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Who are NY Giants’ 5 best defensive players through 7 games?

By Matt Lombardo

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 29: Dalvin Tomlinson #94 and B.J. Hill #95 of the New York Giants celebrate after they sacked Dwayne Haskins Jr. #7 of the Washington Redskins at MetLife Stadium on September 29, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 29: Dalvin Tomlinson #94 and B.J. Hill #95 of the New York Giants celebrate after they sacked Dwayne Haskins Jr. #7 of the Washington Redskins at MetLife Stadium on September 29, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – NOVEMBER 24: Leonard Williams #99 of the New York Giants in action during the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 24, 2019 in Chicago Illinois. The Bears defeated the Giants 19-14. (Photo by Rob Leiter/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – NOVEMBER 24: Leonard Williams #99 of the New York Giants in action during the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 24, 2019 in Chicago Illinois. The Bears defeated the Giants 19-14. (Photo by Rob Leiter/Getty Images) /

4) DL Leonard Williams

76.3 Pro Football Focus overall grade

Unequivocally, it remains a reckless use of draft capital for the Giants to have traded a third-round and conditional fifth-round pick to the Jets, when they were 2-6 at the time, in exchange for Leonard Williams last season.

However, while playing on the franchise tag and collecting $16.25 million for this season, Williams has been the Giants’ most consistently dominant defensive lineman.

Williams leads the Giants with three sacks, has 25 total tackles, has generated 21 total pressures and 14 hurries. The 16th ranked defensive lineman in the league, according to PFF, Williams has a run-stopping grade of 75.4 and a pass-rushing grade of 68.7.

The Giants’ plan all along was to use the franchise tag on Williams if he performed at a high level last season, but as Williams continues to improve each week throughout this season, it might be prudent to try to sign him to a long-term contract before free agency begins and the market perhaps drives up his price.

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