The New York Giants Need To Add Another Pass Rusher
The New York Giants teams that won Super Bowls just a few years ago had pass rushers that put fear in the hearts of opposing quarterbacks. The 2015 Giants were a far cry from those days finishing dead last in the league against the pass.
Jerry Reese signed Olivier Vernon this offseason with the return to a fear-inducing pass rush in mind, but beyond him and Jason Pierre-Paul the roster is incredibly thin at defensive end.
The next guy off the bench should be Owa Odighizuwa, the Giants third-round pick from last year. Owa has the ability to be an effective and versatile pass rusher in Spagnuolo’s defense, but his rookie year was cut short by a hamstring injury that limited him to just 130 total snaps.
But Owa’s healthy now and, according to Patricia Traina of NFL Spin Zone, “Odighizuwa has actually stood out on several occasions when given his chances with the second-team defensive unit.” He should get his opportunities in 2016 and Giants fans are excited to finally see him on the field for an extended period of time.
After Owa, there’s Kerry Wynn vying for the fourth defensive end spot on the roster. While he has excelled against the run, he has yet to develop as a pass rusher. The Giants are high on Romeo Okwara, an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame, as evidenced by his signing bonus. Ishaq Williams, another undrafted FA, has shown some quick burst into the backfield after a long layoff from football.
Those aren’t Reese’s only options for the fourth DE spot, however. There are some serious names still out there in free agency that would all be an upgrade over those currently on the roster. Namely, Dwight Freeney. NJ.com’s Jordan Raanan, thinks a Freeney signing is unlikely, however. Raanan believes that Darryl Tapp, LaMarr Woodley, George Selvie and Kroy Biermann are all options on the market that could revamp the Giants pass rush.
Besides Freeney, Tapp is probably the most interesting name on the list. In Detroit, Tapp played 32 games in two seasons, racking up three forced fumbles, 2.5 sacks and 33 tackles. Those are decent numbers for a backup pass rusher and he’s beloved in the Lions locker room.
With Spagnuolo’s desire to bring back the NASCAR package in 2016, the Giants will need all the pass rushers they can get their hands on. Not only that, but signing a veteran in free agency will serve as insurance for Owa, and even JPP, who have health concerns entering the season.