NY Giants sign Danny Shelton: The good, the bad, the grade

The NY Giants have signed former Detroit Lions defensive lineman Danny Shelton, sources confirmed to GMenHQ Monday, bolstering veteran depth along the defensive line.

A behemoth in the middle, Shelton has the chance to compete for the starting defensive tackle job vacated by Dalvin Tomlinson’s departure and boost the NY Giants’ run-defense.

Shelton will be just 28 years old this season, and has first-round pedigree after being chosen by the Cleveland Browns with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Last season, Shelton produced 37 total tackles, one sack, and two tackles for loss in 12 games, prior to suffering a triceps injury in Week 17, and being released as a salary cap casualty earlier this month.

What kind of player are the NY Giants getting in Danny Shelton? What kind of role can he expect? How do we grade the Giants’ latest addition?

The good:

Shelton is yet another first-round pedigreed player along the NY Giants’ defensive line, which could now start three former first-round picks with Shelton, Dexter Lawrence, and Leonard Williams.

It has become obvious this offseason that the NY Giants are intent of raising the talent level along both sides of the football, and on defense that has started along the line of scrimmage.

There is a chance that at 345 pounds, Shelton becomes a behemoth in the middle of the NY Giants’ defensive line, occupying the run-stopping role formerly occupied by Dalvin Tomlinson, departed via free agency to the Minnesota Vikings.

In addition to his frame, and first-round pedigree, Shelton brings veteran leadership as a Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots in 2018.