The New York Giants are looking to improve their record in 2020. After a disappointing 4-12 2019 season, the Giants upgraded their roster’s talent significantly. New York made a few key acquisitions on the defense in free agency. They then bolstered up the offensive line and secondary in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Despite improving nearly every positional group on the roster, there is one group that went mostly untouched. This position was one of the roster’s significant weaknesses, too. The Giants did not do much to upgrade their pass-rush, signing only one edge rusher in free agency and drafting not one player at that position.
Many fans have complained about the lack of assets invested in the edge position. There is a large portion of the fan base that wanted to see the team make a run at Jadeveon Clowney in free agency. Instead, New York signed Kyler Fackrell, an underrated addition that could help improve the pass-rush tenfold. But there is a player on the roster who could take a leap in 2020 and become the team’s primary pass-rusher: Oshane Ximines.
Underrated 2019 Performance
Oshane Ximines does not get enough credit for his performance in 2019. As a rookie out of Old Dominion, Ximines stepped in and made an impact instantly. In limited playing time, the rookie totaled 4.5 sacks. He also recorded 25 combined tackles and 12 pressures.
Ximines was used as a rotational pass rusher in 2019. Being from a small school like Old Dominion, the Giants wanted to ease him into the NFL. But now, with a year under his belt, Oshane is ready to expand his role in 2020.
An Increased Role In 2020
Oshane Ximines played only 45% of the Giants’ defensive snaps in 2019. Tallying 4.5 sacks and 12 pressures in 503 snaps is an impressive feat. Oshane should see his snap total increase in 2020 and, thus, his statistics will improve, too.
Teammate Lorenzo Carter is a comparable player for Ximines. Carter played 40% of snaps as a rookie in 2018. In 2019, he saw his snap percentage increase to 65%. Carter did not exactly improve his performance in the more expansive role, though. His sack total went from 4 to 4.5. This lack of improvement made Carter one of the more disappointing players in 2019.
But Ximines seems ready for an expanded role in 2020. And luckily for Oshane, the Giants’ new defensive coordinator, Patrick Graham, knows how to scheme up some pressures.