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.
The bad:
There’s a reason that Shelton is available in the second week of free agency, and the NY Giants were able to sign him to just a one-year contract.
Shelton is coming off a triceps injury, suffered in the Detroit Lions’ season finale.
Additionally, Shelton has only played more than 50 percent of defensive snaps once in his career, back in 2016, and has appeared in all 16 games just once since 2017.
If Shelton can stay healthy, he has the chance to make an impact up front. That seems to be a bit of an uncertainty.
The grade:
This move is of little risk for the NY Giants, and Shelton could be a solid veteran presence along the defensive line.
At minimum, Shelton has the chance to provide quality depth and competition for a starting job, after producing 119 total tackles the past three seasons, four sacks, and five tackles for loss.
Given NY Giants head coach Joe Judge’s familiarity with Shelton from their two seasons together with the New England Patriots, the organization likely already has a role in mind for him.
According to Pro Football Focus, Shelton is the 23rd ranked pass-rushing nose tackle in the NFL since 2019, with a 70.4 pass-rush grade. That kind of upside is worth betting on for a defense that faces the likes of Miles Sanders, Antonio Gibson, and Ezekiel Elliott at running back in the NFC East.
Grade: A-
Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.