Who should stay, and who should go, as the NY Giants continue to sputter, falling to 1-5 following a disastrous blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — One thing was evident in the aftermath of the undermanned NY Giants’ 38-11 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams, that was never even as close as that lopsided score would indicate, this is a franchise lightyears away from competing.
Such an assessment might be acceptable with a new general manager, rookie head coach, and/or a rookie quarterback.
But, that’s not the juncture the Giants find themselves in as general manager Dave Gettleman appears helpless to avoid missing the postseason in each of his first four years as general manager. With a roster appearing incapable of success, despite the improvement of third-year quarterback Daniel Jones, the NY Giants’ needs are many but most of all might be an third organization reset in four years.
Prior to the 2020 NFL season, Gettleman professed he believed the Giants were “closer than ever” to being a finished product up front. Yet, four years after being hired and vowing to fix the offensive line, the NY Giants have surrendered 12 sacks through six weeks.
If the NY Giants move on from Gettleman, his replacement’s first ask will be replacing at least four starters along the offensive line, and perhaps all five if a new front office isn’t as staunch believers in 2020 No. 4 overall pick Andrew Thomas living up to his draft position.
It’s entirely possible that Gettleman will leave the NY Giants’ offensive line worse than he found it, that the defense needs to add at least five impact players; at least one defensive lineman, two cornerbacks, and a competent safety, despite choosing in the top 10 picks in three of Gettleman’s four drafts.
So, as the NY Giants seem destined for another lost season, who should stay and who should go in 2022?
NY Giants GM Dave Gettleman
DUMP
There is some irony in the fact that Jones seems to have turned a corner this season won’t be enough to save Gettleman’s job. Despite a relentless barrage of pressure being allowed by a patchwork offensive line and injuries decimating the receiving corps, it seems that Gettleman is primed to leave the NY Giants in worse condition than when he arrived.
Not only is the NY Giants’ roster glaringly deficient at offensive tackle, offensive guard, edge rusher, and needing an upgrade in the secondary, but New York is projected to have just $2.13 million in cap space in 2020, according to Spotrac.
Despite arriving promising to be able to run the ball effectively, the NY Giants rank 24th in rushing, offense, averaging just 89.8 yards per game. Vowing to build a team around stopping the run, the NY Giants’ rushing defense is ranked 31st in the league, allowing 137.1 yards per game.
Whether Gettleman’s philosophies are antiquated or not is debatable, that he’s failed to mine the kind of talent to succeed in them — or on the field, isn’t.
NY Giants coach Joe Judge, coaching staff
DUMP
In a lot of ways, this was always a difficult situation for Judge to walk into.
Judge needed to establish a winning culture, despite a track record where his professional success was tied to the men he worked for rather than his own program, with a roster that had minimal experience playing winning football to fall back on.
Through the first six weeks of his second season, the NY Giants are a mistake-prone football team and be it clock management or philosophically, Judge has made some missteps of his own in his second season.
For a coach who stresses discipline and fundamentals, the NY Giants rank 16th in the NFL in penalties, averaging six per game. For a coach with a special teams background, the NY Giants are the 13th ranked special teams units in the league.
Following Sunday’s game, Judge stressed that there is “a lot of ball left to play,” over the final 11 games of this season, but Sunday marked Judge’s 15th loss in his first 22 games, and his Giants seem to be getting worse each week, rather than better.
NY Giants QB Daniel Jones
Keep
Despite throwing a season-high three interceptions and losing a fumble Sunday, it’s difficult to blame Daniel Jones for his worst performance of the season.
Jones was asked to drop back 56 times against the Rams, which is just an outrageous total for any quarterback, let alone one without his starting left tackle, two of his top three wide receivers, and star running back.
Seemingly under pressure for much of the game, Jones still had some really clutch throws against the Rams, and each week makes at least a handful of plays that show he’s rising to the occasion as a franchise quarterback.
In an otherwise disastrous start to the season, Jones’ ascent has been a bright spot.
NY Giants RB Saquon Barkley
KEEP
The NY Giants, and Barkley, have been incredibly unlucky.
From tearing his ACL in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears last season to stepping on a defender’s foot and spraining his ankle in Dallas this season, it would have been difficult to foresee Barkley’s durability being called into question.
It has been nearly two years since Barkley looked like the kind of game-altering talent the NY Giants chose No. 2 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, but was seemingly turning a corner against the Saints two weeks ago, before getting knocked out of last week’s game.
Barkley, when healthy, is a building block. The NY Giants should give him every opportunity to prove the rest of this season that he’s worth building around on a second contract.
NY Giants WR Kenny Golladay
KEEP
The NY Giants don’t have many options when it comes to Golladay.
Golladay was supposed to be an instant impact player, capable of elevating the offense, when the NY Giants guaranteed the star receiver $45 million over the next four seasons.
However, after suffering a hamstring injury during training camp and now a knee injury last Sunday against the Cowboys, it’s become a bigger question of whether Golladay will even play rather than wha kind of impact he’ll make.
The NY Giants have to let Golladay get healthy and then increase his role in the offense, if he’s going to be a difference-maker.
NY Giants WR Sterling Shepard
KEEP
Shepard is the NY Giants’ longest-tenured player, and far and away Jones’ favorite target.
It’s evident that Jones trusts Shepard more than any other receiver on the roster, and Shepard continues to be among the NY Giants’ most consistent offensive weapons.
Through six games, Shepard has caught 28 passes for 299 yards and a touchdown. Shepard, when healthy, is a vital piece of the NY Giants’ offense.
NY Giants WR Darius Slayton
DUMP
Who knows what Darius Slayton’s trade value is at this stage, during an injury-riddled season, but the NY Giants should explore it now and perhaps the upcoming offseason.
After signing Golladay, and Kadarius Toney’s explosiveness emerging after being chosen with the No. 20 overall pick in this spring’s NFL Draft, Slayton is a luxury item that the NY Giants aren’t able to maximize because of the myriad holes across the roster.
Simply put, the NY Giants’ future is brighter with an additional fifth or sixth-round pick to invest in continuing to build out other positions than with Slayton strengthening one of the few bright spots on an otherwise talent-bereft roster.
NY Giants WR Kadarius Toney
KEEP
Toney’s explosiveness, elusiveness, and high play ability continue to shine through each week.
If the NY Giants can keep Toney focused, he has the potential to be a truly dominant and versatile weapon. He might be the most athletically gifted player currently on the roster.
NY Giants TE Evan Engram
DUMP
It feels like it’s past that a change of scenery would work wonders for both Engram and the NY Giants.
Last season, Engram was charged with eight drops, and already has one this season. Jones has a 97.3 passer rating when targeting Engram, who has caught 11 of his 14 targets for 103 yards but is still searching for his first touchdown.
Sunday, Engram caught just three passes for 24 yards
The Arizona Cardinals trade for Zach Ertz takes one tight end-needy team off the market, but the NY Giants could probably still net a late-round pick for Engram, from a contending team.
NY Giants OT Nate Solder
Dump
Solder was completely overmatched Sunday against Leonard Floyd and the Los Angeles Rams’ front.
Through the first six games, Solder has allowed 2.5 sacks, committed three penalties, and allowed eight quarterback hits, in 210 pass-protection snaps.
Fortunately for the NY Giants, New York can create $14 million in cap space, while absorbing a $4 million cap hit by designating Solder a June 1 cut, which the Giants absolutely should do.
NY Giants OT Andrew Thomas
Keep
Someone has to play offensive tackle.
Prior to getting injured against the New Orleans Saints, Thomas really seemed to be turning a corner in his second NFL Season.
Thomas has yet to allow a sack this season, and Pro Football Focus gives the Georgia alum a 70.7 overall grade. It remains to be seen if Thomas can be a long-term anchor along the offensive line, but he’s shown enough so far this season to get the opportunity to prove he can be.
NY Giants OG Will Hernandez
Keep
Hernandez has been the NY Giants’ best interior offensive lineman so far this season.
While he’s allowed eight quarterback pressures, Hernandez hasn’t surrendered a sack. Hernandez will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and while the NY Giants shouldn’t overpay to retain him, he’s worth keeping around — at the right price, to see if he can continue to improve.
NY Giants C Billy Price
Dump
The NY Giants’ preseason trade for Price, in exchange for B.J. Hill has not worked out.
Price was forced into action when Nick Gates was lost for the season, but it would seem the only reason he’s on the field is because the NY Giants don’t have any better options. So far, Price has allowed one sack, nine quarterback pressures, and Sunday completely whiffed on an open-field block that could have sprung Devontae Booker for a big gain on a first half screen.
It remains uncertain whether Gates will be healthy enough to play at the start of next season, but even if he isn’t the. NY Giants desperately need to upgrade here.
NY Giants OG Ben Bredeson
Dump
Bredeson’s and the NY Giants’ marriage was one of desperation and need, in the week leading up to the regular season.
So far this season, Bredeson has a 24.7 pass-blocking grade from PFF and has allowed one sack.
Bredeson’s struggles are emblematic of Gettleman and the front office’s hubris and miscalculations when it comes to the organization’s inability to build an offensive line capable of competing in the modern NFL.
NY Giants DE Leonard Williams
Keep
There’s no way around it, Leonard Williams hasn’t lived up to his mega contract so far this season, but the NY Giants have few options other than to bring him back.
Williams has 2.5 sacks and 13 pressures, but hasn’t exactly made a significant or game-altering impact. Williams’ half sack Sunday was the result of outstanding coverage downfield.
The NY Giants need more from Williams, who will collect $26 million this season, than averaging two pressures per game.
NY Giants DL Dexter Lawrence
Keep
The NY Giants, it would seem, have been banking on Lawrence developing into a Vita Vea caliber player, and he just isn’t to that level … yet.
Lawrence currently has 13 quarterback pressures, half a sack and has produced a 66.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
While Lawrence has only at times looked like a top-15 pick, his seven-tackle and half sack performance against Los Angeles was his strongest of the season and perhaps a harbinger of things to come.
NY Giants DE Austin Johnson
Dump
Johnson has two sacks this season, but is little more than a role player on this defense. The NY Giants desperately need to generate more front-three pressure, especially with how little production New York is getting off the edge.
NY Giants LB Lorenzo Carter
Dump
Carter has not made an impact whatsoever for the NY Giants this season.
To date, Carter has zero sacks, just one quarterback pressure, with one interception and 16 total tackles.
In some respects, Carter’s disappointment is emblematic of Gettleman and the NY Giants inability to build a dominant pass rush. The NY Giants haven’t spent significant money in free agency on an edge rusher, hasn’t used a first-round pick on the position, and Carter hasn’t reached his potential since rupturing his Achilles tendon last season. It really is imperative that the NY Giants bolster the pass rush this offseason.
NY Giants LB Oshane Ximines
Dump
Ximines has played in all six games for the NY Giants this season, but you would be forgiven if you hadn’t realized he’s been on the field, and healthy.
Despite playing 116 total snaps on defense, Ximines has yet to produce a sack, and has generated only four pressures. It would seem that playing second-round rookie Azeez Ojulari in place of Ximines the rest of the way would be far more beneficial both for this defense and for getting the former Georgia bulldog some valuable experience.
NY Giants LB Tae Crowder
Keep
Where Crowder struggles in coverage at times, he has become a magnet to the football and seems to have improved as a rusher.
Sunday was one of Crowder’s most productive performances of his career, leading the NY Giants with 17 total tackles and one tackle for loss. With Blake Martinez out for the season, Crowder should get an audition for the starting job alongside the veteran in 2022 and beyond.
NY Giants LB Carter Coughlin
Dump
Carter Coughlin has shown glimpses of promise as a pass-rusher, but continues to be a liability in coverage, something that isn’t easy to hide in a linebacker.
Opposing quarterbacks have a 118.8 passer rating when targeting Coughlin, who has just one solo tackle this season, while garnering a 39.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
With Cam Brown activated off injured reserve, it will be interesting to see if he chips into Coughlin’s snaps down the stretch this season.
NY Giants S Jabrill Peppers
Dump
There are few things worse for a safety than being a liability in coverage, which Peppers continues to be.
The Rams did a nice job on several occasions creating a mismatch for Cooper Kupp, isolating him against Peppers on Sunday afternoon, which offensive coordinators have frequently been able to do this season.
Peppers can be an adequate run-stuffer up near the line of scrimmage, but the fact that quarterbacks have a 120.3 passer rating when targeting him underscore just how badly the NY Giants need to upgrade at safety … or continue to get playing time for Xavier McKinney.
NY Giants S Logan Ryan
Keep
Ryan has not played well this season, but the NY Giants are committed to the veteran defensive back, financially, through at least next season.
Quarterbacks have a 134.8 passer rating when targeting Ryan, who also dropped two interceptions that may have changed the outcome of the NY Giants’ loss earlier this season to the Atlanta Falcons.
Ryan will be back next season, but what his role will be just might be dependent on what other young defensive backs are added to the roster.
NY Giants CB James Bradberry
Keep
Bradberry has certainly regressed this season, from his dominant Pro Bowl campaign in 2020, but he remains among the most gifted players on the NY Giants’ roster.
Through six weeks, Bradberry has allowed 13.1 yards per reception to opposing receivers had his coverage grade from PFF is just 65.2.
If the NY Giants’ defense is going to make any strides this season, it needs Bradberry to elevate his play. Significantly.
NY Giants CB Adoree’ Jackson
Dump
Spending on Jackson was a bit of a departure this offseason for the NY Giants, who seemingly were aiming to build out the cornerback depth chart around Bradberry through the NFL Draft.
Sunday against the Rams, Jackson showed that maybe that would have been the more prudent strategy.
At times Jackson seemingly ran away from contact against the Rams on a couple plays, as he has a couple times so far this season.
Jackson isn’t going anywhere, at least in 2022, because cutting him post June 1 would create $1.5 million in cap space but trigger a $14 million dead cap charge. That doesn’t mean Jackson doesn’t need to play significantly better, or that he may be on the move in 2023 …