3.Defensive Line:
Finishing off the top three positional groups for Big Blue is their defensive line. This group is something that has been a major focus for the Giants throughout the history of the franchise featuring superstar players like Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Leonard Marshall, and Michael Strahan. New York is looking to get back to this focus with a trio of hog-mollies upfront.
First off at nose tackle, the Giants have Dalvin Tomlinson. Tomlinson is entering his fourth year as a pro and has been a man of consistency. He has never missed a start in his three-year career and has averaged about 50 tackles a season. This helped earn Tomlinson a Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of 78+ in each of his first three seasons. The Alabama graduate has also improved each of his three years as in his most recent season, he recorded career highs in tackles for loss (nine) and sacks (3.5). This made Tomlinson the Giants’ highest-graded defensive player of 2019 by PFF. With new schemes and more help outside, Tomlinson will look to improve on these totals.
Dexter Lawrence will be one of the players looking to help Tomlinson and the Giants’ defensive line this upcoming season. Lawrence had a very strong rookie year, where he was actually ranked the ninth-best rookie by PFF. In his debut season, Dex recorded 38 tackles (24 solo), 2.5 sacks, and three tackles for loss. He was primarily a threat in the run game, where he ranked 21st out of the 117 qualifying interior defensive lineman. And while his pass rush was not awful, 30 quarterback pressures and nine hits, it is something that he is looking to improve on this season. Lawrence has slimmed down from his 342-pound playing weight of last season, and he thinks that this will help him be more effective in the pass rush.Â
The final member of the Giants’ starting defensive line is Leonard Williams. Williams had a roller coaster of a season last year. He was traded from the Jets midseason and ended up recording a career-low, 0.5 sacks. This placed Williams in a prove-it year for the Giants as he is currently franchised tagged. It will be a career deciding season for Williams, and this is something that should definitely motivate him. The former first-round pick is still very talented and has been among the league’s best interior defensive lineman since entering the league. Since 2015, Williams (82 QB hits) only trails 2× NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Aaron Donald, when it comes to hitting the quarterback. It is clear that Leonard Williams possesses the skill to be elite. If he can put it all together, he can make the Giants’ defensive line dangerous in 2020.