The NY Giants have a clear need at the linebacker position, we examine five potential players they could draft in the 2020 NFL draft.
It is no secret that linebacker has been a position of liability for the NY Giants for a decade now. The last impactful linebacker to don a Giants uniform came in the form of Antonio Pierce, who retired from the league in 2009.
In addition to not having a game-changer in the middle of their defense since Pierce, the Giants have not spent a first-round pick on the position since they drafted Carl Banks in 1984, with the third overall selection. The Banks selection came just three years after the Giants used the second overall pick in the 1981 draft to select Lawrence Taylor, who combined with Banks and fellow Hall of Famer Harry Carson, gave the Giants one of the greatest linebacking corps in football history.
While it will be difficult to ever duplicate the talent that those three linebackers provided to the NY Giants, the team would be wise to invest in a position that is so critical to the success of the defense. With a draft that possesses a plethora of high-end talent at the linebacker position, this could be the year that the Giants finally address their void at the position early in the draft.
Whether or not the Giants’ front office decides to draft a linebacker early in the draft may be contingent upon whether they address the position in free agency. Much like the draft, the free-agent class of linebackers is loaded with high-end talent.
The 2020 free-agent class of linebackers includes names such as Shaq Barrett, Yannick Ngakoue, Markus Golden, Vic Beasley, Cory Littleton, Joe Schobert, Blake Martinez, Danny Trevathan, and Bruce Irvin. With what could end up being close to $85 million in cap space following the release of veteran cap casualties, the Giants may very well decide to use their money in free agency to address their need at linebacker.
However, if the team decides that their money is better spent addressing one of the many other needs on the roster such as offensive line, defensive end, cornerback, safety or wide receiver, or if they are looking for depth at linebacker later in the draft then these five linebackers should be strongly considered in the upcoming draft:
1. Isaiah Simmons-Clemson University
If the NY Giants decide to address the linebacker position in the draft, then they should consider drafting the best linebacker available with the number-four overall pick. That linebacker is none other than Isaiah Simmons from Clemson University, who has been suggested as a top pick for the Giants with regularity.
At 6’4″ and 230-pounds, Simmons is an absolute athletic freak, unlike anything the league has ever seen. Simmons, who converted from safety to the linebacker position in 2017, is extremely versatile, having played the linebacker, cornerback, safety and defensive end positions with regularity for the Tigers this season.
In fact, Simmons played cornerback, safety, and linebacker nearly equal amounts and played all with great effectiveness. With the amount of versatility Simmons provides, he would allow new Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham to be extremely creative with his defensive playcalling.
Simmons would give the Giants a linebacker who is a sideline-to-sideline defender and who can dominate in both run and pass defense. He is an effective run stopper and has the coverage abilities of an elite corner, allowing him to cover running backs, wide receivers and tight ends with great effectiveness. In addition, he is extremely fast, especially for his size and is expected to run a sub 4.50 in the 40-yard dash at the combine.
In addition to his ability to stop the run and cover receivers, Simmons is an excellent blitzer. The 2019 Butkus Award winner, given to the top linebacker in the nation, Simmons has an extremely high football IQ and represents a high motor player. If that wasn’t enough to sell the Giants on Simmons, he also possesses great leadership skills and is a high character player.
Drafting Simmons would provide the Giants with an absolute game-changer on defense. Last season at Clemson he had a stat line that included 102 total tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, three interceptions, eight pass deflections, and one forced fumble.
As previously mentioned, the Giants will have to select Simmons with the fourth overall pick (assuming he is still available) if they hope to get him. He is certainly a top-10 overall pick, with his ability to single-handedly take over a game on defense.
2. Anfernee Jennings-University of Alabama
If the NY Giants are unable or unwilling to select Isaiah Simmons with the fourth overall pick in the draft and want to address the linebacker position fairly early in the draft, Anfernee Jennings makes a solid fallback option for New York.
Jennings does not project as nearly as good of a pass defender as Simmons, but then again few linebackers do. That said, he represents a thick, muscular linebacker at 6’3″ and 265-pounds, but lacks the elite athleticism that Simmons possesses.
Jennings is an extremely physical linebacker who is an excellent run defender. He is great in pursuit of the ball carrier and has a large tackling radius due to his size. However, due to his massive size, he has a limited range of motion that can make him susceptible to getting beat by quicker tight ends.
In addition to being an excellent run stopper, Jennings excels as a pass rusher. Some experts see him as a potential defensive end/linebacker hybrid in the NFL, but most project him as a pass-rushing outside linebacker.
Jennings is difficult to block when pass-rushing, due to strong active hands and an explosive first step off the snap. He represents a linebacker with a lot of experience in college, who has solid pass-rushing moves and a high football IQ. Last season with the Crimson Tide, Jennings amassed 67 total tackles, seven and a half sacks, 12 tackles for a loss, one interception, four pass deflections, and one forced fumble.
If the NY Giants are unable to resign Markus Golden this offseason, Jennings represents a potential replacement as a pass-rushing linebacker. They should be able to target him between the second and fourth rounds of the draft.
3. Jordyn Brooks-Texas Tech University
If the NY Giants move on from Alec Ogletree to help their salary cap situation and decide to target an inside linebacker in the draft, Jordyn Brooks of Texas Tech makes an ideal draft candidate. The 6’1″ and 245-pound linebacker represents a solid inside linebacker option in the upcoming draft.
Brooks is a tackling machine who is extremely physical and who has a nose for the ball. Unlike Ogletree, he would represent an upgrade in passing situations at the inside linebacker position, as he is excellent in coverage. Brooks thrives in reading offensive schemes and getting in proper coverage.
Perhaps the best trait that Brooks possesses is his effort. He goes full-throttle100% of the time and is active on seemingly every play. In addition, he possesses an extremely high football IQ and excellent patience that puts him in a position to make great decisions on the fly.
Brooks also has excellent agility and is very quick when changing direction. While he is great as a run stopper and in coverage, he does not excel at blitzing the quarterback. Last season he was able to accumulate 108 total tackles, an incredible 20 tackles for a loss, three sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries for the Red Raiders.
Currently, Brooks is projected to be selected between the second and fourth rounds of the drafts. However, his stock is rising and he is a trendy pick by draft experts to rocket up the draft boards with a solid showing at the combine.
4. Troy Dye-University of Oregon
NY Giants linebackers were often a liability in pass coverage last season. If the team is looking to improve upon that in the draft, Troy Dye from the University of Oregon may be a potential draft target in the upcoming draft.
The 6’4″ and 225-pound Dye is incredibly athletic at the linebacker position. However, he is a bit undersized, which limits some of his abilities. Currently, he projects best as a WILL linebacker in a 4-3 scheme.
In addition to being an excellent athlete, strong communication skills, awareness, plus speed, and great instincts allow Dye to excel in coverage. In addition, he has extremely fluid hips and is very agile for a linebacker, which allows him to keep up with shiftier receivers.
Dye presents another high-motor option at the linebacker position. He has excellent burst, quick feet, great range, and the quickness to eventually succeed in the pass rush. However, he will need to add mass if the wants to become an effective blitzer at the next level.
Teams may view Dye as a bit of a developmental project at linebacker. He has very long arms that allow for a large tackling radius, but his smaller stature prevents him from making tackles against bigger-bodied ball carriers. If Dye can add mass to his lean frame without negatively impacting his athleticism, he could be a steal in the draft. However, he needs to refine his skills and improve upon his football IQ if he hopes to excel at the next level.
That said, he possesses the toughness and high motor skills that are necessary to succeed as an NFL linebacker. Last season with the Ducks he totaled 84 tackles, two and a half sacks, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and four pass deflections while demonstrating his playmaking abilities.
Draft analysts currently project that Dye will be drafted between the third and fifth rounds of the draft, making him a potential target later on in the draft for the NY Giants.
5. Shaquille Quarterman-University of Miami
If the NY Giants want an old school style linebacker later in the draft, Shaquille Quarterman of the University of Miami would make an excellent selection. The 6’1″ and 240-pound linebacker is one of the most physical players available at his position in the upcoming draft.
Quarterman epitomizes high effort and is guaranteed to be going full-tilt on every play. He possesses great athleticism and is extremely aggressive. In addition, Quarterman is a fundamentally sound tackler who dishes out bone-jarring hits on ball carriers.
His athleticism and short-area quickness make him difficult to block when he is pass-rushing, making him a highly effective option to blitz the quarterback. However, Quarterman is not a viable option in passing situations, as his coverage skills are not optimal. As a result, he is not likely to be an every-down linebacker in the NFL but will thrive in run defense and in the blitz.
Quarterman comes into the draft playing all four seasons at Miami and is among the all-time statistical leaders in Miami history at linebacker, which is a bold statement given that its the school that produced linebackers such as Ray Lewis, Dan Morgan, Jonathan Vilma, and former Giants Micheal Barrow, Jon Beason, and Jessie Armstead.
Last season Quarterman had 107 total tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and five pass deflections. He will need to refine his game if he hopes to become an everyday starter in the NFL.
Currently, Quarterman projects as a fourth to sixth-round selection in the upcoming draft. He represents a linebacker option that the Giants could take a chance on later in the draft who at the very least represents a solid situational linebacker against the run and an excellent special teams addition.