After a decade of futility, New York is again the center of the football world.
The Jets set themselves up with one of the best young rosters in the league, then administered the coup de grace by trading for four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The Giants, with no one expecting much last year, earned their first playoff berth since 2016 and their first playoff win since 2011.
Now, both teams are coming into this season with windows of contention wide open. That does not happen without some good drafting, and indeed, general managers Joe Schoen and Joe Douglas have both acquitted themselves well in that regard.
New York hasn’t had many football stars since the days of Darrelle Revis and Eli Manning. Revis went into the Hall of Fame this year, and Manning will soon follow, but the quarterback’s last season as a Pro Bowler was in 2015. It has been a long time since New York had this many young stars. But the next generation is here.
Team: Giants | Position: QB
Age: 26 | Drafted: Sixth overall, 2019
After going into last season with the spotlight trained on him, it’s a little different this time around. Jones inked a four-year, $160 million deal with $92 million guaranteed, cementing him as The Guy for the Giants, and feels like a known commodity for perhaps the first time in his career.
Team: Jets | Position: RB
Age: 22 | Drafted: 36th overall, 2022
It’s no coincidence that the Jets’ struggles last season started to pick up once Hall went down with a torn ACL. The Iowa State product averaged 5.8 yards per carry last season, but will be fighting for snaps after the Jets signed Dalvin Cook late in training camp.
Team: Giants | Position: RB
Age: 26 | Drafted: Second overall, 2018
Barkley threatened a holdout over his contract, but ended up showing up to camp determined to prove he deserves the sort of money that has eluded running backs in recent years. Whether or not this is his last year as a Giant, Barkley should once again anchor the offense after he rushed for a career-high 1,312 yards in 2022.
Team: Jets | Position: WR
Age: 23 | Drafted: 10th overall, 2022
The 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year made a major impact with Zach Wilson and Mike White throwing him the ball, going for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns. The ceiling with Rodgers feeding him might be unlimited.
Team: Giants | Position: WR
Age: 21 | Drafted: 73rd overall, 2023
Hyatt, the Giants’ third-round pick in the 2023 draft, comes in with a reputation for big plays following a breakout junior year at Tennessee. In Josh Heupel’s offense, Hyatt went for more than 1,200 yards including a standout, five-touchdown performance in an upset win over Alabama.
Team: Giants | Position: OT
Age: 24 | Drafted: Fourth overall, 2020
Voted a second-team All-Pro last year, Thomas is now locked in as a Giant until 2029 after he inked a five-year extension with $67 million guaranteed in the offseason. Thomas quickly established himself as a star and it now looks like he could be the next great left tackle for the Giants.
Team: Jets | Position: G
Age: 24 | Drafted: 14th overall, 2021
The Jets’ offensive line has been a question mark throughout training camp, but Vera-Tucker’s return from a triceps injury that ended his 2022 season should be a help. Vera-Tucker was putting together a strong sophomore season before he went down, and he should be primed to bounce back.
Team: Giants | Position: C
Age: 24 | Drafted 57th overall, 2023
Schmitz has yet to play in an NFL game, but should get thrown into the fire quickly. The Giants’ second-round pick out of Minnesota projects to be their starting center in Week 1 against the Cowboys.
Team: Giants | Position: OT
Age: 22 | Drafted: Seventh overall, 2022
Neal’s rookie season came in below expectations. But work during the offseason with former Bengals All-Pro Willie Anderson should help Neal as a pass-blocker, and the Giants still have faith in his ability.
Team: Jets | Position: DT
Age: 25 | Drafted: Third overall, 2019
Williams reached a new height in 2022 with his inaugural first-team All-Pro nod. And the Jets are hoping he can better a career high of 12 sacks from last season after they signed Williams to a four-year, $96 million extension with $66 million guaranteed.
Team: Giants | Position: NT
Age: 25 | Drafted: 17th overall, 2019
Lawrence was one of the Giants to sign a big extension this offseason, coming to terms for four years at $87.5 million with $60 million guaranteed. He had a career-high 7.5 sacks last season and has always been a high-end run defender.
Team: Jets | Position: DE
Age: 24 | Drafted: 15th overall, 2023
Taken in the first round of the draft this April, McDonald should slot right into a Jets defensive line that’s packed with talent. The Iowa State product has a quick get-off and good bend, and should be a pass-rushing threat.
Team: Giants | Position: LB
Age: 22 | Drafted: Fifth overall, 2022
Thibodeaux hit the mark last season with four sacks, six tackles for loss and a fourth-place finish in defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Now he’ll attempt to build on that with a breakout 2023 that could set him up as the next great Giants pass-rusher.
Team: Giants | Position: LB
Age: 23 | Drafted: 50th overall, 2021
Injuries derailed Ojulari’s 2022 season, which looked on track to be a major step forward — he had 5.5 sacks in just seven games. If he stays healthy this year, expect Ojulari to break out under Wink Martindale’s tutelage.
Team: Jets | Position: LB
Age: 24 | Drafted: 26th overall, 2022
One of three Jets first-round picks last year, Johnson has put together a standout training camp and preseason. After playing in a rotational role last season, he figures to get more regular snaps in 2023.
Team: Jets | Position: CB
Age: 22 | Drafted: Fourth overall, 2022
One year on, Gardner looks like a home-run pick for Douglas, after he was named first-team All-Pro as a rookie and won Defensive Rookie of the Year. If he can follow that up with a second act, the Jets might finally have a worthy successor to Darrelle Revis.
Team: Giants | Position: CB
Age: 22 | Drafted: 24th overall, 2023
The Giants’ first-round pick in April, it looks as if Banks will get a chance to start at cornerback in Week 1. The Maryland product has put together a solid training camp after he was selected 24th overall by Schoen.
Team: Giants | Position: S
Age: 24 | Drafted: 36th overall, 2020
The 24-year-old McKinney was the center of attention in the wrong way last year after he nearly lost three fingers in an ATV accident in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. But with a contract negotiation coming at the end of the year and high-end talent, McKinney should be in line to bounce back in 2023.