Ranking the NY Giants' biggest NFL Draft gems of the past decade

4. Micah McFadden

Micah McFadden was a bright spot for the G-Men in 2023. The 2022 fifth-round pick made a huge splash on defense and was the perfect complement to Bobby Okereke. Despite an offense that struggled to move the ball at times, the Giants' defense was solid for a large part of the season, and McFadden had lots to do with their success.

Coming out of college from Indiana, McFadden was an effective rookie in his role on the defense, albeit with a very small sample size. With 59 tackles and two sacks in his 17 games, there was certainly reason for hope of a second-year leap for the linebacker.

However, even the most optimistic fans likely didn't predict McFadden's breakout in 2023. While compiling 101 tackles in 2023, so much of what McFadden does for the G-Men doesn't show up on the stat sheet. McFadden is a scrappy, hard-nosed football player who finds himself filling gaps and constantly getting involved in the run game.

For McFadden, Wink Martindale was the perfect defensive coordinator for his style of play. An aggressive, blitz-heavy play-caller allowed McFadden's abilities to flourish. For 2024, it will be on Shane Bowen to help him elevate his game to the next level.