Which 3 Giants veterans will contribute more than anticipated in 2026?

Editor’s note: This is Part 18 of 26 in Art Stapleton’s New York Giants summer series Q&A

The New York Giants will be led by the usual suspects in John Harbaugh’s first year.

Jaxson Dart, as the quarterback, will command the offense. All defensive eyes are on Brian Burns.

We’ll all talk about the health of Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo, and in this space, you’ll hear from me about how the offensive line is better than outsiders think. On defense, the pass rush will show the way with inside linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and rookie Arvell Reese setting a different tone in the middle.

For now, there are far more questions than answers as Harbaugh prepares to kick off his first training camp here in West Virginia at the Greenbrier on July 28. But we hope to set the table for the summer and beyond with 26 questions that will define the 2026 Giants season.

If the Giants are going to surpass expectations, watch for these unsung veterans.

Now 28, Singletary took a pay cut to stay with the Giants, improving his chances of emerging as a contributor from jump. What will be interesting to see is how much Singletary gets to prove his worth behind Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy, and whether his style in a Greg Roman-designed power run game creates a lane for “Motor” to get more touches. I think it will, and Harbaugh has shown he is unafraid to go to different backs in a committee prior to Derrick Henry‘s arrival in Baltimore.

The fact that the Giants have not made a move in the backfield for another veteran. Undrafted rookie Damon Bankston and Turbo Miller will be the younger guys pushing for roles on the practice squad initially save for a monster preseason that would potentially change the complexion of the depth chart behind Skattebo, Tracy and Singletary.

Slayton is certainly coming off a year to forget after getting paid to stay here and be a steadying presence within the offense. His Achilles’ heel was prevalent again with far too many drops (six), including on deep throws that should be his calling card. Slayton is still here, though, and as the longest tenured player on the roster with Dexter Lawrence gone, there will be an opportunity for him to defy all those odds stacked against him yet again.

Of course, his absence this spring after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia leaves open the chance that others will pass him by on the depth chart. Veterans Odell Beckham Jr., Juju Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios were all signed to fight for spots, while rookie Malachi Fields showed enough flash to earn more reps in camp.

Don’t expect Slayton to go anywhere since his contract won’t necessarily provide salary cap relief, and it’s hard to see anyone trading for him at his current salary ($12.25 million) off of last year and during his current recovery.

Seemingly every time critics say to not expect production from Slayton, he delivers. I could see that again in 2026.

Campbell will turn 31 in August and he’s got quite the story, having spent time in the Alliance of American Football (AAF) and the XFL before landing a spot with the Jets during the 2020 season. He has carved out a niche as a special teams contributor in six NFL seasons, the last five with the Dolphins.

So where does Campbell fit with the Giants? Well, first off, special teams coordinator Chris Horton is searching for stalwarts on all of his units, and Campbell should have a legitimate shot at making his presence felt there. His time in the defensive secondary has been limited, but the Giants are looking for different combinations behind Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin, and Campbell will be competing with Jason Pinnock and Ar’Darius Washington this summer.

Can Campbell factor into big nickel packages in which defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson wants to get three safeties on the field to help in run support? It’s possible, which is why I think he could surprise in the chase for the final spots on the 53-man roster.