As new Giants coach John Harbaugh’s focus shifts from assembling his staff to evaluating the roster he inherited, we’ve been offering assistance. On Wednesday, I shared one thought on every offensive player. Today, here’s one thought on every defensive player:

Defensive linemen

Dexter Lawrence: There’s a major decision on Lawrence’s contract looming. There’s no more guaranteed money remaining on the four-year, $90 million extension Lawrence signed in 2023. The 28-year-old is signed through 2027, but he’s certainly going to be looking for a raise, as his average annual salary has dipped to 10th among interior defensive linemen. The Giants appeased Lawrence by adding $3 million in incentives to his contract before last season (he earned $1 million). Lawrence’s desire for a raise doesn’t figure to be diminished by the fact he had a subpar season with just a half-sack. A trade can’t be ruled out if the sides are far apart on Lawrence’s value.
Roy Robertson-Harris: Signing Robertson-Harris to a two-year, $9 million contract last offseason continued a trend of cheap veteran defensive tackle additions who didn’t move the needle. The 32-year-old would be fine as depth, but his shortcomings were exposed when he was pressed into a starting role last season.

Rakeem Nunez-Roches: Nunez-Roches provides infectious energy and has been an under-the-radar leader during his three seasons in New York. The 11-year veteran set a career high with three sacks despite being limited to nine games by ankle, foot and toe injuries. It could make sense to re-sign Nunez-Roches to a minimum contract, but the Giants need to upgrade the defensive line.
Darius Alexander: The Giants’ belief in Alexander will be important to setting their offseason priorities. Former defensive line coach Andre Patterson was an advocate for Alexander, who had 3 1/2 sacks as a rookie. If the new coaching staff believes the 2025 third-round pick is poised to make a leap, it may not be as aggressive pursuing a top defensive tackle in free agency. But Alexander’s shaky run defense as a rookie would make that a major risk.

DJ Davidson: Davidson spent his entire rookie contract as a backup defensive tackle. That was adequate value for a fifth-round pick, but — you may notice a theme in this section — the Giants need to upgrade their D-line depth.
Elijah Chatman: Chatman spent the first 16 weeks on the practice squad before getting signed to the 53-man roster. He appeared in only five games last season after having a much bigger role on passing downs as a rookie. The 6-foot, 278-pounder’s size limitations will prevent him from being an every-down defensive tackle. He may have a brighter future at fullback with the new regime.

Outside linebackers

Brian Burns: Burns was established as a very good player in his first six seasons; that’s what made his leap into defensive player of the year contention in Year 7 so impressive. Burns set career highs with 16 1/2 sacks (second in NFL), 22 tackles for loss (third in NFL) and 31 quarterback hits (fourth in NFL). It might not be realistic to expect that level of production every season, but his enhanced dedication could help him maintain this elevated level of play.

Abdul Carter: Carter’s talent was never in question, even when he had only half a sack in his first 12 games. But his commitment was lacking until interim coach Mike Kafka finally started instituting consequences, twice benching Carter for missing team meetings. The message finally got through, as Carter displayed increased professionalism in the final five games of the season. Not coincidentally, Carter had 3 1/2 sacks and 28 pressures in the final five games. Carter’s transformation culminated in a postgame message to the team after a win in the season finale imploring everyone to strive for more next year. If Carter can match his dedication to his talent, the Giants will have a superstar.
Kayvon Thibodeaux: Last season was supposed to be pivotal for Thibodeaux, but there are still questions about his future. Thibodeaux’s run defense was solid, but he was inconsistent as a pass rusher. He finished with 2 1/2 sacks, with a shoulder injury limiting him to 10 games. The Giants can run it back with Thibodeaux on his $14.8 million fifth-year option. He might not be happy with that since he’s eligible for an extension, but he doesn’t have much leverage. Thibodeaux could be a prime trade chip if he’s not viewed as a piece of the future by Harbaugh.

Chauncey Golston: Golston was a non-factor for most of last season, as ankle and neck injuries sidelined him for seven of the first 11 games. He was a presence against the run late in the season. Golston’s production certainly wasn’t worthy of the three-year, $18 million contract he signed last offseason, but he should provide useful depth if healthy.

Tomon Fox: It’s impressive that Fox managed to stick around for four years after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Fox is the football equivalent of a “Quadruple-A” baseball player — he’s good enough to be on a roster, but he doesn’t make enough of an impact to warrant a role. He’s worthy of re-signing to stash on the practice squad like the past few seasons.
Caleb Murphy: Murphy was an odd waiver claim in Week 16 since he was a healthy scratch for the final three games. He is set to become a restricted free agent, so it’s not even a lock that he’ll be on the roster next season.

Inside linebackers

Bobby Okereke: Okereke’s three seasons in New York reflect the fickle nature of free agency. He looked like a home run signing during his first season when he was a playmaker at the heart of the defense, but his play has declined steeply the past two seasons. There’s been speculation that was caused by the scheme change from Wink Martindale to Shane Bowen, but the 29-year-old simply looks as if he has lost a step. Okereke recorded only two tackles for a loss last season, which illustrates the lack of disruption in his tackle total. Cutting Okereke for $9 million in cap savings has to be a strong consideration this offseason.
Micah McFadden: McFadden suffered a Lisfranc tear in his right foot early in the season opener. That was a brutal injury, especially in McFadden’s contract year. His absence was felt as the Giants cycled through underwhelming options next to Okereke. The silver lining for the Giants is that McFadden should be cheap to re-sign coming off the injury. The 26-year-old figures to be seeking a prove-it deal to rebuild his value.

Darius Muasau: Muasau is a sneaky example of how general manager Joe Schoen has overvalued his draft picks. The Giants had faith in Muasau as the top backup inside linebacker despite no evidence from his rookie season that he could handle that role. Muasau’s 11 starts confirmed that he’s not a starting-caliber linebacker. The Giants need to overhaul their inside linebacker room.
Chris Board: Board was signed to a two-year, $5.7 million contract last offseason to be a core special-teamer, but a torn pec in Week 2 ended his season. The Giants could create $2.1 million in cap savings by cutting Board, but the 30-year-old spent five seasons in Baltimore, making it likely he’s safe as a Harbaugh favorite.

Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles: Flannigan-Fowles dealt with a maddening run of injuries in 2025. He missed most of the preseason with a calf injury. The 29-year-old aggravated that injury in Week 2, which sidelined him for two games. He missed five more games due to a hamstring injury, a neck injury and an illness. The injuries prevented Flannigan-Fowles from carving out a consistent role, but he added some athleticism at linebacker when he was in the lineup.

Zaire Barnes: The 26-year-old Barnes is a younger version of Flannigan-Fowles, as an athletic backup linebacker. Like Flannigan-Fowles, Barnes’ ticket to an extended NFL career will come as a special-teamer.

Neville Hewitt: The Giants signed Hewitt to the practice squad in Week 3, and he immediately became a core special-teamer. He played a team-high 70 percent of the special teams snaps. The 32-year-old has value as a solid professional, but the Giants will likely be looking to get younger at linebacker.

Cornerbacks

Paulson Adebo: Adebo’s $24.2 million cap hit in 2026 ranks fifth among cornerbacks; that drives home the expectations that accompanied the three-year, $54 million contract he signed last offseason. By those standards, Adebo’s first season in New York was a disappointment. He arrived with a reputation as a ball hawk, with seven interceptions in his final 22 games with the Saints, but had one pick in 12 games last season. Adebo is never going to be a lockdown No. 1 corner, but the Giants need more bang for their buck in his second season in New York.

Cor’Dale Flott: Flott recently switched to powerhouse agency Athletes First as he prepares to hit free agency — that’s a sign that the 24-year-old is gearing up for a big payday. Flott had a breakout fourth season, allowing just 53 percent of targets to get caught. It’s tricky to project Flott’s market since he has only one season of high-level play and his slight frame makes him a liability against the run. He doesn’t figure to reach the $18 million-per-year value that Adebo and other top corners landed last offseason. Flott will likely be aiming to top the $12 million-per-year contracts that corners Brandon Stephens (Jets) and Nate Hobbs (Packers) signed last offseason.
Deonte Banks: Banks may have salvaged his career by emerging as a dangerous kick returner. The 2023 first-round pick has been a massive disappointment as a starting cornerback, but he’s more physically talented than the typical third or fourth corner, so he could get a new life if he buys into this regime.

Dru Phillips: Phillips is at his best coming downhill as a tackler, but he has been shaky in coverage and prone to penalties. The problem for Phillips is that the coverage aspect is a much bigger part of his job requirement. In the past, he would have entered his third season as an unquestioned starter. But with a new coaching staff, the Giants may choose to add competition for the starting nickel job.

Korie Black: Black had a wild ride as a rookie, leaving the Giants when they tried to slide him to their practice squad after cut day. Black signed with the Jets’ practice squad, only for the Giants to poach him back to their active roster in Week 8 when injuries mounted at corner. Black was immediately thrust into a prominent role. The ball seemed to find him for big plays, but he showed some potential as a depth corner.
Art Green: Green didn’t play a single snap on defense last season, but he had value as a gunner on punt coverage. It’s likely not a coincidence that the two punt return touchdowns allowed by the Giants last season happened while Green was on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Green is an exclusive rights free agent, so the Giants should bring him back for his special teams prowess.

Rico Payton: The Giants claimed Payton off waivers after cut day even though he had a hamstring injury. They stashed him on IR until Week 9, when injuries at corner opened a path to a spot on the active roster. Payton had a consistent role on special teams for the rest of the season, showing his feistiness when he got into a rumble along the sideline while blocking on a punt return in Week 17. He’s another young corner who will battle for a roster spot next season.
Nic Jones: Jones made a strong first impression, intercepting rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart’s first pass of training camp. A strong camp helped Jones surprisingly earn a roster spot. He had a consistent role on special teams for the first 13 games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. He’s another ERFA who can be brought back to compete for a roster spot.
Jarrick Bernard-Converse: The Giants claimed Bernard-Converse off waivers in Week 9 when they were short-handed at corner. He saw limited action before getting cut in Week 15. He promptly joined the practice squad before getting re-signed to the active roster for the season finale. He’s part of the crowd of young corners who will fight for a roster spot this offseason.

Safeties

Jevon Holland: Signing Holland to a three-year, $45.3 million contract last offseason was an overcorrection to letting All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney walk in 2024. Holland’s first season in New York was a disappointment, which followed a regression during his final season in Miami. He is only 25 and isn’t far removed from being in the conversation as a top safety in the league. It’s hard to explain Holland’s decline, but he simply hasn’t been making plays. The Giants need to hope a new defense unlocks the type of talent they thought they were signing.

Tyler Nubin: Nubin may have found a role late last season when interim defensive coordinator Charlie Bullen started using him in the box extensively while limiting his snaps at deep safety. Nubin doesn’t have an interception in two seasons and consistently took bad angles, allowing big gains when playing center field. He has always been better around the line of scrimmage, so the shift played to his strengths. That’s not the vision the Giants had for Nubin when he was picked in the second round of the 2024 draft, but he still could be a useful player in that role, especially if the Giants make an investment to upgrade their safety room this offseason.
Dane Belton: Belton is the type of player winning organizations re-sign. The 2022 fourth-round pick has developed into an excellent special-teamer who makes plays when filling in at safety. Though, with Holland and Nubin appearing to block his path to a starting role, Belton could pursue an opportunity for more playing time elsewhere.

Beau Brade: Like Payton, Brade was a young defensive back claimed for his special teams ability after cut day. Brade played one defensive snap all season despite injuries striking at safety. Brade was with Harbaugh in Baltimore in 2024, so he could have the inside track on a roster spot.

Raheem Layne: Layne was on the practice squad for the first 16 weeks of the season before getting signed to the active roster when Nubin went on IR with a neck injury. Layne was solid while starting the final two games, but he’ll need to stand out on special teams to earn a roster spot.

Specialists

K Ben Sauls: It would be quite a story if the Giants stumbled into their kicker of their future after cycling through six over the past three seasons. Sauls, an undrafted rookie signed to the practice squad in Week 11, made the most of his opportunity in the final three games of the season; he was 8-for-8 on field goals and 7-for-7 on extra points. It would have been nice if Sauls showed more range (he had only one attempt over 40 yards) or had some opportunities in high-leverage situations (two of his three games were blowouts), but he at least showed enough to enter the offseason worthy of a spot in a kicker competition.
K Graham Gano: Gano has been on an incomprehensible injury journey after making 91.8 percent of his field goals while appearing in every game during his first three seasons with the Giants. He has missed 28 games over the past three seasons due to knee, hamstring, groin and neck injuries. Perhaps most remarkably, the Giants continued to rely on the 38-year-old through all of those injuries. They should finally get off this ride, with $4.5 million in cap savings available if they cut him this offseason.

K Younghoe Koo: Koo’s Charlie Brown moment on “Monday Night Football” encapsulated the mess that has been the Giants’ kicking game in recent seasons. Koo followed up that aborted field goal attempt in Week 13 with two misses in his next game. That sealed his fate with the Giants.

K Jude McAtamney: McAtamney was supposed to develop behind the scenes as an international exemption on the practice squad. But the Giants chose to roll with McAtamney when Gano was sidelined by a groin injury early in the season. That gamble backfired when he missed a pair of extra points in an excruciating 33-32 loss to the Broncos in Week 7. Those gaffes cost McAtamney his spot on the roster.

P Jamie Gillan: Gillan’s up-and-down career was down last season. He averaged a career-low 38 net yards per punt and he had only 30.9 percent of his punts downed inside the 20-yard line after being at 48.2 percent in 2024. Now 28, Gillan signed a three-year, $9 million contract last offseason that ties him for the seventh-highest punter salary in the league.
P Cameron Johnston: Johnston stepped in for an injured Gillan in Week 15 and had a line drive punt returned 63 yards for a touchdown in a 29-21 loss to the Commanders.
LS Casey Kreiter: Kreiter has signed five straight one-year contracts with the Giants. There’s no reason to end that streak, although it may be time to bring in legit competition for the 35-year-old.