The New York Giants head into the offseason with a load of question and quite a bit of needs. They recorded only 36 sacks in 2019, 22nd in the NFL, and will be looking for pas rushing help in both free agency and the NFL Draft.
Other positions such as cornerback and offensive tackle are also on the list according to the folks at Pro Football Focus:
NEW YORK GIANTS: A RELIABLE EDGE RUSHER
Secondary needs: cornerback, offensive tackle
With the fourth pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Giants aren’t likely to win the Chase Young sweepstakes. But Young or no Young, they need a reliable pass-rushing option off the edge. Markus Golden impressed with a double-digit sack total this season, but he enters free agency with a PFF pass-rushing grade of 63.0 that indicates he wasn’t as strong there as his sack total would suggest. The Giants will be in the hunt for edge defenders across free agency and the draft — either to play alongside Golden or replace his production from this season.
The Giants should also be on the lookout for cornerback help after the recently drafted cornerbacks they ran out there this season failed to produce. DeAndre Baker, Grant Haley, Corey Ballentine and Sam Beal were all drafted within the last two seasons, and they all failed to produce a 60.0 coverage grade, while all four also allowed a passer rating of at least 100.0 into their coverage. Along with looking for improvements to a tackle duo of Mike Remmers and Nate Solder that allowed more combined pressures than any pair in the NFL, the Giants should look to the secondary this offseason.
The Giants had 12 different players record sacks in 2019 led by Golden’s 10 and 4.5 each from Lorenzo Carter and rookie Oshane Ximines. It wasn’t enough, and now with Golden possibly leaving via free agency, the push will be on to find a replacement or replacements.
They won’t get Young, barring something unforeseen, so they may have to turn their focus to a player at another position. in the first round.
I’m going to blame the poor secondary play on coaching. The Giants played a passive style of football under defensive coordinator James Bettcher, which allowed opponents to carve them up with ease. This year with Joe Judge in charge, they’ll be no free lunch for opposing quarterbacks and receivers.
No question the Giants will be looking at several offensive tackles in the first round of the draft. Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, Jedrick Wills of Alabama, Louisville’s Mekhi Becton and Tristan Wirfs of Iowa will four players that should be on the board when the Giants select at No. 4 overall.