The expectations for the New York Giants in 2024 may not be particularly high, especially when numerous analysts have ranked their roster among the weakest in the league. It seems that across various platforms, the Giants have been labeled as potentially having the worst lineup out of all 32 NFL teams, raising concerns among fans and experts alike about the team’s future performance.

Is this assessment accurate?

I believe the narrative might be overly pessimistic. The prevailing issue appears to be that national analysts fail to recognize the potential for improvement within the Giants organization.

Many focus on the fact that Daniel Jones is returning as the quarterback after a challenging previous season marred by a knee injury. Additionally, the departures of key players like Saquon Barkley, Xavier McKinney, Adoree’ Jackson, and Darren Waller contribute to a negative perception. However, what they overlook is the potential growth and changes that have occurred in the offseason.

It’s necessary to examine the offseason moves more closely, as they may have strategically positioned the Giants for significant improvement. While the visible changes may not seem drastic at first glance, a deeper analysis reveals that these adjustments could yield positive results on the field.

Before diving deeper, let’s review some of the recent rankings:

Pro Football Focus (No. 31)

While the Giants are set to welcome their starting quarterback back from injury and have added Brian Burns to bolster their defensive line, their offensive line struggled significantly last season, and their secondary has lost its most talented player. Although they acquired Malik Nabers, the loss of Saquon Barkley is notable. The potential exists for the Giants’ defense to keep them competitive in many games, but their offense relies heavily on a number of young players and a quarterback who faced challenges last season before sustaining an ACL injury.

ESPN (No. 32)

Key Strength: Defensive Line. Despite multiple roster issues, the Giants possess star talent in their defensive front. Dexter Lawrence, recognized as a second-team All-Pro for the past two seasons, stands out as one of the league’s premier defenders. The duo of Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux could form a formidable edge-rushing combination. Burns boasts an impressive career total of 46.0 sacks over five seasons, while Thibodeaux, a first-round pick in 2022, made considerable strides last season with 11.5 sacks. — Clay

Key Weakness: Secondary. With the departures of Xavier McKinney and Adoree’ Jackson, the Giants’ secondary appears to be one of the weakest in the league. Deonte Banks, the team’s 2023 first-round pick, must elevate his game in Year 2 to solidify the cornerback position. Competing for starting roles are players like Cor’Dale Flott, Nick McCloud, Tre Hawkins III, and rookie Dru Phillips. At safety, Jason Pinnock has demonstrated his ability as a starter, and he will be joined by a combination of second-round rookie Tyler Nubin, Dane Belton, and Jalen Mills. — Clay

X Factor for 2024: Right Tackle Evan Neal. The pressure is on for the 2022 No. 7 overall pick. Currently, he represents one of the weaknesses on the Giants’ roster, ranking 54th out of 69 tackles in pass block win rate last season. If he can fulfill the expectations of his draft status, he could form an exceptional tackle duo with Andrew Thomas. However, his early career has yet to meet those expectations. — Walder

33rd Team (No. 31)

The loss of Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney this offseason complicates the Giants’ path to improvement. Although the acquisitions of Malik Nabers, Jon Runyan, Brian Burns, and Tyler Nubin are significant, considerable pressure remains on an underwhelming offensive line and quarterback Daniel Jones.

New York lacks depth at receiver and currently does not have a standout running back, meaning much depends on Evan Neal making a substantial leap forward for the offense to reach a sustainable level of performance.

The structure of the roster is intriguing, with players like Malik Nabers, Andrew Thomas, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and a promising cornerback group emerging as potential leaders for the future. However, they still fall short in several areas at this moment.

Transforming the Giants’ Narrative

Big Blue View contributor Tony DelGenio recently published an article that suggests the Giants might rank among the most improved teams in the NFL from an analytical perspective. The accompanying graphic highlights the ‘Unexpected Points’ index, placing the Giants with the fourth-most improved roster in the league:

However, translating that potential into on-field performance is the real challenge.

In his article, Tony highlights the following points:

The Giants were not the NFL’s worst team in 2023; the evidence is that if they were, they would have a new quarterback this year. They managed to defeat two playoff teams, Green Bay and Philadelphia, and narrowly lost three other games to playoff contenders (the Rams, Buffalo, and Philadelphia again). While they did lose Saquon Barkley, Xavier McKinney, and Tyrod Taylor in free agency, they also signed several free agents who should contribute positively and found some intriguing players in the draft. The question remains: How do you balance the gains and losses?

I believe that while the Giants may be improved in several areas, or at least better than many experts assume, it will require tangible results on the field to shift those perceptions. Here are some key factors to consider:

• Daniel Jones must elevate his performance compared to 2022. Is this achievable? Absolutely. If the Giants have indeed bolstered their receiving corps and offensive line, and addressed their running back situation effectively, there’s a strong chance for improvement.

General Manager Joe Schoen made it clear during Tuesday’s episode of ‘Hard Knocks’ that this is a crucial year for Daniel Jones. If he fails to perform, it may lead to a new quarterback for the Giants in 2025.