4 reasons the NY Giants defense can become elite this season

2. The Giants talented pass-rushing group playing at a high level

The Giants' defense line might be in the top three in the league, and it all starts with the two-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Dexter Lawrence. When you thought it couldn't get better than that, the Giants have Kayvon Thibodeaux and Burns coming off both ends as edge rushers, which means if you're an opposing quarterback, watch out.

While Thibodeaux had 11.5 sacks last season, there were times when he dropped back too much in coverage, but now, with the help of veterans Burns and Lawrence II, we should see a dominant season from the third-year defensive end.

The Giants also have a substantial linebacker room, with Bobby Okereke, Darren McFadden, Isaiah Simmons, and rookie Darius Muasau. With plenty of depth at both the left and right inside linebacker positions, we can expect more sacks in 2024.

Okereke is coming off a dominant performance, where he posted 92 solo tackles, 2.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions. He also led the team in total tackles with 149 last season. McFadden should also perform well this season after making 101 combined tackles, which is the third-best on the Giants last year.

While Simmons may not start for the Giants, many fans were excited that the team had decided to extend him this offseason. The former No. 8 overall pick with the Arizona Cardinals is a versatile player who can play both linebacker and cornerback. Lastly, Muasau was a Second-team All-Pac 12 player last season with UCLA. The 2024 sixth-round pick had 75 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks, and an interception and should be a player to watch out for this season with the Giants.