Jason Leach
The 2025 NFL season has been a massive disappointment for the New York Giants and their fans.
There was optimism that with the free agent signings of Russell Wilson, Paulson Adebo, and Jevon Holland, to go along with the acquisition of Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart in the first round of the draft, the team would be vastly better.
But instead, as they enter their Week 17 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, they currently have the number one pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. This is why some fans hope the team loses on Sunday to the Raiders so that they can keep the number one pick.
The team has fired three coaches this season, and there will be changes within the Giants organization at the conclusion of the season. It’s the holiday season, so here’s a look at Giants fans’ top five wish list for 2026.
A new general manager
Shortly after the firing of head coach Brian Daboll, president, CEO, and co-owner John Mara stated that general manager Joe Schoen would lead the search for the next head coach. But the team has been winless since the departure of Daboll, which illustrates the issues aren’t just coaching, but how the roster is constructed, and that falls on Schoen.
During his tenure as general manager, the team has compiled a regular-season record of 20-45-1, and the team is 5-27 in its last 32 games. There’s no way you can retain a GM with this track record, and the team will have a new general manager in 2026.
A new head coach who can change the culture
Since the franchise parted ways with Tom Coughlin, there’s been a revolving door at head coach. Neither Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge, Brian Daboll, nor interim head coach Mike Kafka has been able to change the team’s losing ways. No matter who’s been the man in charge, the results have remained the same.
The franchise desperately needs to find this generation’s Tom Coughlin or Bill Parcells to make the Giants a proud organization again.
There has been wide speculation on who the next coach might be. Some feel the team should look to hire a coach with Super Bowl experience, like Mike McCarthy or John Harbaugh, if he and the Baltimore Ravens part ways. Or perhaps they’ll go the college route and look to hire Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.
Whoever winds up getting the job, fans are hoping they’ll be the one who leads Big Blue to its fifth Lombardi Trophy.
Related: NFL Power Rankings 2025: Week-by-Week NFL Evaluations of All 32 Teams
The number one overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft
After setting a franchise record for losses in a season last year with 14, it would be beyond embarrassing if they break that dubious record a season later. However, if that were to happen, the bright side would be that they could trade down and receive a plethora of draft picks that could ultimately get the Giants back to their winning ways.
There are no locks when it comes to the draft, but it’s the best way to build a team. The more picks you have, the more chances you have of acquiring star players who can change your franchise around. You have to be optimistic about what the organization did last year’s draft in getting Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart. Perhaps the first round in 2026 will be equally as promising.
Related: 2025 NFL QB Rankings: Week 17 Update Sees Brock Purdy Climb
A healthy Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo
One of the reasons why this year has been a disaster is that two of their top offensive playmakers in Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo, suffered season-ending injuries in the first half of the season. Injuries are part of the game, but if the two had remained healthy, they would be better than 2-13.
Despite Nabers appearing in four games and eight for Skattebo, the duo has accounted for nine of the team’s 37 offensive touchdowns. If they can be fully healthy before the start of training camp, it would have fans optimistic about the 2026 season.
Related: 2025 NFL Report Card: Grading All Teams Before Week 17
A dynamic wide receiver to complement Malik Nabers
It was evident in their 16-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday that a healthy Nabers and Skattebo won’t fix all of the team’s offensive woes. They need to add another young offensive playmaker, especially at the receiver position.
New York might lose Wan’Dale Robinson and free agency, and Darius Slayton has shown with his drops that he’s not reliable. The team will need a receiver to complement Nabers and be ready to be the go-to guy in case Nabers gets hurt again or his hampered by his ACL injury.
They can address this in the first round of the draft by taking either Ohio State’s Carnell Tate or Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson. Getting Tate or Tyson to pair with Nabers would give the Giants their best receiver duo since the days of Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz.
Related: 1 Bold Prediction for Giants vs Raiders, Including Jaxson Dart’s Big Game
