Each week we dive into each team’s rookie class and compare how they stack up against each other. (Grades for each player are the overall offensive or defensive grade handed out by PFF.com)
First Round
The Giants possess some disruptive forces up front, most notably Dexter Lawrence. Facing a rookie guard, he’ll aim to exploit any over-aggression or missteps. Tyler Booker’s biggest test will be holding his ground in the run game and matching up against elite interior pressure and staying aware for any inside stunts. His strengths in leverage, strength, and awareness give him a solid foundation, but the true test will be adjusting to the Giants’ disruptive tactics. If he can keep his assignments and maintain balance, he’ll likely hold his own and could even be a key piece in helping stabilize Dallas’s offensive line early in the season.
The good news is Booker had to face a formidable pass rush last week against the Philadelphia Eagles and allowed zero sacks. This foundation should give Booker very high confidence against the Giants and in 2024 the Giants defense managed to register only 126 total pressures, that ranked the seventh-least last year. As for rushing, the Giants defense allowed 2,316 yards, the sixth-most, and allowed the Washington Commanders to run for 220 yards in Week 1.
Grade: 55.7
Second Round
This week Ezeiruaku will face a lot of runs aimed at neutralizing the Cowbohs edge rush or using gap manipulation to exploit his lighter frame. Maintaining gap integrity could be a test for him so he’ll need to rely on good technique and quickness against much stronger linemen. Combo blocks or pulling guards that target his side could reduce his effectiveness if he can’t quickly shed blocks or reset leverage. The good news is Ezeiruaku has elite explosiveness off the snap and agility which will allow him to collapse the pocket quickly against slower offensive linemen, and he combines that with high IQ which will help him adjust on the fly, which should lead to some explosive plays.
Grade: 67.5
Third Round
Currently on Non-Football injury list (NFI)
Grade: N/A
Fifth Round
Last week Blue was inactive, mostly due to making roster moves for special team positions. But this week there’s a chance he suits up after Miles Sanders literally dropped the ball against the Eagles. Sanders stats on the surface look good since he rushed for 53 yards off only four carries, but one of those carries was an explosive play that went for 49 yards. That means his other three carries averaged only 1.3 yards per carry. Schottenheimer may opt to put in Blue this week and see what he can do, and hopefully he shines to get more playing time against a very weak Giants run defense that leaked all night against the Washington Commanders.
Grade: N/A
Fifth Round
James was also inactive last week and the same may happen again this week. James could get called to play on special teams since he’s very capable of taking on the role, but at this stage it’s really down to coaching preference. His path to activation likely runs through continued strong reports in practice, so keep an eye on any performance rumors this week. If the team wants to ramp up rotation or respond to matchup needs against the Giants, Week 2 could be James’s opportunity to make his NFL debut.
Grade: N/A
Sixth Round
Another inactive player and likely will be inactive again as he continues to develop and cover for any possible injuries.
Grade: N/A
Seventh Round
The Giants’ O-line weaknesses lay in consistency and health. Pro Football Focus ranks the Giants’ offensive line 28th in pass blocking and 23rd in run blocking this year. It’s especially weak against powerful interior rush which offers Toia the chance to make strides if he maintains pad-level discipline and gap integrity which he had problems with last week. Toia has the size and anchor play, but success for him hinges on consistency and whether he can convert his body power into playable impact, particularly finishing plays.
Grade: 29.3
Seventh Round
Inactive
Grade: N/A
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 04: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs for a touchdown against Donovan Ezeiruaku #41 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on September 04, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) Getty Images
First Round
It’s not just the fact that Carter played linebacker at Penn State, or the fact he wore number 11, but Carter really does look like Micah Parsons on the field. Will he be as accomplished and reach the heights Parsons did while he played at Dallas? That’s unknown. But he is a threat that the Cowboys offensive line needs to take care of.
He made three tackles and one sack in his debut which is a good start, but the Washington Commanders managed to lay the smackdown on the Giants defense last week, scoring two rushing touchdowns and rushing upfield on nearly every play. With so much ball control for opposition offenses to play with, that takes away the key strength Carter is known for, pass rushing. Javonte Williams had an impressive start for Dallas, so expect Brian Schottenheimer to lean on the ground game this week and follow the blueprint the Commanders have laid out for the league to follow.
Grade: 81.5
Second Round
As it stands, all Dart can do for now is develop and prepare for his moment whenever that may come. His leadership and preseason ascent to QB2 underscore his promise. That said, he remains a developmental prospect whose deep-ball consistency, processing speed under pressure, and adaptability to NFL complexities will all need work. After the Giants Week 1 clash head coach Brian Daboll made a statement where he was non-committal to Wilson as his starter for Week 2, but since then has said that Wilson will start. Wilson threw for 168 yards with no touchdowns and a passer rating of 59.3, that’s wildly unacceptable.
Grade: N/A
Third Round
Alexander was inactive for Week 1 due to injuries that linger since before OTA’s. It’s unclear whether he’ll suit up this week but it doesn’t look promising. Alexander racked up 37 pressures and 27 tackles at Toledo in 2924, showcasing an impressive first-step and a red-hot motor. If or when he gets healthy this season, Alexander’s strength and physical play style should translate well for the NFL,
Grade: N/A
Fourth Round
Playing from behind meant the Giants abandoned the run game to try play catch up (and that didn’t work out well). As a team, the Giants rushed 23 times against the Commanders, which included eight rush attempts by Wilson. That meant way down the snap order at the running back position, Skattebo got just two carries, that went for -3 yards. The Cowboys defense got gashed by the Eagles offense on the ground in Week 1, but the Giants are a distant threat from what the Eagles possess, and hopefully lessons from the game have been learned by Schottenheimer and company.
What Skattebo does well is have exceptional contact balance, vision, and short-area quickness pair well with his versatility. However, his issues lay in ball security issues, middling straight-line speed, and the wear-and-tear implications of his ultra-physical style. So we may see Skattebo play on a pitch count again this week.
Grade: 75.6
LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 07: Abdul Carter #51 of the New York Giants lines up against the Washington Commanders during an NFL football game at Northwest Stadium on September 7, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) Getty Images