One of our favorite things about this NY Giants team is how much young talent they have. Not only with the incoming rookie class, but overall the Giants are full of youth. Entering 2023, though, this team's success may depend on certain youngsters jumping into stardom.
Even if these players don't become stars, New York is relying on them becoming more consistent and we have all the confidence in the world that they will do exactly that this season. These five players played at their own respective levels in 2022 and are ready to take a big-time jump in '23 and become key players for Brian Daboll:
5. LB Darrian Beavers
An incredibly underrated player on the Giants heading into the 2023 season is Darrian Beavers. While he didn't play at all in the regular season last year due to a torn ACL, Beavers showed flashes of greatness in the preseason that has us excited for what he could do.
Outside of Bobby Okereke, there is no guarantee of who will be playing linebacker for the Giants this season. With options like Micah McFadden, Jarrad Davis, and Beavers himself, it may make sense to see Beavers start early on if he continues to play well. Okereke is a run specialist, so it may make sense to put a player who will very likely be great in coverage alongside him in order to balance things out.
The Giants have really struggled to find genuine talent at linebacker for a while now. However, if Beavers manages to take the leap we think he will this season, there is a good chance the team has their core for the future. Banking this much on a sixth-round pick may be risky, but if it doesn't pan out, then a player like McFadden or Davis can fill in.
We're incredibly hopeful for what Beavers can bring to the table. Adding a coverage linebacker to this defense would do wonders alongside all of the elite run stoppers the Giants have on deck already.
4. CB Cor'Dale Flott
One of the more underrated defensive rookies from last year's draft class is Giants cornerback Cor'Dale Flott. Following his selection in the third round, Flott didn't see the field much early in the season due to injury. Once healthy, Flott provided the Giants with some pretty valuable snaps in coverage.
He was far from perfect, but it's worth noting that Flott's PFF coverage grade of 73.0 ranked sixth amongst all rookie CBs. In the 10 games we saw from Flott, he racked up 25 combined tackles while allowing 16 receptions on 24 targets for 178 yards and one touchdown. By far the best game from Flott's season came from Week 18 against the Eagles. Flott was lined up against A.J. Brown the majority of the game and allowed just three receptions on seven targets for 29 yards.
Overall Flott had an okay rookie season, showing some promise to be a potential CB2 for New York. While the drafting of Deonte Banks will likely push him into a third outside corner role, he can still be an incredibly valuable piece.
The Giants need as much help as possible at CB this season. Players like Flott, Aaron Robinson, and Darnay Holmes if he isn't released, must step up and play their roles well. While Robinson and Holmes have their own issues, we're confident that Flott will be the one to stand tall amongst the rest.
3. OT Evan Neal
Following a rough rookie season, Evan Neal enters his second year ready to be a difference-maker for the Giants' offense. He may not take a massive jump into stardom like Andrew Thomas did in his second season, but we're expecting Neal to be significantly better than he was last fall and winter.
Through 13 games last season, Neal allowed seven sacks and 39 pressures, earning a PFF pass-blocking grade of 47.5. While this isn't good by any means, it's worth mentioning that this was Neal's first season at right tackle since 2020 and a lot of the problems he showcased are very fixable.
We're hopeful that an offseason of working with former All-Pro right tackle Willie Anderson will have Neal in the best position possible to succeed in 2023. An offensive line of Andrew Thomas, Neal, and John Michael-Schmitz alongside some solid, developing guards would put the Giants in the best position to succeed offensively in years.
If Neal can become a much-improved pass blocker while continuing to make strides in the run game, the Giants will have secured themselves a franchise right tackle. Regardless, Giants fans have something to be excited about on the offensive line in 2023.
2. QB Daniel Jones
Things still are far from perfect on the Giants' offense, but boy are they ridiculously better than they were last season. Alongside the additions made to the Giants' receiving core, Joe Schoen also added the best center in this year's draft class to the offensive line. This means that we could see Daniel Jones have an even better season then he did in 2022.
We already saw a much-improved version of Jones last season while playing behind a poor offensive line and throwing to a practice squad receiving core. However, now he has a better offensive line, a Pro Bowl pass catcher at TE in Darren waller, and some incredibly solid options at receiver. Considering how much money he was signed for, we believe in Schoen's trust in the 25-year-old QB to be the Giants' franchise signal-caller.
Jones is in a much better situation than he really ever has been since he joined the league. He has the best coaching staff, offense, and contract. There are no excuses for him not to play at a better rate than he did in 2022 barring something drastic happening.
Maybe Jones can even make his first Pro Bowl in '23. He certainly had the numbers on the ground last season to do so. If Jones can put up some improved passing numbers this season we very well could see him be the first Giants QB to make a Pro Bowl since Eli Manning in 2015.
1. EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux
Following an incredibly fun-to-watch rookie season, Kayvon Thibodeaux enters 2023 looking to break out into the star player we know he can be. While on paper Thibodeaux didn't put up the craziest numbers, the number of times he showed up when it matters most showed us all we needed to see to know the Giants have a future superstar on their hands.
Through 14 games last season, Thibodeaux racked up 43 combined tackles, four sacks, 40 total pressures, and two forced fumbles. Whether it be his game-sealing strip sack on Lamar Jackson in Week 6, or his strip-sack touchdown return against the Commanders in Week 15, Thibodeaux had no shortage of crazy moments during his rookie season.
If Thibodeaux can keep adding on to what he showcased during his rookie season then the Giants will have a monster on their hands. This is the kind of player that can turn a defense from average, to best in the league.
Entering 2023 with a much-improved supporting cast of pass-rushers and run-stoppers, things should open up much more for Thibodeaux to have an incredibly successful second season. Who knows what the future holds for him, all we know is that it's incredibly bright.
READ MORE: Game-by-game predictions for the NY Giants 2023 season