The New York Giants have collapsed to a 2-7 record, and their 2025 season appears to be over before it even got started. It’s never been clearer in New York that it’s time for a complete reset across the board to turn the franchise around.

There is an opportunity for this team to hit the ground running in 2026, thanks to a gifted young core of stars like Jaxon Dart, Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, and Malik Nabers. The right hire at head coach and GM, as well as the right draft picks and free agents, can set this team up for immediate success.

Ryan Roberts and I joined forces to pitch what we think the Giants should do this offseason to right the ship and fix the major issues holding the team back. To accomplish this, we each pitched one head coach and general manager that the team should hire. We also pitched which NFL Draft prospect the team needs in the first round and a key free agent who would transform the Giants into a playoff team in 2026.

Here were the results of this exercise.

Who should be the Giants’ next head coach?

Joe: Jeff Hafley (Green Bay Packers DC)

Given that the Giants’ most elite athletes are on defense, drafting a defensive-minded head coach is best for the franchise’s future. Hafley has turned the Packers into an elite unit, and he has ties to New York and New Jersey. He’s from Montvale, New Jersey, and played college football at Siena in New York. This season, the Packers’ defense is fifth in total yards per game allowed, ninth in pass yards per game allowed, and fifth in rush yards per game allowed. With superstars like Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Dexter Lawrence, Hafley could unlock a new version of this Giants defense.

Ryan: Klint Kubiak (Seattle Seahawks OC)

Typically, teams go in different directions when making coaching changes, but it still feels imperative to get a great offensive mind to go with quarterback Jaxson Dart. At the end of the day, maximizing his potential will make or break the next staff. Son of former NFL legend Gary Kubiak, he has done a tremendous job with the Seahawks’ offense. Kubiak has done wonders for quarterback Sam Darnold and could do the same, hopefully, with Dart.

Who should be the Giants’ next GM?

Joe: Jon-Eric Sullivan (Green Bay Packers Vice President of Player Personnel)

Last cycle, Sullivan was highly sought after for multiple roles. He could potentially be one of the biggest names on the market for upcoming GM searches, considering how many interviews he had last offseason. The Packers have historically been a great franchise at finding value deep in the NFL Draft and at making impactful roster moves to build championship rosters. Also, it would help my pitch for Hafley to have alignment with two guys from the same franchise.

Ryan: Alec Halaby (Philadelphia Eagles Assistant GM)

Despite being just 39 years old, Halaby has been with the Eagles in several different capacities since 2007. Serving as the assistant general manager since 2022, he has had the opportunity to learn closely from Howie Roseman and has been developing a strong reputation as an up-and-comer. Let’s hope that the cap genius of Roseman has ripped off a ton on Halaby.

Who should be the Giants’ 2026 first-round pick?

Joe: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

This is the most important caveat with this selection: the Giants need to do everything possible to trade back. If New York ends up with a top 5 pick, it will be positioned to benefit from a quarterback-needy team wanting to trade up. This upcoming draft class does not have a generational prospect, but it has a lot of solid quarterback prospects that can save franchises seeking a savior. If they trade back, they should be able to select the best right tackle available, that being Fano. His fluid movement skills and solid technique make him a prospect who can provide an impact day 1. Most importantly, protecting Jaxson Dart as much as possible has to be the top priority.

Ryan: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

The injury to star wide receiver Malik Nabers has made wide receiver an even bigger need, but finding more weapons was already going to be on the table. With an outside winner like Tate, he would allow Nabers to play all over the field when he comes back from injury. Tate was good for the Buckeyes in 2024, but he has become an elite player this season. His catch radius, ball skills, and smoothness pop off the film immediately.

Who should be the Giants’ top free agent target?

Joe: George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Pickens has been exceptional this season for Dallas since he was traded from Pittsburgh. Despite his stellar performance, he’s yet to sign a long-term contract extension with the Cowboys. If he were to hit the market, the Giants need to pursue him aggressively. They shouldn’t wait on the development of a rookie when they can add an immediate impact star like Pickens. Trying to fit a massive free-agent wide receiver contract in the Giants’ available cap space may be tough, but they should do as much as possible to make it work. This is a total dream scenario because it would require effective salary cap maneuvering and the Cowboys not re-signing him. But Pickens and Nabers would be insanely scary.

Ryan: Braden Smith, OT, Indianapolis Colts

A starting right tackle for the Colts for a long time, Smith has been a beacon of consistency since he was drafted out of Auburn. The Giants have a massive need at right tackle, but this doesn’t feel like the offensive tackle draft class to attack it early. If Andrew Thomas is able to stay healthy, the 29-year-old Smith creates one of the best bookends this team has had in quite some time.

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