Most of the negativity surrounding the New York Giants has come from national outlets and from those not regularly around the organization.
That’s why we pay close attention when The Athletic’s Dan Duggan speaks out.
Duggan recently offered his thoughts on every defender and specialist currently on the Giants’ roster.
Credit to Duggan, who wasn’t afraid to be candid, especially not when it came to rookie defensive tackle Anquin Barnes Jr.
Barnes, a consensus four-star high school prospect, played at Alabama and Colorado. He went undrafted and signed with the Giants as a priority free agent.
“Barnes’ college career suggests he won’t make it in the NFL,” Duggan wrote, “but the Giants signed him as an undrafted free agent to get a closer look at a prospect once viewed as having big potential.”
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What to know about Giants rookie defensive lineman Anquin Barnes Jr.
In fairness to Duggan, he’s not exactly wrong. Barnes totaled 34 tackles and an interception over 25 games for Alabama and Colorado. Most concerningly, he never even recorded a tackle for loss; Alabama credited him with half a TFL in 2024.
By all accounts, Barnes sounds like a good guy. His Colorado page mentions him doing charity work, voluntarily cleaning homes, and offering food to those in need. He didn’t go undrafted for known character issues or off-field problems.
And respectfully, it’s always refreshing when a beat reporter opts for brutal honesty rather than force-fed positivity.
Duggan might want to stay clear of Barnes during training camp, though. Such a frank observation and projection don’t always go over well with the player in question.
But the best way that Barnes can prove Duggan wrong is to show up, put the work in, and validate the Giants’ decision to take the chance on him.
Even with a Giants defensive line trying to overcome the Dexter Lawrence trade and Roy Robertson-Harris’ Achilles injury, Barnes faces an uphill battle to crack the 53-man roster.
That said, Giants fans shouldn’t immediately give up on Barnes.
Barring injury, the 6-foot-5, 340-pound Barnes could have plenty of preseason chances. There is no reason for the Giants to risk DJ Reader or Shelby Harris getting hurt in exhibition games.
John Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson are better off giving some of those snaps to Barnes. Perhaps he can show enough to warrant a practice squad spot.
True, Barnes wasn’t a tremendous contributor at either school, but he’s getting a fresh start in the NFL.
All it takes is an opportunity, and Barnes is only weeks away from getting his shot.
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