There wasn’t as much turnover on the New York Giants’ defense compared to the offense from last season. But there still are 14 new defensive players on the 90-man roster, including the prize addition of the offseason, outside linebacker Brian Burns.
With training camp approaching, here’s one thought on every member of the Giants’ defense:
Defensive line
Dexter Lawrence
Lawrence blossomed into the best nose tackle in the league while playing alongside elite defensive tackle Leonard Williams. This will be Lawrence’s first full season without Williams, as the veteran was dealt to the Seattle Seahawks at last year’s trade deadline. In eight games before the trade, Lawrence tallied 44 pressures. In the eight games after the trade, he managed 21 pressures. Now, his pressure total with Williams is inflated by a ridiculous 15-pressure game against the Jets in Week 8. But it will be interesting to see if Lawrence’s production is impacted by not having a top interior lineman by his side.
GO DEEPERGiants roster breakdown: One thought on Daniel Jones and every player on offenseRakeem Nunez-Roches
The Giants gave a three-year, $12 million contract to Nunez-Roches last offseason as part of an emphasis to improve their run defense. The Giants’ 29th-ranked run defense was hardly the fault of Nunez-Roches alone, but he made minimal impact while playing 41 percent of the snaps.
Ryder Anderson
Anderson’s enhanced role was the biggest personnel surprise of the spring. After seeing some action as an undrafted rookie in 2022, Anderson spent last season on the practice squad. So it was unexpected to see the 6-foot-6, 280-pounder get so many reps with the starting defense during the offseason program. Anderson could find a role as the lineman next to Lawrence on passing downs.
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Jordon Riley
Riley only played 12 percent of the snaps last season, so there was little opportunity for the seventh-round pick to make an impression on a veteran-laden line. But it’s easy to see how the 6-foot-5, 315-pound Riley’s physique caught Giants scouts’ attention despite lackluster college production. Riley should be a pet project for defensive line coach Andre Patterson.
Jordan Phillips
The Giants’ recent track record of aging tackle signings — Nunez-Roches, Justin Ellis, Danny Shelton — limits the excitement about Phillips, who turns 32 in September. Phillips considered retirement after last season but instead signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract with the Giants. In an ideal world, Phillips will add some pass-rush ability on early downs. But it’s hard to count on that, especially after his participation in the spring was limited due to recovery from the wrist surgery he underwent in December.
DJ Davidson
Davidson hasn’t shown much after being a surprise fifth-round pick in 2022. He has a chance to carve out a role on a line that has lost veteran talent, but he was behind Anderson and Riley on the depth chart in the spring.
Timmy Horne
The Giants poached Horne from the Falcons’ practice squad in Week 16 of last season. He played seven snaps days after getting signed but was a healthy scratch for the final two games. The Giants signed the 26-year-old through the 2024 season when they poached him, so they clearly see potential. But Horne missed the spring with a knee injury, so he hasn’t had an opportunity to showcase much with the Giants.
Casey Rogers
Rogers will have some familiar faces with the Giants. The undrafted rookie was recruited by coach Brian Daboll when he was the offensive coordinator at Alabama in 2017. And Rogers has followed the same path as Riley, transferring from Nebraska to Oregon before landing with the Giants. They’re reunited after being roommates on road trips at both colleges.
GO DEEPERMeet the Giants UDFAs: An Irish kicker, a competitive 'freak' and the next Tommy DeVito?Elijah Chatman
Chatman signed with the Giants after a rookie minicamp tryout. The 6-foot, 278-pound Chatman looks small when standing among the behemoths on the line, but he made Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” last summerdue to his extraordinary strength and athleticism. He seems like an ideal practice squad candidate.
Outside linebacker
Brian Burns
Burns was the latest in a string of top young edge rushers to get traded. At last season’s trade deadline, the Bears dealt a second-round pick to the Commanders for Montez Sweat. Sweat, who was in the final year of his rookie contract, immediately signed a four-year, $98 million extension with the Bears. At the 2022 trade deadline, the Dolphins traded running back Chase Edmonds, a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Broncos for Bradley Chubb and a 2025 fifth-round pick. Chubb, who was in the final year of his rookie contract, immediately signed a five-year, $110 million extension with the Dolphins. The Giants traded a 2024 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Panthers for Burns this offseason. Burns, who had been franchise-tagged, signed a five-year, $141 million extension as part of the trade.
Sweat averaged 7.3 sacks in his four full seasons before the trade. Chubb averaged 5.1 sacks in his four full seasons before the trade, although he missed a combined 22 games in two of those seasons. Burns averaged 9.2 sacks in his five seasons before the trade.
GO DEEPERThree ways Giants defense will look different: New scheme and a dangerous duo leading pass rushKayvon Thibodeaux
Thibodeaux tallied 11.5 sacks in his second season. Advanced metrics don’t indicate that type of dominance, but players with double-digit sack production get paid. Thibodeaux will be eligible for an extension next offseason. He has approached football like a businessman since his time at Oregon, so expect him to push for a lucrative payday if he tops 10 sacks again.
Azeez Ojulari
Ojulari’s status is murky entering his fourth season. Bumped down the depth chart by the addition of Burns, Ojulari had a quiet spring, with his reps limited in some practices. It’s not clear where Ojulari, who tallied eight sacks as a rookie in 2021, fits in this defense. He has no experience as an interior pass rusher, so it’s not as easy as putting him on the field with Burns and Thibodeaux in a “NASCAR” package. It makes sense to keep Ojulari, who has a $2.2 million cap hit in the final year of his rookie contract, as depth. But the possibility of a trade can’t be ruled out.
Boogie Basham
The Giants traded a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Bills for Basham and a 2025 seventh-round pick before last season. The low stakes were indicative of Basham’s two disappointing seasons in Buffalo. The change of scenery didn’t help, as Basham made just 11 tackles and was a healthy scratch in four games last season. He could find an opportunity as an interior rusher on passing downs under new coordinator Shane Bowen, but nothing about Basham’s track record suggests he’ll become an impact player.
GO DEEPERFantasy football breakouts for all 32 NFL teams, led by Bijan Robinson, Jameson WilliamsTomon Fox
Fox showed some promise as an undrafted rookie in 16 games in 2022, but he was stuck behind Basham last season. Fox spent the entire season on the practice squad except for a Week 16 elevation to the active roster. Fox remained behind Basham on the depth chart during the spring, but he deserves a chance to reclaim a roster spot.
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Benton Whitley
Whitley is another young player who was poached off a practice squad (Vikings) late last season. Whitley played 13 defensive snaps in his first three games with the Giants before being a healthy scratch for the final three games. The 25-year-old was re-signed to a one-year minimum contract as an exclusive rights free agent, so he’ll get an opportunity to earn a roster spot in camp.
Ovie Oghoufo
Oghoufo’s six-year college career included stops at three of the top programs in college football. But the 6-foot-4, 250-pounder never topped 2.5 sacks in any of his seasons at Notre Dame, Texas or LSU.
Inside linebacker
Bobby Okereke
Okereke didn’t crack the top five in linebacker fan voting for the Pro Bowl last season despite a stellar debut in New York. Okereke racked up 149 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions and four forced fumbles. San Francisco’s Fred Warner, who was the starting inside linebacker for the NFC, had 132 tackles, six tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, four interceptions and four forced fumbles. New Orleans’ Demario Davis, who was the backup inside linebacker for the NFC, registered 121 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, no interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Okereke’s production is clearly Pro Bowl-caliber, but linebacker is a loaded position with established stars, so it will be tough for him to break through.
Micah McFadden
McFadden took a step forward after getting benched late in his rookie season. He started 14 games next to Okereke and played 65 percent of the snaps as an early-down linebacker last season. There are limitations to McFadden’s game, and he must reduce his missed tackles, but he was productive with 101 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and four fumble recoveries. However, his role could be diminished in Bowen’s defense, which favors extra defensive backs on the field.
Isaiah Simmons
Much was made of a clip from Hard Knocks that showed Bowen describing Simmons’ role to Daboll and the scouting staff in a meeting to explain his scheme. Bowen said he viewed Simmons as playing slot corner on first and second downs and the “money” linebacker position on third downs. The impression was that Bowen had big expectations for Simmons. But watching the clip in the full context of the meeting, it seemed more like Bowen was just explaining how he’d use a player with Simmons’ skill set. It’s unlikely Simmons will be the primary nickel corner on early downs. Playing linebacker on passing downs, as he did last season, seems like his most likely role.
Carter Coughlin
It felt like Coughlin’s time with the Giants was done when he hit free agency after last season. A 2020 seventh-round pick by the previous regime and a favorite of former special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, Coughlin looked destined for a fresh start after playing just eight defensive snaps in the past two seasons combined. But clearly, this regime values Coughlin’s special teams contributions, as he got $367,500 guaranteed in his $1.3 million one-year contract.
Matthew Adams
Adams was signed to a one-year, $1.3 million contract with $967,5000 guaranteed, so he’s nearly assured of a roster spot. The seventh-year veteran was clearly signed for his special teams acumen, as he was a starter on special teams while playing with the third-team defense during the spring.
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Darius Muasau
Fearless prediction: Muasau is going to dominate in the preseason. As a rookie sixth-round pick, Muasau figures to get a lot of playing time during the preseason. And Muasau was a tackling machine in college, so that should translate well to the vanilla style of play in the preseason.
Darrian Beavers
Beavers was in prime position to claim the starting job next to Okereke last offseason, but he lost a position battle to McFadden early in training camp. Beavers landed on the practice squad, where he remained until getting elevated to play special teams in the final two games of last season. With the investments made to the linebacker depth this offseason, it’s hard to see Beavers earning a roster spot.
Dyontae Johnson
Johnson, Ryder Anderson and Kaleb Hayes were the only players to spend all of last season on the Giants’ practice squad without any elevations to the active roster. Johnson stuck last year as an undrafted rookie, but he remained buried on the depth chart this spring.
Cornerback
Deonte Banks
Banks’ rookie training camp was a good reminder not to overreact to summer practices. The 2023 first-round pick looked overmatched as he was picked on daily early in camp last year. Banks overcame those early struggles and delivered a promising rookie season. The challenge now for Banks is to make the jump to being a true No. 1 cornerback.
Cor’Dale Flott
Flott said in May that he weighs 177 pounds. He was 175 pounds at the 2022 combine, so it’s safe to assume bulking up isn’t going to be a big piece of his development. But the Giants are counting on major strides in Flott’s third season, as he is penciled as the outside starter opposite Banks after being the starting slot corner last season. Flott’s slight frame was exposed in the slot as a run defender, so he could benefit from a move outside.
Nick McCloud
McCloud had an interesting free-agent negotiation that flew under the radar. As a restricted free agent, the Giants had the option of tendering a one-year, $3 million contract to retain McCloud. Or the sides could have reached an agreement on a contract of a different length and/or value. They were unable to find common ground, so McCloud got the tender, which included no guaranteed money. McCloud could be in jeopardy of a squeeze for a pay cut before the opener if he doesn’t secure the starting slot corner job.
Dru Phillips
The Giants went back to the cornerback well within the first three rounds of the draft for the fourth consecutive year. The hope is that Phillips joins with two other recent draft picks — Banks and Flott — to form a quality, young cornerback corps. Phillips has the size and physicality to play slot corner in Bowen’s defense, but he needs to improve on his missed tackle rate in the NFL.
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Tre Hawkins
Hawkins’ play in training camp was another good reminder not to overreact to offseason practices. The Giants dramatically altered their cornerback lineup after Hawkins showed promise early in camp as a rookie sixth-round pick. Hawkins’ impressive practice performance didn’t translate to the regular season, and he was benched after Week 3. Hawkins will need to work his way back up the depth chart this summer.
Darnay Holmes
It was a surprise that Holmes re-signed with the Giants after he was squeezed for a $1.7 million pay cut before last season and then barely played on defense. But Holmes re-signed on a one-year, $2 million contract. The cap hit is just $1.275 million, as he was retained via the rarely used four-year qualifying offer. That CBA benefit allows teams to spend up to $1.45 million more than a minimum salary on a player who spent the previous four years with a team, while the minimum salary is what counts on the cap.
Tre Herndon
It’s surprising Herndon was available to be signed to a minimum contract with no guaranteed money after a minicamp tryout. The seventh-year veteran played 43 percent of the snaps last season as the Jaguars’ slot cornerback. Herndon has split snaps between slot and perimeter corner throughout his career, so he adds experienced depth to an unproven group.
David Long
Long’s career appeared to be on the upswing in 2021 when he started six games for the Rams, including their win in Super Bowl 56. But after starting four games in 2022, he signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Raiders last offseason. Long was released in November and claimed by the Panthers. The Panthers waived Long a month later, and he finished the season with the Packers. The Giants signed Long to a minimum contract with no guaranteed money in May, which signals how far his value has fallen.
Aaron Robinson
It’s remarkable Robinson has survived on the roster despite missing so much time. Robinson won a starting outside corner job in 2022, but he suffered a torn ACL and a torn MCL in Week 4. He missed the rest of the 2022 season and all of last season. Robinson was still rehabbing his knee during the spring, and it’s unclear if he’ll be ready for the start of camp.
Kaleb Hayes
Hayes signed with the Giants’ practice squad after being cut by the Jaguars at the end of last year’s preseason. The BYU product spent the spring working with the third-team defense.
Stantley Thomas-Oliver
Thomas-Oliver signed with the Giants practice squad in Week 9 after being cut from the Panthers’ practice squad. Thomas-Oliver appeared in 25 games, mostly on special teams, in four seasons with the Panthers.
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Alex Johnson
Johnson was a late bloomer at UCLA, becoming the Bruins’ starting slot corner as a sixth-year senior. Johnson led the Pac-12 with five interceptions last season before signing with the Giants as an undrafted free agent. Interestingly, Johnson worked at outside corner, including some reps with the second-team defense, during the spring.
Safety
Jason Pinnock
Pinnock seized his opportunity to become a starter last season, making 16 starts next to Xavier McKinney. Pinnock’s burst and athleticism made him an excellent blitzer in former coordinator Wink Martindale’s system. It will be interesting to see if Bowen continues to utilize that asset. One area Pinnock needs to clean up is missed tackles, as he had a few notable whiffs last season.
Dane Belton
Belton was in a position battle with Pinnock for a starting safety job last season. Now, Belton will battle with rookie Tyler Nubin for the starting spot alongside Pinnock. Belton, who worked with the first-team defense throughout the spring, has proven to have a nose for the ball with four interceptions and three fumble recoveries in limited action during his first two seasons. He now must prove he can become a reliable every-down player to secure a starting job.=
Tyler Nubin
The Giants used a second-round pick on Nubin to replace McKinney, who cashed in as a free agent after being a second-round pick in 2020. Everything about Nubin, from his experience at Minnesota to his production to his leadership ability establishes a baseline for a competent pro. He should push to be a Day 1 starter.
Jalen Mills
Mills was a wise signing on a minimum contract for a secondary full of inexperience and question marks. Mills has played all over the secondary in his eight seasons, transitioning mostly to safety last season in New England. Mills should provide veteran depth at various positions.
Gervarrius Owens
Owens was a healthy scratch for 14 games last season and didn’t play any defensive snaps. The 2023 seventh-round pick needs to become a special teams ace to secure a roster spot in his second season.
Elijah Riley
The Giants signed Riley after a workout on May 30. The 26-year-old has appeared in 30 games for three teams over four seasons.
GO DEEPERChris Jones, Davante Adams, T.J. Watt and one non-quarterback MVP for every NFL teamSpecialists
K Graham Gano
Gano should have an easier time transitioning to the new kickoff rules than some of his peers. Unlike other kickers who will need to adjust from booming kickoffs through the end zone for touchbacks, Gano has always placed kicks to force returns. He has a 52.2 percent touchback rate in four seasons with the Giants. That ranks 37th among kickers who have appeared in at least 20 games over that stretch. That was a strategic decision to influence field position, not due to a lack of leg strength for touchbacks.
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K Jude McAtamney
Specialists don’t always follow a conventional path to the NFL. That’s certainly the case for McAtamney, who grew up in Ireland and never played football until getting a scholarship to Division 2 Chowan University in 2021. McAtamney made 67 percent of his field goals at Rutgers in 2022 before losing the place-kicking job before last season. Still, McAtamney showed enough in pre-draft workouts to get signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent. McAtamney’s Irish background adds to his appeal, as the Giants can carry him as an extra player on the practice squad this season due to the international exemption allowed by the NFL.
P Jamie Gillan
The Giants’ faith in Gillan after a shaky 2022 season was rewarded. The 27-year-old improved his net yards per punt, increased his percentage of punts downed inside the 20-yard line and lowered his touchback percentage last season.
LS Casey Kreiter
Kreiter signed his fifth consecutive one-year contract with the Giants this offseason. Each of those contracts have been for the minimum salary, but this year’s deal includes $1.2 million guaranteed, so Kreiter’s spot is fully secure.
(Photo of Dexter Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux: Mark Goldman / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images)
