NY Giants report card: Grades for every player on the active roster
Defensive linemen
DE Leonard Williams
A case can be made that Leonard Williams has been the Giants’ most consistently dominant defensive player. While it remains one of Dave Gettleman’s great follies to trade a 3rd and 5th round pick for Williams eight weeks before he was due to be a restricted free agent and the Giants were 2-6 last season, Williams has more than played his way into a big-money contract in 2020. The Giants’ highest graded defensive lineman, according to PFF, Williams has generated 26 total pressures, 5.5 sacks, 15 hurries and has produced 29 total tackles. As the Giants’ defense has improved in recent weeks, Williams’ consistency as a pass rusher has been at the heart of it. Grade: A-
DT Dexter Lawrence
Lawrence has followed his impressive rookie season by playing like every bit the part of a foundational centerpiece of the Giants’ defense. More than just a run-stuffer, at 342 pounds Lawrence has done an outstanding job generating interior pressure on the quarterback, producing two sacks and 15 total pressures to go with his 17 run stops. In Gettleman’s three drafts as general manager, Lawrence might be the most impressive selection the embattled GM has made. Grade: A
DE Dalvin Tomlinson
Tomlinson might be the most underrated defensive lineman in the league, and is in the midst of the strongest all around season of his career. In the final year of his contract, Tomlinson is paying his way into a big-money deal with the Giants or elsewhere, while producing 14 total pressures, two sacks and 32 total tackles. Tomlinson has also batted down several passes. A homegrown talent, Tomlinson is the type of player the Giants should want to build around moving forward. Grade: A
DE B.J. Hill
Hill was kind of the forgotten man down the stretch last season after the Giants traded for Williams, but has emerged in 2020 as the first defensive end off the bench. He’s proven worthy of starter caliber snaps. In 206 total snaps, Hill has one sack, 12 pressures, nine run-stops and 17 total tackles. If the Giants are unable to sign both Williams and Tomlinson this offseason, Hill seems primed to be the next-man-up in 2021. Grade: B+
DT Austin Johnson
Johnson has done a nice job with the snaps he’s been given in the Giants’ defensive line rotation. He’s only played in 115 snaps, including 52 pass rush snaps, but he’s generated three pressures and produced a sack. Johnson’s familiarity with defensive line coach Sean Spencer from their time together at Penn State has paid some modest dividends. Grade B-
DE R.J. McIntosh
McIntosh is a part-time player who has failed to climb the depth chart in three seasons. Defensive line is easily the deepest position on the Giants’ roster, and if the Giants need a roster spot down the stretch, it wouldn’t be surprising of McIntosh winds up as the corresponding move to activating someone off injured reserve or making a waiver claim. Grade: D