The New York Giants quarterback depth chart heading into 2026 lacks mystery, but it doesn’t lack intrigue. With Jaxson Dart firmly entrenched as the starter, Jameis Winston locked in as the backup, and newcomer Brandon Allen filling out the room, the hierarchy is clear.

The real questions center on Dart’s development under new head coach John Harbaugh, new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, and new quarterbacks coach Brian Callahan.

Brandon Allen’s role is limited

Allen signed with the Giants this offseason after spending 2025 with the Tennessee Titans. His connection to Callahan dates back to their time together with the Cincinnati Bengals, and he brings a lengthy resume that includes stops with the Jaguars, Rams, Broncos, Bengals, and 49ers. In 10 starts and 19 career games, Allen has thrown for 1,800 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

Despite that experience, Allen is unlikely to make the 53-man roster. Last season, the Giants carried three quarterbacks because Russell Wilson was signed to start before the team eventually turned the keys over to Dart. That situation forced New York’s hand into rostering three signal-callers. The same dynamic doesn’t exist with Allen.

The stronger likelihood is that Allen lands on the practice squad as an emergency option. If Dart goes down and the Giants need to quickly elevate a body behind Winston, Allen would be readily available. That approach makes more sense than trying to develop another rookie and spreading the coaching staff too thin. Allen can be more than serviceable in that role.

Dart played better than most remember

With the depth chart established, the most important aspect of this position group is Dart’s trajectory. Last season, he started hot, cooled off during a shaky midseason coaching transition, then finished strong down the stretch.

The numbers back that up. Dart completed 63% of his passes for 2,200 yards, 15 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. He added 480 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns on the ground, good for the third most rushing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback in NFL history. He posted the 17th-best QBR per ESPN, and several other advanced metrics placed him in the upper tier of NFL quarterbacks.

The Harbaugh effect on Dart’s running ability

Dart’s progression in 2026 should revolve around his dual-threat capabilities. Harbaugh’s identity under Lamar Jackson centered on running the football, and it should show with Dart as well. That doesn’t mean running him into the ground and risking injury, but an evolution in how the Giants deploy his legs feels inevitable.

Read option concepts, designed runs, and play-action builds off those looks should open up the passing game. The talent at tight end, with Isaiah Likely and Theo Johnson, combined with the lack of proven depth at wide receiver, indicates New York is built to be a three-tight-end team. Dart’s ability to throw on the run matches that mentality.

One thing needed from Dart is more consistent aggressiveness. There was a stretch last season when the noise about him being concussion-prone created visible timidity. The best version of Dart is the one who pins his ears back and attacks. Once Malik Nabers returns to the field, having a big-play, reliable target should embolden him. Malachi Fields could provide a contested-catch option along the boundary, while Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin offer explosiveness over the middle.

The Matt Nagy question

What needs to be proven is Nagy’s impact as a play-caller. Nagy was not the play-caller with the Chiefs, where Andy Reid ran the offense with Patrick Mahomes. Nagy’s last stint as a play-caller came with the Chicago Bears, where he oversaw Mitch Trubisky’s development. Chicago never finished higher than 21st in passing yards during Nagy’s tenure, and growth simply stalled after a strong 2018 start. Hopefully, this isn’t a situation where Nagy is left entirely to his own devices without collaborative guardrails.

However, we should be optimistic about the Callahan-Dart relationship. Before he struggled as a head coach in Tennessee, Callahan was regarded as a strong developer of young quarterbacks. Dart has the tools, and Callahan has an opportunity to truly unlock them. Hopefully, 2026 is the year New York’s franchise quarterback takes a significant leap.