There has been ample reason for optimism around the Giants as this offseason gives way to a Week 1 clash against the Commanders, and most of it stems from the new faces they brought in.

Russell Wilson should be a significant improvement over Daniel Jones, Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito. And if he falters, Jaxson Dart had about as good of a preseason as possible, and Jameis Winston still is one of the better backup options in the league. By almost every metric, Jones, Lock and DeVito ranked last, or close to it, in the league last year. And by most metrics, Wilson was about league-average. That should immediately raise the Giants’ floor.

There was heavy investment on defense. Adding No. 3 draft pick Abdul Carter to a unit that had Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence provides the possibility of one of the best pass-rush groups in the league. Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland were big-money reinforcements for a secondary that badly needed them. Chauncey Golston, Roy Robertson-Harris and Darius Alexander should help what was a woeful run-stopping showing last year.

Cam Skattebo is a new weapon on offense.