2018 NFL Draft: Top 10 pass rushers for New York Giants
By Henry Buggy
The New York Giants are looking to reestablish their once-dominant pass rush under James Bettcher.
The New York Giants new defensive coordinator is known for bringing the pressure, leading the Cardinals to a league-high 48 sacks in 2016.
During Bettcher’s three-year stint as Arizona’s defensive coordinator, the Cardinals amassed 121 sacks. The G-Men recorded just 85 sacks during that same span.
Despite having two of the four highest-paid defensive ends in the league, Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon, the New York Giants recorded just 27 sacks in 2017, placing them 29th out of 32 teams. To be fair, JPP and Vernon accounted for more than 50 percent of the team’s sacks, recording a combined 15 quarterback takedowns.
While the Giants hope Pierre-Paul and Vernon can improve their play in 2018, New York’s new general manager Dave Gettleman will likely look to add some talent to the team’s pass rush this offseason.
Versatility is key to Bettcher’s defense. Big Blue’s new defensive coordinator already met with the team’s personnel departments ahead of the Scouting Combine. He is looking for players that can fill multiple roles both in free agency and in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Bettcher brings a 3-4 base defense to the Big Apple, but he continually shifts his formations. The G-Men are expected to shift from a 3-4 to a 4-3 to a nickel defense throughout a game, and will continually try to disrupt the rhythm of an opposing offense by bringing pressure.
There are some pass rushing options for Big Blue in free agency. But adding youth to their edge in the draft may make more sense, especially in the long-term.
There is plenty of edge talent in this year’s draft class. Here’s a look at the top 10 options for Big Blue based on talent and ability to fit Bettcher’s scheme.