Not all football players are created equal. While the best of the best are destined for stardom, others fall into different buckets. That doesn’t mean those buckets aren’t valuable—it just means they’re not necessarily filled with All-Pros or Pro Bowlers. And that’s okay.
The New York Giants have a few of those players. No light shines brighter than second-year receiver Malik Nabers, but look around the roster and you’ll find a handful of young pieces who may never be stars, but still look like long-term contributors—think Theo Johnson, Dru Phillips, Tyrone Tracy Jr., etc.
These are the guys doing the dirty work—staying on the field and making life easier for everyone else.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton went digging for exactly those types—young, under-the-radar players on rookie deals who might not get headlines but deserve a long-term spot in the team’s future. For the Giants, Moton picked fourth-year linebacker Micah McFadden as the team’s most promising building block entering 2025.
Micah McFadden labeled Giants' most promising building block
Big Blue selected McFadden with the 146th pick (fifth round) of the 2022 NFL Draft. Drafted out of Indiana, McFadden was praised for his blitzing instincts, physical run defense, and high football IQ—traits that gave him a real shot to outplay his draft slot.
Suffice it to say, he's done exactly that, and Moton's analysis all but confirms it:
"McFadden makes stops all over the field. He led the Giants with 107 tackles last season. More importantly, the downhill linebacker has registered 26 tackles for loss in three seasons as an impactful run-stopper," Moton wrote. "McFadden must be more consistent in pass defense, but he has six pass breakups over the last two years.
As Bobby Okereke enters his age-29 term, the Giants can lock McFadden into a long-term deal. The fourth-year linebacker is the present and future centerpiece for Big Blue's defense."
McFadden continues to get better every season. He’s arguably been the most overlooked and encouraging player on the roster. Middle linebackers don’t necessarily steal headlines (unless they’re generational), but with what the fourth-year vet has been doing over the past couple of seasons, it might be time to start talking about him in a different light.
Not only has he become the team's most reliable tackler, but he's also added a lot to his game, specifically in the pass-rushing department. While his six career sacks won't wow anyone, his 79.6 pass-rushing grade from Pro Football Focus just might.
He is far from a finished project—his pass coverage leaves a lot to be desired. But with a stronger, more stable defense around him, there’s reason to believe he’ll continue to make strides there.
With just $3.8 million in effective cap space, per Over the Cap, the Giants have tough financial decisions ahead. But keeping McFadden shouldn’t be one of them. He’s become a clear fixture on an up-and-coming defense—and one the front office should prioritize long-term. All eyes will be on him in 2025 as he gears up for what could be a breakout year.