{"id":752118,"date":"2026-02-14T17:58:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T17:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/752118\/"},"modified":"2026-02-14T17:58:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T17:58:12","slug":"new-york-giants-earn-high-marks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/752118\/","title":{"rendered":"New York Giants earn high marks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Feb. 14, 2026, 12:01 p.m. ET<\/p>\n

The New York Giants<\/a> had an impactful draft in 2025, one that saved the job of flailing general manager Joe Schoen and ended up attracting a top head coaching talent such as John Harbaugh.<\/p>\n

In the recent ranking of every NFL team’s rookie class, NFL.com gave the Giants an A- grade<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Three of the Giants\u2019 first four picks were essentially starting by the end of September. And all three of those players are fun. But they\u2019re also scary.<\/p>\n

He’s right. The Giants’ top two picks, linebacker Abdul Carter and quarterback Jaxson Dart, both showed flashes of inexperience along with flickers of what greatness is to come.<\/p>\n

The fun part: The edge blur led the entire league with 48 quick pressures (under 2.5 seconds, per Next Gen Stats).<\/p>\n

The scary part: Carter was benched twice for behavior that Dexter Lawrence termed “hard-headed,” with the three-time Pro Bowler imploring his young teammate to “just grow up, really.”<\/p>\n

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.<\/a><\/p>\n

Dart did not have the behavioral issues that Carter did, but threw the entire organization for a loop with his reckless play, putting his health in jeopardy all too often.<\/p>\n

The fun part: His dual-threat ability and undeniable swagger, both of which were on full display in New York\u2019s shocking prime-time beatdown of Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

The scary part: His proud refusal to protect himself, causing frequent trips to the blue tent in Year 1 while raising serious concerns about his long-term viability.<\/p>\n

Fourth-round pick Cam Skattebo, a running back whose throwback, smashmouth style captured the imagination of football fans everywhere, saw his season cut short after seven games with an ankle injury.<\/p>\n

Felice’s analysis is dead on. When Skattebo was rolling, the Giants looked unstoppable: “A fearless play style that\u2019s as infectious as his animated personality, with bell-cow ability as a runner and receiver.”<\/p>\n

But those times didn’t last very long. After knocking Tyrone Tracy, Jr. from the No. 1 running back role, Skattebo was felled by an injury befitting his volatile style of play:<\/p>\n

A gnarly\u00a0leg injury\u00a0— dislocated ankle, fractured fibula and ruptured deltoid ligament — that ended his rookie campaign before Halloween, only increasing doubts about the NFL shelf life of his gutsy game.<\/p>\n

The 2025 draft class also included two possible stalwarts for the trenches in defensive tackle Darius Alexander and offensive lineman Marcus Mbow. Both got a chance to play more as the season wore on.<\/p>\n

The Giants could sure use another strong showing at the draft table this spring. With a new coaching staff led by John Harbaugh, things are about to get even more interesting in East Rutherford.<\/p>\n

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