Ranking the 7 most important NY Giants players on defense

1. DL Dexter Lawrence

Was there any doubt? Not only is Lawrence by far the NY Giants' most important player on defense, but he's one of the best defensive players in the NFL. The jump he took in 2022 was not only unprecedented, but just flat-out absurd. Lawrence had come off of three seasons of being an average DT and in one season he became arguably the best player at his position.

Last season, Lawrence racked up 68 combined tackles, 7.5 sacks, 63 pressures, and two forced fumbles. Not only was Lawrence arguably the best pass-rushing nose tackle, but he was also incredibly elite as a run stopper.

This jump Lawrence made last season was the exact thing the Giants needed to propel themselves into the playoffs. The defense had plenty of solid players, but they were really lacking in a sure shot star. Not many may have expected it, but I guess we can say it was pleasant surprise.

After signing a massive extension this offseason, it's up to Lawrence to continue playing at such a high level. If he can continue to improve like he projects to, the league will have a massive problem to deal with in the trenches.

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