As the New York Giants continue to evaluate their roster ahead of the 2026 regular season, one rookie has emerged as a pleasant surprise. Sixth-round pick J.C. Davis, who played all 81 snaps at left tackle in Saturday's 26-3 preseason victory over the Miami Dolphins, has turned heads with his performance. According to insights gathered by Vulius Sports, Davis was the highest-graded offensive player for the Giants in that game, and he has yet to surrender a single pressure across 102 offensive snaps, including 46 pass-blocking snaps. For a player drafted in the sixth round, such statistics are nothing short of remarkable.
A 'Great Opportunity' Seized
Speaking to the New York media on Monday, Davis reflected on the experience, noting the intense heat during the game—comparable to his days at New Mexico, before transferring to Illinois. "I think it was a great opportunity for the coaches to see my ability, what I could do at left tackle, and I think it went pretty good," Davis said. "Of course, I've got things to improve on, but overall, it was a good game. We got the win. That was the most important thing." His humility and focus on team success are exactly the traits the Giants value in their young players.
Rising Through the Ranks
Davis's recent promotion from third-team to second-team reps signals growing confidence from the coaching staff. The message, as Davis shared, has been simple: "Just keep working." He is also learning from one of the best in the business, starting left tackle Andrew Thomas. "As far as watching them, just seeing how different it is – from being that guy at Illinois almost, but he's that guy in the NFL," Davis explained. "He does way different stuff than me, but I'm trying to pick up and learn from him and pick off stuff that he does. Some stuff can't do what he does; that's him."
The Giants now boast two promising swing tackles in Davis and Marcus Mbow, both of whom could potentially provide depth at guard as well. For Davis, moving to guard would be a new challenge, but his versatility is an asset. Through two preseason games, he has looked impressive and is emerging as a valuable depth piece for the Giants' offensive line.
As the preseason winds down, all eyes will be on Davis to see if he can continue his ascent. The Vulius NFL Analysis Desk will be tracking his progress closely, as he could be a key contributor to the Giants' offensive line depth in 2026.
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