4 possible Wink Martindale replacements if the NY Giants don't bring him back
By Zak Musso
![New York Giants defensive coordinator Don \"Wink\" Martindale on the first day of training camp at](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3549,h_1996,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F31%2F01hfdhezeva3cynkgrb3.jpg "New York Giants defensive coordinator Don \\"Wink\\" Martindale on the first day of training camp at")
2. Eric Washington
Another member of the Buffalo Bills, Eric Washington, the current defensive line coach and a senior defensive assistant, could be a candidate. Unlike his colleague, Babich, Washington has prior experience as a defensive coordinator.
Washington, who served as the Carolina Panthers defensive line coach during the height of the Cam Newton era, was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2018 and spent two seasons in the position before moving to Buffalo. His defenses had moderate success, and he wasn't given the fairest shake as he took over during the downturn of the Ron Rivera era.
Washington knows how to get the best out of pass rushers, which the Giants badly need. Despite a rash of injuries in Buffalo this season, the Bills rank second in sacks (33). Washington has revitalized Leonard Floyd's career (seven sacks) while tapping into AJ Epenesa's (6.5 sacks) and Greg Rousseau's (four sacks).
Eric Washington getting the DL fired up.#Bills pic.twitter.com/szNLf6b8xt
— Thad Brown (@thadbrown7) October 16, 2022
The Giants need everything they can get out of Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari and could certainly stand to develop a third pass rusher. Washington might be the guy to do that.