After not having a single player make the Pro Bowl last year, it seems as if the NY Giants could have a multitude of players make the roster this winter. Obviously the Pro Bowl only means so much considering the rosters are decided by a fan vote, but it is still nice to see players on the team get the recognition they deserve.
In our opinion, the Giants have three locks for the Pro Bowl, and one player who could sneak in. The three locks have been arguably top two-to-three players at their positions this season and will not only make the Pro Bowl, but could make an All-Pro team as well.
The Giants have done a tremendous job at developing their talent this season. To go from zero Pro Bowlers to potentially four is absolutely incredible stuff. With that being said, here are the Giants players that are most likely to make the Pro Bowl for the 2023 edition:
4. DL Leonard Williams could sneak into the Pro Bowl
Leonard Williams has been absolutely amazing for the Giants this season. Despite battling injuries this year, Williams has really made his presence felt when he’s been out on the field. Right now, the pass-rush for this team is finally getting healthy, and Williams has been able to be a beast up front with fellow standouts.
The impact Williams has had on the Giants run defense cannot be neglected. Just watching the games, you can tell this defense wasn’t the same without him. In the Giants most recent win against the Texans, Williams had his best game of the season, putting up a season-high eight combined tackles, one sack, three QB hurries, and one forced fumble. Williams made life a living nightmare for anyone that crossed his path.
Williams will only strengthen his case if he can close out the campaign with a bang. He’ll have quite the test going up against the Eagles offensive line in Week 14, but a strong showing could really help him out here.
3. Dexter Lawrence is in the middle of an amazing year
After three seasons of being one of the more solid and consistent defensive lineman in the league, Dexter Lawrence has finally broken out this season and has cemented himself as arguably the second best interior defensive lineman in all of football only behind Aaron Donald.
In past seasons, Lawrence was known more as a run-stopper than pass-rusher. This season, though, Lawrence has flipped that narrative and has become an absolute force in getting after a quarterback.
The Giants have been without a consistent pass-rusher for years now, but things are finally starting to get going for them there. Lawrence, who leads the team with six sacks in 2022, has been a savage in the trenches for head coach Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. Lawrence is playing football at a ridiculously high level and he is only 24, which means that there is still room for him to grow as a player.
It hasn’t just been Giants fans that have noticed Lawrence’s dominant season this year, but the media as a whole has begun to see just how talented he is. If he keeps this level of play up, which we know he will, he will not only make the Pro Bowl, but he could land All-Pro honors too.
2. OT Andrew Thomas should be in
Following a breakout sophomore season in which Andrew Thomas only allowed two sacks and 18 total pressures in 517 pass blocking snaps, it seemed as if the sky was the limit for the former first-round pick.
Even with how well Thomas played last season, we don’t think anyone expected the leap he made this year. Thus far in 2022, Thomas is playing like arguably the best offensive tackle in the entire league.
For the majority of the season, Thomas was named the highest graded offensive lineman in all of football according to PFF. Honestly, when you consider how poor the Giants offensive line has been in recent seasons, for Thomas to be playing at this level is a spectacle to see.
With how poor other members of the Giants offensive line have been playing this fall, Thomas performing this well has been quintessential to the team’s success. Without Thomas, the Giants are likely a much worse team than they currently are.
In all honesty, if Thomas doesn’t make the Pro Bowl, the NFL has to consider changing the way they nominate players for the rosters. Regardless, Thomas has been arguably the best player on the Giants this season and fans should be excited about the future he has with this team.
1. RB Saquon Barkley deserves a Pro Bowl nod
The Saquon Barkley of old is back and it’s tremendous to see. While Barkley has lost his spot as the NFL’s leading rusher, he’s still been able to turn countless heads thanks to his amazing play. On the year, Barkley has rushed for 1,055 yards (good enough for fourth in the NFL) and eight touchdowns.
Barkley has put the Giants offense on his back at almost every stage of the season. Without him, we have no doubts that the Giants are a much worse team. Not only is Barkley playing like a top running back in the league from a statistical standpoint, but the way he uses his agility and athleticism to turn what should be negative plays into big-time runs is something that is not so often seen in running backs.
Barkley has been through so much during his five seasons in the league, and for him to sustain such serious injuries, yet remain a top player at his position is something we almost never see out of a running back.
Running backs are often considered the most replaceable position in football, however, there are a few exceptions in Derrick Henry, Nick Chubb, and Barkley. The production Barkley gives the Giants cannot be replaced by just any back, hence why the Giants must do anything they can to re-sign the 25 year old.
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