I Keep Defending the New York Giants

By: Randall Slifer

I have been finding myself defending the New York Giants lately. They have not been perfect by any means, but they certainly have not taken any steps backwards this off-season. The Giants have been underwhelming, to say the least, and the moves have been questionable. I believe the front office is to blame for many of their downfalls, but they stayed intact. On a positive note, the Giants decided to attack certain aspects in this offseason that I thought were the right moves. Let’s dive into what they did and what they could do before the NFL Draft arrives next week:

Defensive Backs

The defense could not get a turnover last season. The defense allowed 23 touchdowns with only picking the ball off five times. The New York Giants allowed the third-highest QB Rating in the league. Jevon Holland is a dominant safety who is one of the most versatile defensive backs in the league. He lined up everywhere, including earning a sack this year. It creates a ripple effect in your defense to be able to adjust schemes and disguise coverages on a game-by-game case just as Shane Bowen likes to do as a defensive coordinator. Paulson Adebo is a good CB1. He is sticky in man coverage and has a great IQ in reading routes and disguising leverage to jump on the ball. Adebo has ten career interceptions and three good one’s last year in New Orleans. All three of his interceptions, he ran the route for his wide receiver and had a good return. This locks up their defensive backs with Tyler Nubin, Deonte Banks, and Dru Phillips.

Quarterbacks

Russell Wilson comes to New York as a part of a competition at quarterback. He can fit New York with his field-stretching moonball with new star Malik Nabers. George Pickens thrived off Russell Wilson’s go-ball, and Malik should get even better results. Russell Wilson threw 50 balls of 20 yards or more and had 850 yards with seven touchdowns and only two interceptions. Only throwing one turnover-worthy play is also impressive. Jameis Winston can do a similar style in the field stretching capabilities. Jameis Winston will let it go at any chance with over 2/3rds of his passes of 20 or more yards. The issue with Jameis Winston is short-yard accuracy and turnovers. Everyone remembers his infamous 2019 season of 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. In 2024 with the most amount of dropbacks since that 2019 season, he threw thirteen touchdowns and twelve interceptions. Can the Giants trust him? I would think a backup role would fit Jameis. There are other options out there to discuss, where you could pass on a quarterback this year, and get ready to invest in a 2026 quarterback. I am not devaluing this quarterback class, but I believe the 2026 quarterback class seems to have a lot more talent.

Offensive Line

The Offensive Line is still a project, but Joe Schoen went and got some good depth at swing tackles in James Hudson III and Stone Forsythe. The Giants had an early injury with Andrew Thomas breaking his foot. They ended up shuffling their offensive line throughout the rest of the year and it was a disaster. This doesn’t solve every problem, but it does solve an important one. The draft is next week, and the Giants have eight picks and four in the top 100. The Giants can draft a guard in this draft so let’s dive right in and address the NFL draft now:

New York Giants:

1.03 – Edge Abdul Carter, Penn State

2.34 – TE Mason Taylor, LSU

3.65 – iOL Marcus Mbow, Purdue

3.99 – RB – Damien Martinez, Miami

4.105 – DT Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon

5.154 – CB Jason Marshall Jr, Florida

7.219 – WR Ja’Corey Brooks, Louisville

7.246 – LB Franciso Mauigoa, Miami

The defense will be a menace with Abdul Carter, Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, and Jamaree Caldwell. The improved defensive line can possibly unlock Kayvon Thibodeaux and the front can generate pressure without blitzing. Franciso Mauigoa is a run-stuffing linebacker who averages over 7 tackles a game and has eleven tackles for loss on the season. The offense improves with a top-five tight end in the draft, a bruiser for a running back, and a versatile offensive line piece.

If Joe Schoen went this type of route, I believe it may be an out to one more year. The NFC East is tough so their record will not signify how they did throughout the season. I rate this team, “They can split the Dallas Cowboys series, and there is a world where they could take both games”. If the Giants could sneak in six to eight wins, and their draft picks play well, Joe and Brian may have bought each other 2026 in New York. You could make a case that with the improved team, and a successful draft in 2026 including a top quarterback, they are ready to compete in the NFC. If they draft a quarterback this year and it is Shedeur Sanders, I think it would work based on their roster. Wan’dale Robinson can work with Shedeur’s short passing game, and Malik Nabers is one of the top ‘quarterback friendly’ wide receivers. Either way, it will be interesting to see how Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll attack this year to save their jobs. Or you never know, maybe an intriguing head coach will be in the next offseason cycle and John Mara will want to pass on an ascending team to an ascending talented head coach. It is the NFL.

I will either be massively wrong or very right, and there is probably no in-between with this case. Reach out to me on Twitter/Bluesky @RandallSlifer or comment here to let me know your thoughts. Go Bills!