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NY Giants keep or dump? Who has to go after missing NFL Playoffs … Again

By Matt Lombardo

Dallas Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson (37) intercepts a pass intended for New York Giants tight end Evan Engram (88) in the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson (37) intercepts a pass intended for New York Giants tight end Evan Engram (88) in the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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NY Giants
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) is sacked by New York Giants inside linebacker Blake Martinez (Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports) /

Linebackers

Lorenzo Carter: STAY

The Giants had hoped that Carter would take a significant leap in his third NFL season and emerge as a dominant edge presence, but that didn’t happen as he ruptured his Achilles tendon in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys. Prior to his injury, Carter logged just one sack. Next season will make-or-break whether the Giants commit to Carter long-term.

Jabaal Sheard: STAY

A ten-year veteran, Sheard appeared in 23 percent of the Giants’ defensive snaps, and produced a 66.2 run defense grade and 61.4 pass rush grade. His prior experience with Joe Judge in New England, combined with his 13 total pressures and two sacks in 151 pass-rush snaps could be enough to earn him a second go-round with the Giants next season.

Tae Crowder: STAY

Crowder, Mr. Irrelevant from last spring’s NFL Draft, showed plenty of promise in an injury-riddled rookie season. 46 total tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown, and one pass breakup. But, this is an area where the Giants must dramatically improve in 2021 and Crowder will likely have competition for snaps as an NFL sophomore.

David Mayo: GO

Mayo battled through various injuries throughout the season and seemed miscast in his role during a blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The Giants need to upgrade the talent and athleticism at linebacker this offseason and that will likely mean moving on from Mayo.

TJ Brunson: GO

Brunson appeared in just two snaps this season. If the former South Carolina linebacker can’t get on the field in a relatively thin linebacker corps as a rookie, it’s difficult to envision him improving enough next season to play a more significant role if the talent level around him rises.

Blake Martinez: STAY

Martinez emerged as one of the Giants’ most consistently dominant defensive players after signing on the first day of free agency this spring. As steady as they come, Martinez led the Giants with 140 total tackles, intercepted a pass, forced two fumbles and recovered one. The 26-year-old was the quarterback of the Giants’ defense and playing in coordinator Patrick Graham’s scheme seemed to bring out the best in him.

Devante Downs: GO

Downs, when he was on the field, was frequently a liability in coverage and at times took really poor angles when in pursuit as an open-field tackler. This is a spot the Giants must aim to upgrade next year.

Cam Brown: STAY

Brown showed plenty of promise when he was on the field, and his athleticism combined with his position versatility could give him a chance to succeed in 2021 and beyond. The sixth-round rookie out of Penn State produced 11 total tackles, one forced fumble, and three quarterback hits while playing just 7.9 percent of the Giants’ defensive snaps.

Kyler Fackrell: GO

The Giants signed Fackrell to a one-year “prove it” deal hoping that he would recapture what propelled him to a double-digit sack season in 2018, but injuries and inconsistency limited Fackrell to just three sacks and 31 tackles in 11 games. If Fackrell is the Giants’ top pass rusher in 2021, that means the offseason was a complete failure.

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