The New York Giants are gearing up for training camp in July. Each team in the NFC East has restructured its roster in hopes of success in the upcoming 2026 season. This is the third post in our position-by-position look at the NFC East; we have reviewed the cornerbacks and the safeties so far.
The team with the best positional group is assigned four points, and the “worst” receives one point. It is a complex formula, up there with E=MC², but we’ll attempt to deliver the information in a palatable manner, and I’m sure it will be well received by all fan bases, of course. With that, let’s talk linebackers!
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DeMarvion Overshown, Dee Winters, Jaishawn Barham, Shemar James, Curtis Robinson, Justin Barron, Langston Patterson
Dallas now receives DeMarvion Overshown with a year removed from his knee injury; he returned last year in Week 11, but should be one year closer to his explosive pursuing self, and Dee Winters was a solid free agent addition signed to compete with third-round pick Jaishawn Barham, opposite second-year player Shemar James. Although there’s skill in this Dallas room, they are the clear-cut fourth in the division, giving them just one point in this exercise.
Points: 1
Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Smael Mondon Jr., Chance Campbell, Deontae Lawson
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Zack Baun might be the best overall linebacker in the division, although Tremaine Edmunds and a healthy Overshown might have something to say about that statement. Still, Baun has two elite seasons with Vic Fangio. He earned two Pro-Bowl bids and was a First-Team All-Pro in 2024. Baun is excellent, and second-year linebacker Jihaad Campbell played well in his rookie season.
Philadelphia has a solid duo of starters, but little proven depth behind Buan and Campbell. Jeremiah Trotter Jr.and Smael Mondon Jr. are set to start if something happens to the starters. I value the Giants’ depth over Philadelphia’s, giving New York a slight edge.
Points: 2
New York Giants
Tremaine Edmunds, Arvell Reese, Micah McFadden, Darius Muasau, Jack Kelly, Zaire Barnes, Cam Jones
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I went back and forth between the Giants and Commanders – it could have gone either way. However, three points for New York are still a beam of light in the dark abyss that has been the New York Giants’ linebacker room. The veteran addition of Tremaine Edmunds, along with the selection of Arvell Reese – and the decision to play him at linebacker – makes this a strong room with a lot of versatility, length, and upside.
I also love that the Giants brought back McFadden on a one-year prove-it deal. McFadden has developed throughout his career, but a Week 1 injury cut his contract year short. He is a reliable option to play if something happens to Edmunds or Reese, leaving Mausau as a special teamer. I won’t rule sixth-round pick Jack Kelly out to possibly see defensive snaps as the season progresses. The Giants have a solid linebacking corps, and they could have easily earned four points here.
Points: 3
Washington Commanders
Sonny Styles, Leo Chenal, Frankie Luvu, Jordan Magee, Nick Bellore, Kain Medrano, Ale Kaho
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Washington gets four points, and I expect Dan Quinn to use these linebackers well. The Commanders moved on from veterans like Bobby Wagner and brought in youth, selecting Styles in the top 10 and signing the 25-year-old Chenal. Chenal is a versatile linebacker who does well coming forward toward the line of scrimmage; he will be impactful as a blitzer, similar to Frankie Luvu, who is still on the roster as a third linebacker, with some edge ability.
Styles, Chenal, and Luvu are a solid trio of linebackers, with Jordan Magee as a young fourth option; Magee is a quick, undersized linebacker who recorded 21 STOPs last season with solid tape. Overall, the Commanders barely get the nod over the Giants and Eagles here, but they receive the four points.
Points: 4
Final thoughts
This is a tough one because no linebacker room stands head and shoulders above the other three. I am a big fan of DeMarvion Overshown, and expect to see a jump in his play from last year, for he was recovering from his devastating right knee injury. Zach Baun could be the best linebacker in the division, especially with how Fangio has unlocked his skill set, and the Commanders added Styles and Chenal to their roster defense – two exceptional additions.
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The true nature of Styles’ ability as a linebacker gives him a slight edge over Arvell Reese, although I’m higher on Reese as an overall player. However, I do hold Frankie Luvu in higher esteem than Micah McFadden, who I also appreciate as a player. I have Edmunds slightly over Chenal, but not by enough to offset the value of Luvu over McFadden, so the Commanders took the four points, making this an interesting battle through three position groups.
The Giants and Commanders now have eight points through the cornerback, safety, and linebacker reviews. Dallas and Philadelphia have seven points – it is neck and neck. We still have the edge and defensive line reviews to conclude the defense. Something tells me the Giants will do well with their edge room, but I’m not certain about their defensive line. We’ll see soon!
Total tally so far
Giants: 8 points
Commanders: 8 points
Cowboys: 7 points
Eagles: 7 points
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