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NY Giants: 5 free agents who won’t be back in 2021

By Matt Lombardo

Oct 22, 2020; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Boston Scott (35) runs with the ball against New York Giants outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell (51) during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2020; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Boston Scott (35) runs with the ball against New York Giants outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell (51) during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 11: Blake Martinez #54 of the New York Giants celebrates an interception return for a touchdown by teammate Kyler Fackrell (not pictured) against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter at AT&T Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 11: Blake Martinez #54 of the New York Giants celebrates an interception return for a touchdown by teammate Kyler Fackrell (not pictured) against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter at AT&T Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

4) LB Kyler Fackrell

The Giants signed Fackrell to a one-year “prove it” deal last spring, and for the first several weeks it looked like he was well on his way to playing his way into becoming part of the organization’s core. Then, he just sort of disappeared.

The Giants were banking on Fackrell pushing for double-digit sacks, after he produced 10.5 with the Green Bay Packers back in 2018, but he hasn’t come close to replicating that production.

Since his high-water performance against the Dallas Cowboys, when he returned a Dak Prescott interception for a touchdown back in Week 5, Fackrell has just 10 tackles and one sack. Through the first nine games of the season, Fackrell produced just 27 total tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss.

Linebacker remains a top priority as the Giants continue building out the defense, but Fackrell’s been too inconsistent to be relied on as part of the core of the position moving forward in 2021 and beyond.

Given what the Giants have invested in the draft in recent years, including selecting Cam Brown, Tae Crowder, and Carter Coughlin this past April, it wouldn’t be surprising to see all three of the young players take on expanded roles over the second half of this season and possibly let Fackrell hit the open market come March.

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