Establishing a dominant defensive front is essential to success in the NFL, and New York Giants GM Dave Gettleman has made that a priority since his hiring two years ago. Drafting Dexter Lawrence, trading for Leonard Williams, and signing Markus Golden were all significant decisions that were aimed towards the development of the trenches and stopping the run.
Lawrence, who was the Giants’ 17th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has had a stellar rookie campaign, logging 35 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 9 QB hits. He has been double-teamed frequently, considering his 342LB frame. Injecting Williams to pair with Lawrence has elevated the Giants’ defense to 6th in the league in stopping the run (past four games).
Rounding out the defensive line is part of the old-school mentality Gettleman brings to the Giants, and we should anticipate a 2020 offseason designed to establish a top unit in the NFL further.
What would the New York Giants be getting in Chase Young?
Realistically, the Giants are within striking distance of Ohio State standout Chase Young, who has racked up 16.5 sacks in 11 games. Factor in his 21 tackles for a loss, and you have one of the best pass rush prospects the draft has seen in several years. Teams often triple-team Young as a method of beating the Ohio State defense, and even then, he manages to leave his mark.
Adding Young to the Giants’ defense would instantly give them an impact player at the outside linebacker position. If they elect to retain Markus Golden, who currently has nine sacks on the year, they would have two elite pass-rushing options. It would be impossible for opposing offensive coordinators to compensate for Young, Golden, Lawrence, Williams, and Dalvin Tomlinson in the trenches. There’s also the possibility Gettleman pursue Yannick Ngakoue to replace Williams, considering his lack of sacks.
This is likely where Gettleman is going with his rebuild; establishing a robust run-stopping presence but also have top pass rushers to disrupt the quarterback. Infuse two quality linebackers and a few capable corners into the defense, and suddenly, you have a unit worth talking about.