The New York Giants are entering into a high-stress season in 2025, with ample focus on the job security of head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen. The NFL's schedule-makers didn't do the Giants many favors with the team's early-season schedule — meaning New York is going to need to make the most of their time together this spring and summer to ensure they're ready to start fast. 

How well-aligned are the Giants to close the gap in the NFC East? Who are the primary players in the story of this season? Here are five looming questions for the New York Giants as they start OTAs this week.

How big of a leap can Theo Johnson take in his second year? 

The Giants have added a number of lottery tickets to the tight end room this offseason, adding two physically gifted players in rookie Thomas Fidone II and former standout prospect Greg Dulcich. Dulcich, a former third-round draft choice, is still only 25 years old and once had great promise as a three-down player. But injuries have derailed his career, much like they did with Fidone II in college at Nebraska. 

The leader in the clubhouse to play the critical Y-tight end position is 2024 rookie Theo Johnson, who showed some promise in putting things together late in his rookie season. Johnson was once a freakish wide receiver in high school, so him enduring a developmental curve is understandable. 

Few teams run as much 11-personnel as Daboll's Giants. They rank 8th in the personnel package usage since 2022. Having a tight end separate from the pack is essential to helping this offense round into form. Johnson's flashes are promising but it shouldn't be ignored that the Giants added multiple new names to the room.

Can Evan Neal really make the leap to play inside at guard?

Neal's transition to offensive guard is officially underway. The former top-10 draft choice has struggled greatly on the edge through his first three seasons, leaving him as a long shot to realize his potential and justify his draft status with the Giants. 

New York is bringing back their 2024 starter at right guard in Greg Van Roten, but Van Roten is an aging talent who is 35-years old. Few things, other than a healthy Andrew Thomas, could help the Giants' offensive line tap into another gear more than Neal realizing some level of consistency inside and seizing a starting job. 

Likely? Not particularly. But any time a highly drafted talent can get a new lease on life, you'd be wise to watch closely. 

Will Wan'Dale Robinson get involved down the field in 2025?

140 targets. 93 receptions. Seven and a half yards per reception. Robinson averaged less than five air yards per target on that whopping workload of targets in the passing game. Not all of this limited role is Robinson's fault — some traces back to the limitations the Giants had to try to navigate at quarterback and with their offensive line in 2024. 

But finding more variety for Robinson's role, amid the field-stretching ability of Darius Slayton & Jalin Hyatt and the all-around ability of Malik Nabers, would further compound challenges for opposing defenses. Most opposing coaches would be perfectly content to filter that much volume underneath within five yards of the line of scrimmage. Either the workload needs to go to different players or Robinson's usage needs to expand. 

How much work will Jaxson Dart command with the first-group?

The elephant in the room is the presence of Russell Wilson, who will need to develop chemistry with the top targets if New York is indeed serious about ensuring he is the starter to open the year. But Daboll and company now must juggle the long-term and short-term outlooks due to the pressures facing the team to inspire confidence in their direction. 

Will Jaxson Dart be left to simply work on play calls and concepts? How are will he be pushed into an accelerated timeline? This may be the question for not only the 2025 Giants but for the long-term outlook of everyone running the team. They have to get this one right, however they choose to handle Dart. 

Who emerges as the biggest X-factor on the defensive interior?

I was a huge fan of Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander. He was an older prospect, which may have hurt his value some in the 2025 NFL Draft. But for New York, he can be a potential difference maker thanks to the presence of both Dexter Lawrence and a loaded group of pass rushers on the edge. 

Even if Alexander doesn't live up to his lofty potential right away, free agent signings Roy Robertson-Harris and Chauncey Golston can be needle movers. Golston was at his best in Dallas when playing as a base end who could reduce inside on passing downs — giving the Giants an interesting blend of rush package players to pair with Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns. 

Jaxson Dart’s “great fit” with Brian Daboll and the New York Giants could lead to him starting earlier than expected

It's been just three weeks since the New York Giants traded up into the first round to select former Ole Miss Rebels star quarterback Jaxson Dart, but fans and media are already clambering to see him on the field early. Head coach Brian Daboll has made it clear on multiple occasions since the NFL Draft […]