NY Giants: These 5 position groups show team trending in right direction

Safety

If Big Blue’s defensive line is their most disruptive unit, then their safety position is their most complete. This is also perhaps the most improved position from the previous season due in large part to Logan Ryan’s signing.

No. 23 was part of a string of strong free agent acquisitions made by the Gettleman-led front office this past season. In his first season in New York, Ryan recorded 94 tackles, 1 sack, 3 forced fumbles (T-13th in NFL), 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, and 9 passes defended.

He certainly earned his 3-year contract extension, which will bode well for the Giants as they look to record their first winning season in four years.

Jabrill Peppers also shined in his second year with the team, recording 91 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and recovery, an interception, 11 passes defended, and 6 stuffs.

But Xavier McKinney remains the most exciting player to keep an eye on into next season.

Lauded for his superior playmaking abilities and versatility on the field the former Crimson Tide star’s debut stirred a huge amount of anticipation for fans who were excited to see a player as athletic and talented join a Giants secondary starved of playmakers over the last several seasons.

Unfortunately, fans did not get to see enough of him in his first season in the pros to properly assess the impact he could have on this defense in a full season. However, it was evident that the former Alabama star has the potential to be a key lynchpin in Big Blue’s rebuilding plans to return their defense to a championship-caliber squad.

His athleticism allows him to paper over the cracks still present in the Giants secondary, and that type of versatility played at a high level makes McKinney unique; with a higher upside than his 25 combined tackles and 1 interception in the six games Giants fans saw him in.

The key for him is growth, of which I fully expect to see next season when he will have a full offseason, preseason, training camp, and regular schedule to get more involved in the team’s defensive game plans in addition to developing a chemistry with his fellow safeties, barring injury.