The New York Giants’ primary needs fall within the offense, but they are always looking for ways to improve the defense as well. A position of need comes at the defensive tackle area. While Dexter Lawrence is one of the best in the game, the supporting cast around him on the interior isn’t eye-popping.
ESPN’s Aaron Schatz recommend that the team should sign free agent and veteran defensive tackle Lawrence Guy to round out the D-line for this upcoming season:
“The Giants have several places on their defense where they could add veteran depth. Guy spent the past seven seasons with the Patriots and can play against the pass and the run. He had an 83% stop rate last season on his run tackles, meaning that they stopped a successful offensive play 83% of the time. The Giants don’t want to be rotating out Dexter Lawrence very much, but Guy would give them more depth along with Jordan Phillips and Rakeem Nunez-Roches,” Schatz wrote.
Lawrence Guy has been a reliable defensive tackle for quite some time
Guy, 34, has been one of the game’s most reliable and durable defensive tackles in the NFL over the past decade. Since 2015, Guy has played in 142 of 147 possible games, including a five-season stretch from 2015-2019 where didn’t miss a game. This past season, he played in every game but started in only 12 of them, seeing his playing time diminish ahead of his free agency.
The Giants could get some value out of a veteran with championship experience, as he was a part of the Patriots’ Super Bowl-winning squad in 2017 and is a member of the franchise’s All-2010s team. While he is past his prime days, he is still a serviceable defensive player, as he recorded 38 combined tackles including one for a loss, and had a pass deflection, though it was also the first time since 2014 that he failed to record a sack.
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Where would Guy fit in the Giants’ new DC Shane Bowen’s system?
Under Shane Bowen as defensive coordinator, the Giants are expected to be a more versatile group with a lighter focus on blitzing compared to the blitz-heavy attack under Wink Martindale. Pairing him alongside a menace like Dexter Lawrence could provide a strong combination of power against both the pass and the run.
Despite Guy’s lackluster pass-rushing, he is very good at stopping the run, which could benefit the Giants tremendously. In addition, Guy’s veteran presence can be a good leadership boost to a young defensive group the Giants currently have.
There is no indication that the Giants are heavily in the mix for Guy, but they could take a flyer and strike a short-term deal with him if they feel that is a good fit.