New York Giants: 3 players that need to step up on defense in 2020

The New York Giants are heading into the 2020 season with unpredictability scattered across the board. Their offense might have some new talented pieces, but we don’t know what the offensive line holds or how Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley will perform behind them.

On defense, the Giants landed safety Xavier McKinney in the draft and brought in several new players in linebacker Blake Martinez and pass rusher Kyler Fackrell. With general manager Dave Gettleman attempting to piece together the defense and rid the team of underperforming athletes, we should expect an increase in production, but there are several players that need to step up and fill the void.

Here’s a look at three players the New York Giants need to step up on defense:

1.) Lorenzo Carter

Carter needs to improve in 2020, after posting two seasons of uninspiring play. After his rookie campaign, most were excited to see Carter make his debut in his sophomore season, as he contains the size and speed to be a quality player in the NFL.

After posting 4.0 sacks, 43 combined tackles, and 10 quarterback hits in just 40% of defensive snaps; he backed it up with marginal improvements in year two. Carter posted 4.5 sacks, 45 combine tackles, 13 quarterback hits, and a 15.1% missed tackle rate on 65% of snaps.

The sophomore slump is undoubtedly a real thing, as expectations were weighing down on Carter’s shoulders. At 24 years old, the Giants shouldn’t give up on him yet, and I expect him to earn about 50% of defensive snaps with Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator. If the Giants manage to retain Markus Golden on a one year deal, Carter could be pushed on the depth chart, but his development is essential in the progression of the Giants’ pass rush.

2.) Jabrill Peppers

Peppers was having a solid campaign in 2019 before he suffered a season-ending injury on a punt return. Peppers made the transition from free safety to strong safety, replacing Landon Collins on the Giants’ defense. In his third year in the NFL, he played in 11 games, posting 76 combined tackles, 5 tackles for loss, forcing 3 fumbles, and recording 1 interception.

While he isn’t the best tackler, posting a 12.6% missed tackle rate in 2019, he’s incredibly athletic and brings a lot of potential with him.

Jabrill’s ability to drop into coverage and play in a free safety role makes him diverse and useful in different sets. Peppers performed well in his first year with the Giants, but there’s plenty of potential left to unearth. I anticipate Graham utilizing him in a variety of different ways, especially on schemed blitzes, and baiting quarterbacks at the line of scrimmage just to drop back into coverage. I estimate he will also play a lot of man coverage against tight ends.

The one thing I really like about Peppers that he is not scared to attack the line of scrimmage, pulling guards, running backs in the backfield; he possesses the ability and speed to make plays. Aside from his elite status in the kick returning department, his defense has improved exponentially over the past few years. He plays tough and physical, but he’s a bit undersized to fill in at linebacker, which is why the strong safety position fits him well.

When Gettleman acquired Peppers in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade, he believed the Giants were gaining a very good safety, and he showed a glimpse of that last season. The Giants also picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal, showing the confidence they have in the young defender.

3.) Leonard Williams

The Giants invested the franchise tag on Leonard Williams, who they acquired from the New York Jets for a third-round pick last season. Over eight games with the Giants, Williams posted 0.5 sacks, 26 combined tackles, 11 quarterback hits, and a 3.7% missed tackle rate. He played on just 33% of defensive snaps with Big Blue, but he made a difference in the trenches, helping Dalvin Tomlinson and Dexter Lawrence maximize their strengths.

The success of the defense heavily relies on Williams and his production moving forward. Investing top dollar on a player with such minimal production from a pass rush standpoint is a bit worrisome, but he has the talent to be the player Gettleman knows he can be.

Think of it this way, Gettleman invested the franchise tag on Williams, and considering the team is in the middle of a rebuild, it is smart to keep him off a long-term deal. If he performs well in 2020, they can offer him a multi-year extension, so they have the option of cutting bait after this season or resigning him on a fresh deal.