New York Giants: Top 10 needs after FA signings, trades
By Henry Buggy
#4 – 3-4 Outside Linebacker
The Giants needed to address their depth at the outside linebacker position prior to free agency. It still remains a priority.
While Gettleman added an immediate starter in Kareem Martin, he also traded away one of the team’s top edge rushers, Pierre-Paul. The decision to trade JPP made sense from a financial standpoint. At the same time, it also makes New York’s 3-4 outside linebacker position a more significant need ahead of the draft.
Martin explained the importance of the outside linebacker position in Bettcher’s defense when signing with the team, via New York’s team website.
"“I feel like the outside linebacker position is probably the most important. We have the most responsibilities. We’re expected to set the edge on the run, rush the quarterback and drop in coverage. As far as learning curve goes, there is a slight learning curve, but when JB, when he was in Arizona, he started with the outside linebackers, so he spends a lot of time with those guys to make sure that we understand the in’s and out’s of the defense because he’s going to expect a lot from us in that position.”"
Martin and Olivier Vernon give New York two starters at outside linebacker for Week 1, but Giants fans saw firsthand how the lack of depth on the edge hurt the team’s defense in 2017.
New York’s coaching staff relied too heavily on JPP and Vernon last season. Big Blue needs depth on the edge and will have plenty of options in the upcoming draft.
Bradley Chubb is considered the top edge rusher in this year’s class. He’s definitely in play for the No. 2 overall pick. The Giants will also have options after the first-round and could look to target a player like Marcus Davenport if they elected to trade back from the No. 2 overall pick.
Harold Landry, Arden Key, Uchenna Nwosu, Dorance Armstrong, Lorenzo Carter, and Jeff Holland are some potential prospects that could fit in Bettcher’s defense as a 3-4 outside linebacker.
The development of Avery Moss will also be important to New York’s front-seven. The fifth-round pick out of Youngstown State will likely be asked to take on a bigger role in his second season.