The New York Giants ended the 2020 season on a high note, defeating the Dallas Cowboys for the first time since 2016. This season was full of surprises. After a measly 1-7 start, Big Blue rattled off a four-game winning streak and ended the season with a 5-3 record. There were many players who made a lasting impact on their respective sides of the ball. The New York Giants 2020 season awards will cover the best of the best and also some of the more disappointing performers of the season.
New York Giants 2020 Season Awards
MVP: James Bradberry
Along with Blake Martinez, signing James Bradberry turned out to be one of the best things that Dave Gettleman could have done for this team. In the one game that Bradberry missed due to being on the COVID list, the defense looked completely lost. They were forced to play a lot of soft zone, and going up against Baker Mayfield did not make the task any easier. Mayfield was slicing through the Giants defense, further proving that this defense desperately missed Bradberry’s presence on the field.
Bradberry made his first career Pro Bowl after registering 54 tackles, 18 passes defended, two forced fumbles, and three interceptions. According to Pro Football Focus, Bradberry allowed 0.72 yards per coverage snap, which was tied-third best in the entire league for outside cornerbacks. The Giants asked a lot out of the stellar cornerback in his first year with the team, and he delivered, making him the MVP of the team.
Defensive Player of the Year: Leonard Williams
With James Bradberry already winning MVP, it’s fair to give this award to one of the best players on this young defense. Leonard Williams received lots of backlash from fans and media over the off-season after a disappointing 2019 that saw him end up with 0.5 sack.
This season was completely different. Williams silenced the critics with his dominating season, totaling a career-high 11.5 sacks, 57 tackles, and 14 tackles for loss. The 26-year-old defensive lineman likely set himself up for a big pay-day from the Giants, especially after another dominating performance in Week 17, where he totaled three sacks, five quarterback hits, and eight pressures.
Offensive Player of the Year: Sterling Shepard
Sterling Shepard has always been a reliable target. However, he has always dealt with injuries, keeping him off the field for prolonged periods of time. This year, Shepard contracted turf toe and missed four weeks. Despite that, the fifth-year receiver out of Oklahoma always does what he is asked, whether that be blocking on run plays or running an unusual route in Jason Garrett‘s offense.
Shepard hauled in 66 passes for 656 yards and three touchdowns. His numbers are not superstar wide receiver numbers, but he has been the most consistent player on offense all year. In a year where the Giants receivers were not exactly the greatest, Shepard stepped up and delivered on numerous occasions, even in games where the offense seemed to get nothing going.
Heading into his sixth season with likely reinforcements coming this off-season, Shepard will only get better if the Giants bring in a true number one wide receiver.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Xavier McKinney
While McKinney missed most of the season after breaking his foot, he did not disappoint in the six games he appeared in. The rookie safety totaled 25 tackles, one tackle for loss, interception, and pass defensed. His first interception came near the end of Week 17 and iced the game.
McKinney flashed a lot of potential and has fans excited to see what he can do in a full season next year. Darnay Holmes was another potential pick for this award, and while he is still a good player and will only get better next year, McKinney showed a lot more in less time.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Andrew Thomas
Andrew Thomas started off the year very slow, allowing 38 pressures in his first eight starts. That all changed in the second half of the season, where Thomas refined his technique and his overall game.
Thomas proved to be the Giants tackle of the future, despite his early struggles. He showed lots of improvement on film, from hand placement to not giving inside leverage. His rookie season was definitely a success and will only get better as he continues to gather experience.
Most Improved: Nick Gates
Nick Gates’ first full season playing center started off slow, but he started to really show that the Giants made the right choice by putting him there. Gates, an undrafted free agent from Nebraska in 2018, was more of a backup/versatile lineman in his first two years with the team. He could play both tackle and guard and did so in 2019 after starting at right tackle twice and right guard once.
In the summer of 2020, Gates was rewarded with a two-year contract extension, signaling that he was in the Giants’ immediate plans. In late August, Joe Judge named Gates the starting center and he did not look back. Gates is a very physical lineman who will get in your face. He was the only Giants player to appear in 100 percent of snaps in 2020 and did so while allowing 0 sacks.
Gates’ development has been impressive to watch, and that says a lot about this coaching staff.
Most Disappointing: Evan Engram
This one is self-explanatory. Evan Engram simply was not good this year at all. Nobody really knows how he made the Pro Bowl, including Engram himself. Do not let that fool you, as Engram disappointed on the field over and over again.
His eight drops were tied for fourth-most in the NFL this year. Also, he accounted for SIX turnovers this year, an issue that has plagued him all season. Engram for some odd reason had the ability to tip perfect passes into the hands of the nearest defensive back, making quarterback Daniel Jones look bad.
While Jones did have a bad year, it was not nearly as close to what Engram produced on the field.
Final Word as the Giants Head Into the Off-Season
This season was full of surprises. Nick Gates is now the center for the foreseeable future, the team is a few players away from an elite defense, and this offense needs serious playmakers if they want to be serviceable next year.
