Olivier Vernon stepped up with a monster year for the New York Giants in 2016, but just how dominant was he for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo?
When New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese signed defensive end Olivier Vernon, one word was commonly found in universal responses: “Overpaid.” It was an admittedly fair evaluation when one considers the way his track record lined up with his new status.
During his first year with the Giants, however, Vernon briefly justified the contract that Reese controversially signed him to.
When Vernon signed a five-year deal worth $85 million, an instant comparison was made to a player he’s paid more than: J.J. Watt. A part of that was ignorance to the manner in which payment in the NFL works, as players like Watt often set the market.
From there, players ask for more as the salary cap rises and a new minimum for elite players is set, albeit in an unwritten manner.
That may or may not be a wise way to go about salaries in the NFL, but it’s the trend that’s been growing for quite some time. With Vernon, the investment has been rewarded in the short-term.
The question is: Just how good was Vernon during his first season in New York?
Vernon finished the 2016 season with 63 tackles, 8.5 sacks, one fumble forced, and a fumble recovery. He added eight stuffs at the line of scrimmage and 17 tackles for loss in 16 games played.
Vernon’s 17 tackles for loss tied for the league lead, which is a testament to just how brilliant he was against the run.
Furthermore, Vernon ranked No. 2 in the NFL in defensive hurries behind just Brandon Graham of the Philadelphia Eagles. With 8.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, and 37 hurries, Vernon was a consistent force of nature against both the run and the pass
Thus, it comes as no surprise that Vernon was ranked as one of the Top 15 edge defenders in the NFL by Pro Football Focus.
The New York Giants were criticized for the Olivier Vernon contract, but it worked out magnificently well in 2016.