While some might rank the New York Giants’ defense at the bottom of the barrel, they have several players that constitute as playmakers. Ranging from Jabrill Peppers to Leonard Williams, you might think of the more pricey options and athletic players as the team’s best. However, the underrated players also make a significant impact, and on both sides of the ball, the Giants have a few guys who fly under the radar in production and efficiency.
Here are two New York Giants players that are criminally underrated:
1.) Dalvin Tomlinson
Tomlinson is one of the most exciting players for the Giants, but you might not see it on an everyday basis. He’s aggressive in the trenches and stops the run at an extremely high level.
Having increased his production over three seasons in the NFL, Tomlinson has never missed a game. In 2019, he racked up 3.5 sacks, 49 combined tackles, and nine quarterback hits. Some might say he is more influential than Leonard Williams, who the Giants hit with the franchise tag this off-season. Lining him up over center is where he dominates, utilizing his strong hands and arm extensions to push centers into the backfield. Tomlinson wreaks havoc at the line of scrimmage.
Tomlinson has only gotten better with technique and fundamentals over time. In addition, he is fantastic at drawing double teams. He rarely gets pushed off balance and holds his ground well, drawing in multiple blocks which opens up opportunities for pass rushers. He’s extremely efficient in the 3-technique. Of course, there are plenty of negatives to his game, but the positives outweigh them by a fair margin. He is easily one of the most underrated players on the Giants and deserves an extension come next season.