The New York Giants' defense has been a complete mess over the last few weeks. With the talent Big Blue has on the defense, the thought was they'd would improve under Shane Bowen's defensive scheme. Instead, things have completely gone downhill, and the only thing trending in the right direction is Brian Burns, who leads the league in sacks with 11.
The G-Men have dropped three straight games while giving up 30 or more points in each — including a Week 7 meltdown that saw them allow 33 in the fourth quarter alone against the Broncos.
You can point the finger at Bowen, who plenty of fans want gone, or chalk it up to the injuries in the secondary, but the lack of depth at middle linebacker might be doing just as much damage. Either way, changes need to happen, and one NFL expert may have just offered the perfect solution to one of the Giants’ biggest defensive problems.
Giants could look at linebacker depth ahead of trade deadline
ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz listed middle linebacker as the Giants’ most pressing need at this year’s trade deadline in a recent article outlining each team’s weaknesses and potential targets. Schatz pointed to the injuries at the position and noted that the G-Men have one of the worst run defenses.
When you think about the major injuries the Giants have dealt with this season, names like Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo likely come to mind — both suffered season-ending injuries. More recently, the secondary has taken hits with injuries to Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland. But one name that continues to fly under the radar is Micah McFadden, who suffered a foot injury in Week 1 and still hasn’t returned.
Not only have the G-Men been without McFadden for nine weeks, but Darius Muasau — who initially stepped in to replace him — suffered an ankle injury against the 49ers and didn’t return. New York turned to Zaire Barnes, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, and Neville Hewitt, but with the trade deadline looming Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, they may need to explore adding some depth.
If the Giants are buyers at the deadline, they could target the Saints’ Demario Davis or the Cincinnati Bengals’ Logan Wilson — both of whom could be on the move and would be significant additions. Even at 36, Davis remains one of the best run defenders in the league and would solve a lot of Big Blue’s problems. Wilson, meanwhile, recently requested a trade and is under contract through 2028.
The Giants would likely have to move picks to get a deal done for either player, though a veteran like Russell Wilson, Jalin Hyatt, Deonte Banks, or Evan Neal could also be included in a return package. Regardless, changes need to be made, and we can expect the phone lines to be busy on Tuesday for Joe Schoen and the Giants front office.