Could the New York Giants actually make the playoffs next season?
Anyone who has watched the New York Giants regularly this season will tell you that they are not nearly as bad as their 2-12 record indicates.
The fact that the Giants have blown five doubled-digit leads in the fourth quarter is concrete proof that they actually aren't that terrible, but to be quite frank, it's actually good that they lost those games for their draft position.
So, could New York actually make a push for the playoffs next year with the right moves during the offseason? Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic thinks so.
"Right now, New York doesn’t have as much capital as some of the other bad teams. It does have a really young depth chart, though, and will be much healthier come September," Baumgardner wrote. "Depending on how [Jaxson] Dart develops (and if he can stay healthy), this roster actually could be just one draft away from playoff contention. We’ll see if GM Joe Schoen can execute."
Baumgardner's note that the Giants don't have a ton of draft capital is true ... for now.
New York is currently slated to have the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, and with the Giants not needing a quarterback, they could (should) trade down to pick up a stash of picks.
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart. Credit: Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.It's also important to keep in mind that New York will be getting critical pieces like wide receiver Malik Nabers and running back Cam Skattebo back next season, giving Dart the opportunity to (hopefully) play with them for a full season.
Don't get it twisted: the Giants still have plenty of holes that need to be filled.
New York needs to address defensive tackle, cornerback, wide receiver and its offensive line, most of which will probably have to be done via the draft due to Big Blue's lack of cap room (which is all the more reason why the Giants need to trade down for more draft assets).
Most importantly, New York must find the right head coach.
But it's pretty clear that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for the Giants, the once elite franchise that has now missed the playoffs in 12 of the last 14 campaigns.
Dart has brought excitement back to the Big Apple, and there is no question that New York has some very intriguing pieces in place on both sides of the ball.
The Giants have a lot of work to do, but the G-Men are much closer to the playoffs now than they were the last couple of years, regardless of how bad their record looks.