EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Abdul Carter is lined up off the edge, ready to pounce. Quarterback Jaxson Dart stands a few yards away, scanning the field, reading the defense. The New York Giants’ future is on the field.
As the ball is snapped to Dart, Carter bursts off the line of scrimmage, quickly closing the gap between himself and his fellow first-round pick.
Does he get there in time for the sack? It looked like he would have, but we’ll never know for sure. There are no true sacks in training camp. Instead, Dart flings an impressive touchdown pass to wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey.
This play from Tuesday’s training camp practice showed some of the best of what the Giants’ top picks have to offer. And while it hasn’t been all highlights for Carter and Dart, they’ve made a good early impression in their first week.
With that in mind, we took a deeper look into how they, along with their 2025 draft classmates, have fared in training camp so far.
Round 1, No. 3: OLB Abdul Carter
Carter has impressed from the moment he stepped onto the field as a Giant. With or without pads on, the No. 3 pick simply stands out.
While Carter has played mostly with the second-team defense, he took extended reps with the top unit after edge Brian Burns collided with receiver Wan’Dale Robinson last week. Carter received more reps with the first-team defense Sunday, as Burns was kept out of team drills. Carter responded impressively, beating starting right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor multiple times, showing his speed and technique. From the backfield that day, Burns watched and cheered as Carter flustered quarterback Russell Wilson.
“It wasn’t just all-out one move,” Burns said of a gnarly spin move Carter unleashed on Eluemunor. “He set that up. I like the fact that he was patient enough to set up that move and (then) execute it. It was a battle between them two.”
When the pads finally came on Monday, Carter didn’t slow down.
“I love going against Abdul because that first step he has is explosive as hell, so again, to go against him every day is a blessing for me,” Eluemunor said. “I said the same thing when I was in Las Vegas going against (Raiders defensive end) Maxx (Crosby). Sometimes he’s going to get you, but if you were able to bounce back and not let the same thing happen twice, then you’re getting better, which I am.”
What’s exciting for the Giants to dream on is that Carter is still in the early stages of his development as an edge rusher after he transitioned to the position during his final year at Penn State.
As Carter said, he’s “just getting started.”
Round 1, No. 25: QB Jaxson Dart
While Carter looks like he will be an immediate difference-maker for New York, that won’t be the case for the Giants’ other first-round selection. And that’s how the Giants want it.
On Day 1 of camp, coach Brian Daboll reaffirmed his commitment to Wilson as the Giants’ starter, providing Dart time to develop into being the face of the franchise, rather than being thrust into the spotlight immediately. While some Giants might not be thrilled about having to wait to see the future, they can be encouraged that it already seems like the rookie is getting better each day.
After a somewhat shaky start to camp, Dart delivered his first truly impressive day on Sunday, finishing 11-of-13 during team periods, including completing his first 10 passes while pushing the ball downfield more than he had previously. That day ended with Dart leading the second-team offense on a 12-play drive before coming up just short of punching the ball into the end zone.
Dart said he can already feel the game slowing down, even in just the first week.
“That first day, even a little bit the second day, there were just some plays I hadn’t really run before,” Dart said. “You’re getting mixed in with different groups of guys who you don’t have a ton of reps with, so you’re just trying to get that timing down.
“But (Sunday), going into it, I felt confident in the different installs we had, and I felt … the coaches gave me a lot of freedom, so I was able to make some checks that I wanted to, and I feel like that just allowed me to play faster and make quicker decisions.”
Dart has looked better and more decisive in the pocket each day since. Following Thursday’s practice, Dart has a completion rate of 62.5 (35-of-56) in camp.
A dot from Dart 🎯 pic.twitter.com/vAkQhOkeBI
— New York Giants (@Giants) July 31, 2025
Round 3, No. 65: DT Darius Alexander
While Alexander has played with the starting defense, he hasn’t been a consistent presence there. As expected, Dexter Lawrence, Rakeem Nunez-Roches and Roy Robertson-Harris are ahead of him on the depth chart. Elijah Chatman has also played ahead of Alexander.
However, with Chatman, Jordon Riley and D.J. Davidson absent Thursday, Alexander had more snaps with the top unit.
“There are some flashes out there,” Daboll said this week. “He’s got length and athleticism, and he’s rushed from different areas in the pass-rush portion of things. … (He’s a) big-body guy who’s got sneaky athleticism for a big man.
“I know everybody (has) seen the interception return he had, but he’s got quick feet, long arms, he’s got good get-off, and he’s got a natural ability to rush, particularly on the interior. … But then there’s double teams and down blocks and a bunch of things you’re coaching off of that we have to work on.”
Alexander said he’s learning a lot from Lawrence and Nunez-Roches, highlighting the importance of trusting his technique. He’s also been getting plenty of feedback from veteran defensive line coach Andre Patterson.
Round 4, No. 104: RB Cam Skattebo
The “Skat Pack” is in full force at training camp, with Giants fans already embracing the fourth-round running back. There’s probably some carry-over from Skattebo’s popularity at Arizona State, but the big back has already given his new fans lots to like.
It starts with his signature physicality, which he brought to camp (whether his teammates on defense like it or not) and includes plenty of lowered shoulders and powering through contact. His vision and awareness have also garnered praise.
“There’s not many times, at least that I’ve seen him here, like ‘Why is he going where he’s going?’” Daboll said. “He’s got a good feel for the blocking assignments up front, but then he’s got good vision for the second level and at times the third level of when to press the ball, when to cut it back, when to keep it front side.”
CAM SKATTEBO 🤯
Might become a NEW YORK LEGEND.#NFL | #Giantspic.twitter.com/fn26pOwNMV
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) July 28, 2025
But what has stood out most in the first week-plus is Skattebo’s hands. It already looks like he can make an instant impact as a pass catcher. We’ve already seen Dart turn to his rookie back multiple times, including a touchdown pass to the corner of the end zone to end last Friday’s practice. But a true highlight came Sunday, when Skattebo made an outstanding one-handed snag on a deflected pass in the end zone. Unfortunately, the catch didn’t count. Skattebo was out of bounds, but the catch was still worthy of landing on a highlight reel.
“Wasn’t that sick?” Dart said. “I mean, that’s like elite awareness, especially from a running back. I haven’t really seen a play like that.”
Skattebo, who missed time this spring, was again on the sidelines for Thursday’s practice with an undisclosed injury.
Round 5, No. 154: OL Marcus Mbow
So far this camp, the Giants starting offensive line has mostly featured the same lineup: LT James Hudson (in place of injured Andrew Thomas), LG Jon Runyan Jr., C John Michael Schmitz, RGs Greg Van Roten/Evan Neal and RT Jermaine Eluemunor.
While Mbow has played with the first-team offense during the install period, he’s primarily worked at both tackle spots with the second-team offense.
“I feel comfortable at right tackle,” Mbow said. “I feel comfortable at left. I guess whatever looks better, as I’m getting the job done. I don’t think it matters to me.”
Round 7, No. 219: TE Thomas Fidone II
Fidone’s goal has been to make at least one flash play every day, which will show coaches improvement.
While he said he loves making mistakes because they push him to be better, and he knows he won’t make those errors again, Fidone left Monday’s practice “extremely upset” with himself. It was the first padded practice, and he was frustrated about where his pad level was (too high) while blocking, among other self-critiques.
However, he believes he played better Tuesday after putting what he called a “great block” on tape.
“Obviously, I’m an all-around tight end, but I think of myself more as a pass catcher, route runner, but I love to block,” said Fidone, who likely won’t see many catching opportunities this season while behind the likes of Theo Johnson, Chris Manhertz and Daniel Bellinger. “That’s something I want to be able to do more of and show that I’m really good at it.”
Fidone, who didn’t play much special teams in college, has also been working there, with the goal of becoming an all-around asset for the Giants. Playing well on special teams will go a long way in helping him make the team out of camp, though it bodes well for Fidone that general manager Joe Schoen has yet to cut one of his picks as a rookie.
Round 7, No. 246: CB Korie Black
At best, Black will rank fifth on the Giants’ cornerback depth chart behind New York’s top four of Paulson Adebo, Deonte Banks, Cor’Dale Flott and Dru Phillips. And even that would mean he beat out someone like Tre Hawkins III. Where Black could have a chance to make an impact is on special teams, especially after core special teamer Bryce Ford-Wheaton tore his Achilles this week. Black put some standout special teams plays on tape at Oklahoma State, including blocking two field goals and returning another for a touchdown. However, the Giants brought back WR Gunner Olszewski, who has value at special teams.
But like Fidone, the fact that he’s a recent draft pick should help his case for a roster spot.
(Photo of Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo: Chris Pedota / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)