3 under-the-radar players who can help the NY Giants defense out in 2022

The New York Giants’ offseason has been headlined by the arrival of players such as Evan Neal and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Both rookies have garnered much of the attention the Giants have received in recent months. However, even when looking past these two, several players could end up playing a significant role for this team in 2022, specifically on the defensive side of the ball.

The Giants defense could look drastically different this season. In addition to the hiring of Don Martindale as the new defensive coordinator and the return of Blake Martinez, there will be plenty of new pieces on this team.

With that being said, much of the attention on this defense has gone towards the top players. Leonard Williams, Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari are just some of the guys who have been discussed regularly. That has also left some players falling under the radar. They may not be household names yet, but they have the potential to make a significant impact on this team in the future. Here are three under the radar players who can help the NY Giants defense out in 2022.

3. EDGE Quincy Roche

Edge rusher Quincy Roche caught the entire NFL by surprise last season. After being taken in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Roche was cut before the start of the campaign. After being cut, Roche was added on waivers by the Giants. He then spent his entire rookie year in New York. Consistently throughout his first year, he proved to be a steady performer in this unit.

Roche appeared in 14 games last season. In that time, he played a total of 401 defensive snaps. He finished the year with 38 total tackles, five tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, and 2.5 total sacks. He also generated 14 total pressures and one forced fumble.

Now with a full offseason with the Giants, and a new defense full of new players, Roche could find himself in a bigger role in 2022. With Williams, Ojulari and Thibodeaux ahead of him on the depth chart, Roche could dominate as a rotational edge rusher. Given how he was able to perform in Year 1, there’s no reason to think that he won’t be able to take an even bigger step with this newly constructed defense.