Before the start of the regular season and through the beginning of training camp, there’s been a lot made of the defense of the New York Giants and how there’s some potential surrounding it. Some think they have the makings of being a Top 10 defense heading into the 2025 season, and some even think the G-Men could be a possible sleeper team as a result of how good the defense might be.
Related: It’s only training camp but the Brian Burns hype is already off the charts
This past week, with the joint practices being held at Florham Park and at East Rutherford between the Giants and New York Jets, veteran quarterback Justin Fields got a glimpse of what going against this new and improved defense would be like... and let's just say it was a beautiful, yet casual endorsement.
”They’re going to be really good up front.”
It’s no secret what general manager Joe Schoen has done to bolster the defensive front and pass rush, using the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Penn State’s Abdul Carter, who has looked really impressive early on.
Justin Fields has high praise for Giants defensive front in 2025 (and he'd know)
It’s one thing when outsiders and analysts predict Big Blue's defense could be a nightmare for opponents without ever facing them on the field. It’s another when a player, especially an opposing quarterback, gets a firsthand look at the unit everyone’s been talking about and comes away saying the same thing.
It was reported that Brian Burns alone had at least four sacks on Fields during Wednesday's practice.
A year ago, despite a 3-14 record, the Giants led the league in sacks for most of the season before injuries piled up, especially to Dexter Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Both are now healthy and joined by Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, all expected to be key pieces of a pass rush that should carry the defense through the upcoming season.
The presence of Carter alone, lining up everywhere and playing all over the field, will give opposing offenses and coaching staffs fits. Add in returning defensive standouts like Dexter Lawrence, Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux, and it’s easy to see why there’s so much hype surrounding the defense heading into the season.