It’s not often the New York Giants make national headlines for defensive improvement in May, but here we are. And for once, it’s not just blowing smoke. After an abysmal 2024 season where the defense routinely let games slip away, Joe Schoen did what needed to be done. He rebuilt the unit with clear, calculated aggression.
The first big splashes came in free agency. They landed 25-year-old cornerback Paulson Adebo and safety Jevon Holland, two high-upside starters with the tools to immediately stabilize the back end. Adebo was trending toward a true breakout before injury cut his year short in New Orleans, and Holland is the kind of playmaker they’ve been missing since Xavier McKinney walked.
Then came the draft. With the third overall pick, the Giants added Abdul Carter — the tone-setter. A violent, explosive edge defender who now lines up alongside Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. The trio gives New York one of the most athletic pass-rushing groups in the league. It’s a terrifying thought. And it caught the attention of Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport.
Bleacher Report says Giants defense is ready to make a major 2025 leap
Davenport recently dropped his post-draft defensive rankings, and to the surprise of just about everyone outside East Rutherford, he had the G-Men slotted at No. 11 overall. It’s a major jump from where they finished last year — but Davenport isn’t just throwing darts. He sees a real shift taking place:
“Based on last year’s numbers, seeing the Giants listed this high might seem odd—they ranked outside the top 20 in total defense, run defense and scoring defense,” Davenport wrote. “But the times could be changing for Big Blue.”
Davenport points directly to the addition of Carter to a group that already includes Burns and Thibodeaux as a major reason for optimism. No argument here. With Dexter Lawrence anchoring the interior, the interior rush is suddenly a real problem for opposing quarterbacks. And it’s not just Lawrence anymore. Third-round pick Darius Alexander adds size, burst, and rare traits that could finally take the pressure off Sexy Dex up front.
Also in the secondary, things feel totally different from a year ago: “Safety Jevon Holland gives the team a playmaker at the back of the defense who should alleviate some of the pressure on youngster Tyler Nubin,” Davenport said. “Paulson Adebo’s breakout season in New Orleans last year was cut short by injury. But he should help stabilize the cornerback position in New York.”
Holland brings range. Adebo brings press-man confidence. And in between them? Second-year standouts like Tyler Nubin and Dru Phillips are already flashing signs of stardom. Nubin is being talked about as a true breakout candidate, and Phillips was one of the highest-graded rookie corners in the league last year. While it might not be "Legion of Boom"-level, this secondary is coming together.
Right ahead of the G-Men are the Dallas Cowboys (10) and Kansas City Chiefs (nine). That's pretty good company and suggests this team is a lot closer to competing than many think.
Davenport closed with one line that perfectly sums up where things are headed:
“There’s a pathway to the Giants being the NFL’s most improved defense in 2025.”
This is not a dream — this could really happen. The front seven is dangerous. The secondary has juice. And if Carter and Alexander live up to the hype? This won’t be the last time you see Big Blue flirting with the top 10. It might just be the start.