turn three points into seven. This is not a recipe for success. The Giants need to raise their standard of play.
UNLEASH ABDUL CARTER
Outside of Dart starring on Saturday, seeing No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter get a sack in his first NFL preseason action would be the best way to create excitement about how this 2025 Giants team can be different from last year’s 3-14 club.
Carter has been a ferocious pass rusher in camp so far, but he admitted he’s looking forward to deploying his moves against some fresh meat.
“It gets to a point where we get into practice, they start to learn all your moves and stuff like that,” Carter said of facing his teammates every day. “So I feel like it’s good for us to go against a new opponent this week.”
If Carter makes a highlight reel play, it’s probably going to come while rushing the passer. The element of Carter’s game to watch even more closely, however, is his run defense. He is still learning how to leverage, be patient and not get caught in the wash in the running game — especially when he works as an interior lineman while being moved around in Shane Bowen’s defense.
If Carter consistently shows he can defend the run well, that will make it more difficult for Bowen to take him off the field come the regular season.
GET ALEXANDER GOING
Schoen and Daboll are counting on Darius Alexander, the third-round rookie from Toledo, to help fortify the Giants’ subpar run defense. But Alexander sat out the spring with an injury and has been just another guy so far in camp.
There have been plays when Alexander has used strength and some twitch to overpower blockers, but more often than not, backup guards on the interior haven’t had a problem blocking him.
Alexander is clearly still getting his feet under him physically given his extended spring absence. But it is imperative that he make some plays against the Bills, especially in the running game, to put on tape what the Giants believe he’ll be able to do in the fall.
LET PLAYERS EARN SPOTS
Winston has been explosive running the third-team offense. If Winston dices up the Bills’ first-team defense playing with backup Giants weapons, it’s time for Schoen and Daboll to reconsider his place on the depth chart.
Montrell Washington and Gunner Olszewski have impressed as receivers and have return ability. Ihmir Smith-Marsette has had a slower start to camp.
Tomon Fox has consistently made an impact as a third-team edge rusher.
The Giants must let the players’ performances dictate their future opportunities. Elevate players on the depth chart who earn it. Challenge the incumbents early in August, even if — as in Smith-Marsette’s case — their regular season production has deservedly earned them a level of trust.
That’s the only way this franchise will get better in the short and long term — if the roster improves and the best players play.
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