The New York Giants are already getting disrespected before the 2026 preseason even gets rolling. Multiple outlets have released their preseason power rankings, and the Giants under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh are receiving almost no respect. The most egregious was The Athletic’s, which placed the team at 28th below some questionable teams.

The four teams directly ahead of the Giants were the Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons. Let’s break each one down.

The Cleveland Browns have no business being ahead of the Giants

Cleveland at 27th after trading away Myles Garrett is baffling. The Browns have a completely rebuilt offensive line, a couple of nice young players, and two rookie receivers they’re hoping can contribute. They’re also in a brutal division. Defensively, their best player is gone. While they have talented pieces, it isn’t the same without Garrett.

The disqualifier is quarterback. Whether it’s Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson, Cleveland does not have an established starter. As conservative as you might want to be on Giants QB Jaxson Dart, he is at least an established starter compared to whatever the Browns are doing. If Garrett were still there, I’d have the conversation. But he’s gone, and Verse is not enough to say this Browns team is better than New York. 

The Raiders are in the middle of a reconstruction

Las Vegas is a roster in the middle of a rebuild. Maxx Crosby, their best player, doesn’t even want to be there. The Raiders don’t even have any receivers who are legitimate threats. Rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza might not even start, with Kirk Cousins potentially opening the year under center. 

A team that just picked first overall should not be ranked higher than a Giants roster that, with all its flaws, is further along in the rebuild process. Could the Raiders be competitive in a couple of years? Absolutely. But right now? No.

The Saints argument is tougher, but I still disagree

New Orleans has potential. Quarterback Tyler Shough showed he can be a starter. The Saints’ offensive line is one of the most underrated in the league, and the receiver room with Jordyn Tyson, Bryce Lance, and Chris Olave is interesting. But their running backs are unexciting, and their defense is not good. The Saints’ front seven is nowhere near as dangerous as what the Giants bring into this season.

The Falcons are going to struggle

It’s harder to argue against the Falcons because they have one of the NFL’s most dynamic trios in RB Bijan Robinson, TE Kyle Pitts, and WR Drake London. 

Atlanta’s lack of a quarterback is enough for me, combined with comparative strengths across position groups, to drop the Falcons below the Giants. New York also has a significantly better offensive line than Atlanta, which has experienced gradual regression since losing Kaleb McGary to retirement.

Low expectations might be exactly what the Giants need

The Giants coming into this season have dealt with blatant disrespect. Plenty of people have been congratulatory and optimistic about the offseason, about hiring Harbaugh, about drafting Arvell Reese. But when it’s time to compare them to other teams, nobody views the Giants as a real threat.

That might be exactly what’s best for this team. Six new teams reached the playoffs last year, and several of them defied everyone’s expectations. Those teams were hovering around the middle of most power rankings. I don’t think it’s unjust to expect the Giants to land around 22 at the very lowest with the pieces they have on this roster.

Giants fans have far more faith in their team than the media members ranking them alongside the rest of the NFL. One thing is for sure: this group has something to prove, and there’s no shortage of motivation heading into camp.