Saquon Barkley is an established talent, but while the NY Giants spent big this offseason, league insiders have varied opinions on who the Giants’ second-best player is
The NY Giants’ roster is markedly more talented entering 2021 than it has been in years.
After a front office spending spree that included inking the prize of free agency, wide receiver Kenny Golladay, and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson to plug glaring needs and targeted spending to bolster depth across the board, expectations are understandably raised in East Rutherford.
Giants running back Saquon Barkley, a former No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft, remains among the most gifted players at his position in the entire league, but he suddenly faces competition as the top player on New York’s roster.
FanSided surveyed multiple NFL executives, head coaches, scouts, position coaches, and players for their thoughts on who the NY Giants’ best player on the roster is, following Barkley.
Here are the players named by NFL sources as the NY Giants’ second-best player on the roster, and their reasons why he is their choice:
DL Leonard Williams
“Leonard Williams … He’s just so disruptive and strong at the point of attack up front.” – NFC head coach
“Leonard Williams. He is already one of the most talented 3-4 defensive linemen in the entire league.” – NFC defensive coach
Williams is fresh off the strongest season of his career, producing a career-high 11.5 sacks, and bolstering his reputation as one of the more dominant players at his position across the NFL.
According to Pro Football Focus, Williams added 62 total pressures, including 31 hurries last season, as the outlet’s No. 15 ranked interior defender.
Now, the challenge for Williams is to prove that his 2020 outburst is the product of working under the tutelage of defensive line coach Sean Spencer and coordinator Patrick Graham, rather than a contract-year fluke, after the NY Giants committed $63 million over the next three years to the former No. 6 overall pick of the Jets.
DL Dexter Lawrence
“For them, it comes down to Dexter Lawrence. Things start up front, and he is as disruptive as they come. Dexter is really trending in the right direction to be an elite player” – NFC defensive line coach
“Dexter Lawrence was a really good player up front, when we played them” – NFC offensive lineman
Dexter Lawrence is an emerging defensive superstar, that people inside the NFL are beginning to take notice of.
There are few people walking the planet with the kind of speed and explosiveness that Lawrence possesses, with a mammoth 6-foot-4 and 342 pound frame.
Entering his third season, Lawrence made 33 run-stops last season, according to Pro Football Focus while also generating four sacks and 29 total pressures. Lawrence has proven much more than a vital space-eater in the middle of the NY Giants’ defensive line, but a worthy complement to Williams who is capable of producing a consistent interior pass-rush.
Lawrence also earned the endorsement of an NFC pro personnel director, who added “It’s not a great roster overall, but Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams are two of their better players.”
OG Will Hernandez, Shane Lemieux
“I hope for their sake that it’s Daniel Jones, but I really like their two offensive guards … Will Hernandez and Shane Lemieux. They’re both really tough, and really mean up front.” – AFC offensive coordinator
These are interesting choices by the offensive coach.
Hernandez and Lemieux both have shown promise, but were both wildly inconsistent last season.
The NY Giants chose Shane Lemieux in the fifth-round of last April’s NFL Draft, in hopes he would emerge as the starting right guard, but he wound up ultimately supplanting Hernandez on the left side, despite allowing five sacks and 25 pressures in 500 total snaps. Meanwhile, Hernandez’ season was impacted by COVID-19 and he had an up-and-down third season, failing yet to live up to his high-second-round pick billing. Last season, Hernandez allowed one sack and 25 pressures.
If Hernandez and Lemieux show marked improvement in 2021, than the NY Giants’ rebuild along the offensive line will prove much further along than many believe, and just might hold the key to unlocking the potential of an explosive collection of skill-players around quarterback Daniel Jones.
TE Evan Engram
“I’m a big fan of Evan’s. He’s big, strong, and fast. He’s more physical than people give him credit for, too. When healthy, which he finally was last year, he can be a game-breaker at the position.” – current NFC South tight end
Engram’s tenure with the NY Giants seems to be defined by his potential, and annual lofty expectations.
Last season, while Engram made his first career Pro Bowl appearance, he also was widely inconsistent as a pass-catcher, being charged with eight drops. But, Engram was able to stay on the field for 16 games, and the NY Giants found numerous ways to get the ball in his hands as he caught 63 passes for 654 yards and a touchdown, while adding a career-high six rushing attempts and scoring one rushing touchdown.
The addition of Kyle Rudolph via free agency could telegraph the NY Giants moving to more two-tight end sets, and the arrival of Kenny Golladay could create space over the middle and in intermediate routes for Engram to thrive.
If Engram can parlay a second year of experience in coordinator Jason Garrett’s scheme into a more productive campaign, he’s going to have some leverage as he approaches free agency for the first time by season’s end and perhaps bolster his argument to be one of the league’s top difference-makers.
QB Daniel Jones
“This year, it’s going to prove out that not only is it Daniel Jones, but he’ll be even better than Saquon Barkley. Call it a gut feeling, but after everything they did around him, it’s just his time.” – NFC personnel executive
Nothing is more pivotal or impactful to the NY Giants’ prospects of competing in 2021 or the trajectory of the franchise than Jones making a significant leap in his third NFL season.
The personnel executive believes that Jones has the potential the NY Giants saw, choosing him No. 6 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, and that the moves adding Golladay, first-round Rookie Kadarius Toney, and Barkley’s return will facilitate such a leap.
Jones has shown momentary flashes of brilliance, but has also committed 39 turnovers through the first 27 games of his career.
The first key for Jones will be proving that he can cut down on his interceptions (22), and maximize the new-found talent around him, potentially pushing to exceed his career total for passing touchdowns (35) in a 17-game schedule, and prove capable of winning far more consistently than his current 8-19 record would imply.
If Jones makes the leap, the NY Giants’ roster is well-positioned to push for a playoff berth, or beyond.
Matt Lombardo is FanSided’s National NFL Insider and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday. Email Matt: Matt.Lombardo@FanSided.com, Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL