2026 NFL Offseason Outlook: Giants and Saints Positioned for Upward Moves After Rebuild Steps
The New York Giants and New Orleans Saints both finished 2025 on the wrong side of the standings. The Giants went 4-13 while the Saints finished 6-11.
Both teams used the 2026 offseason to address clear weaknesses. The Giants brought in a proven head coach and added high draft capital plus veteran receivers. The Saints spent a top-10 pick on a dynamic wideout and added protection up front for their young quarterback. Those steps raise a direct question: Can the Giants and Saints take a leap forward in 2026?
Giants Bring in Harbaugh and Premium Draft Talent
John Harbaugh agreed to a five-year deal in January to become the Giants head coach. The move ended a stretch of first-time head coaches and brought a Super Bowl winner with a track record of building tough, physical teams.
General manager Joe Schoen paired the coaching change with aggressive draft work. The Giants selected edge rusher Arvell Reese fifth overall and offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa tenth overall. They also moved veteran defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to acquire additional draft assets earlier in the process.
In early June the Giants added veteran wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios. Those signings give the offense experienced targets and mentorship options during training camp.
Front-office adjustments included hiring Dawn Aponte as senior vice president of football operations to improve salary-cap management.
The combination of Harbaugh’s leadership, two first-round picks on the lines, and veteran skill-position additions gives the Giants measurable upgrades in structure and talent. Whether those pieces produce wins in a tough NFC East remains to be seen, but the foundation shifted noticeably from a year ago.
Saints Bet on Weapons and Line Help Around Shough
Tyler Shough took over as the Saints starter midway through 2025 and finished with nine starts. The team went 6-11 overall, but Shough’s performance earned him strong reviews and positioned him as the clear franchise quarterback entering 2026.
New Orleans used the eighth overall pick in the 2026 draft on wide receiver Jordyn Tyson out of Arizona State. Tyson brings size, speed and production that fits the scheme run by head coach Kellen Moore. The Saints also signed guard David Edwards in free agency to strengthen the interior offensive line.
Additional moves included signing kicker Tanner Brown and wide receiver Jalen Moreno-Cropper while clearing some older contracts. The approach centered on giving Shough better protection and more playmakers while the roster skews younger.
Early returns in OTAs and minicamp showed a clearer offensive identity. The Saints still face questions on defense and overall depth, but the offensive infrastructure around their quarterback improved in tangible ways.
Current Power Rankings Context and Realistic Leap Path
Post-draft and early offseason power rankings placed both teams near the bottom third of the league. ESPN’s way-too-early rankings had the Giants around 23-25 and the Saints around 25-26. Other countdowns slotted the Giants at 25 and Saints at 24.
Those spots reflect last year’s results more than this year’s roster construction. Several analysts already list both teams among the stronger candidates to contend for their divisions or finish near the top of the worst-to-first conversation.
A leap for the Giants would likely look like improved trench play, better situational football under Harbaugh, and steady development from young skill players. For the Saints it would mean Shough taking a clear step forward with Tyson and improved line support while the defense shows progress.
Neither team enters 2026 as a projected playoff lock. Both divisions contain established contenders. But the documented changes in coaching, draft capital and targeted free-agent spending give each club measurable reasons to believe the 2025 records will not repeat.
Training camp opens in late July. The real test begins then.