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Who Are The Biggest X-Factors On The New York Giants Offense In 2026? - Last Word On NFL

Last Word On NFL · Zach Wolpin · 2026-08-22T13:24:05+00:00 · nguồn gốc

In about three weeks, the New York Giants will kick off their 2026 campaign vs. the Dallas Cowboys. Players, coaches, and fans are eager to see what this year’s team has in store. Will new head coach John Harbaugh raise the ceiling of New York’s potential? Who Will Make a Massive Impact On the New York Giants Offense? Questions are being asked about the offense ahead of the upcoming season. Who are the biggest X-factors for the New York Giants Offense in 2026? Malik Nabers and his injury recovery There is no debate about who the Giants’ top offensive player is. Malik Nabers’ talent level is through the roof. The 23-year-old had a special rookie season in 2024 with over 100+ cacthes and 1,000+ receiving yards. Unfortunately, Nabers had his 2025 campaign cut short due to a significant knee injury. Doctors and media members questioned whether Nabers would be ready for the start of the 2026 season. Luckily, the one-time Pro Bowler appears to be ahead of schedule at this point in the offseason. Nabers has just over three weeks to be ready for New York’s home opener. He’s been slowly but surely taking the necessary steps to get back on the field. If Nabers is near 100% or close to that by Week 1, that would be massive for the New York Giants ‘ offense. Nabers only appeared in four games last season and just one half with quarterback Jaxson Dart. Having a Pro Bowl-level wide receiver on the field in 2026 will be massive for New York’s young signal caller. Fans know just how talented Nabers is. Now, they are patiently waiting for the Dart and Nabers connection to fully blossom. If Nabers is healthy in 2026, it will certainly help the Giants’ offense produce at a high level. Isaiah Likely has built a strong connection with Jaxson Dart During the 2025 season, Theo Johnson was the starting tight end for the New York Giants. He had 45 receptions on 75 targets for 528 yards and five touchdowns. However, Johnson only caught 60.8% of his passes last season. Upgrading the tight end was a point of emphasis for New York this offseason. That is why they signed Isaiah Likely to a three-year $40 million deal with $26 million guaranteed. Likely spent five seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, then followed Harbaugh to the Giants. While Nabers has been working his way back, Likely has been building a strong connection with his young quarterback. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan said Likley had six catches during live drills at Thursday’s joint practice with the Miami Dolphins. Likely has been a go-to target for Dart all offseason. Expect to see Likely as a key piece of the New York Giants Offense for the 2026 season. In Baltimore, Likely was a backup tight end. That will not be the case for the 26-year-old as he starts his time with the Giants. Beat reporter Paul Schwartz said that Likley has become a “security blanket” for Dart. The veteran tight end works in an area of the field where Dart has found success early in his career. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy This offseason, the Giants were expected to hire Todd Monken as their offensive coordinator. However, Monken took the head coaching job in Cleveland. Next, it was reported that the team would sign Kliff Kingsbury as their play caller. Those plans fell through as well. That led to the Giants hiring former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy. The veteran coach was previously with the Kansas City Chiefs as their offensive coordinator. Nagy runs a true pro-style offense that often has the quarterback under center. That has added a learning curve for New York’s young quarterback. Last season, former head coach Brian Daboll catered to Dart’s strengths as a rookie. That is not the case for Nagy and the New York Giants offense in 2026. This offseason, Nagy told reporters that his quarterback has talent but has been experiencing struggles. Can Nagy help Dart develop this season and not take a step back?