NY Giants: Evaluating all of the rookies’ 2019 seasons

“A Monster Defensive Tackle” – DT Dexter Lawrence

Since trading Damon “Snacks” Harrison last season during the 2018 Trade Deadline, the Giants have been dealing with a huge hole up the middle in their defensive line.  Throughout this season, between starting DT Dalvin Tomlinson and promoting their 17thoverall draft selection, Dexter Lawrence, it appears that the foundation Dave Gettleman and his front office are building is starting to yield results, however small they may be.

Prior to the start of the 2019 season, it was clear that the NY Giants needed to fortify their defense, and through 16 games, this first-round draft selection out of Clemson University managed to produce 38 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble as a starter in his first year. Given time, better coaching, and an upgrade to the Giants front four defensive linemen, there’s no reason to believe that Lawrence will not continue to excel in this position and make a bid to become one of the top interior linemen in the game.

Unpopular opinion to seemingly most Giants fans, but it still has to be said, Dave Gettleman is a skilled drafter. In his first two seasons, he has been able to amass talent on this roster, most notably by his selection of Lawrence with the first-round pick acquired from the Browns for Odell Beckham Jr. prior to the 2019 draft. After all, that was what Gettleman was hired to do – lead this organization through a comprehensive rebuilding process.

What still needs to be assembled is a coaching staff capable of molding that talent into a cohesive unit capable of performing at a high level for 60 full minutes.