The New York Giants are sitting at 2-6 at the halfway point of the 2023 season. Unfortunately, the chances of making the playoffs are slim to none at this point, prompting the Giants to begin selling off players. For Giants fans, they are sick of hearing about “rebuilding”. It feels like a rebuild for this team has been happening for a decade, with no end in sight. Years of poor drafting, overspending on players, and lack of player development have led to years of abysmal football. There are positives and negatives that can be drawn from where this team currently stands and where it is going.
The Defense Is Becoming Elite
The Giant’s defense under Defensive Coordinator W Martindale started off slow in the first couple of weeks. However, in the past three weeks, they have transformed into an elite-level unit. Their defense is very young but play like a unit that is vastly experienced. Second-year players like Kayvon Thibodeaux, Micah McFadden, Cordale Flott, and Dane Belton, have all stepped up in their second seasons as main contributors. Rookie cornerback Deonte Banks is growing every week and is starting to establish himself as a shutdown cornerback. Defensive End Leonard Williams was traded to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday for a 2024 second-round pick and a fifth-round pick in 2025. It remains to be seen whether his departure is a negative for the defense.
Thibodeaux, despite a slow start, drawing criticism from the New York media, is dominating opposing offensive line units. Through eight weeks, Thibodeaux has generated 8.5 sacks, tied for third in the league. As long as he continues to wreck offensive linemen every week, the Giant’s defense will be in good hands. He does however need a running mate on the opposite side. EDGE rusher Azeez Ojulari has only played in three games so far this season. The question here is, should the Giants draft an EDGE rusher early in the draft, or sign a free agent in 2024? They certainly cannot rely on Ojulari as a full-time contributor, so upgrades are needed. Despite their youth, this defense will be very good for years to come.
The Offensive Line Is Still A Problem
The offensive line has not been fixed yet, which has been the story for years now. This unit is crippling any potential that the offense might have. Offensive Tackle Andrew Thomas has not played since week 1 after suffering a significant hamstring injury. Right Tackle Evan Neal, the seventh overall pick in last year’s draft, has not lived up to expectations thus far in his career. Perhaps a position change and a new voice as offensive line coach is needed to salvage his career. This is a position that the Giants may have to address again early in the draft.
Passing on players like Christian Darrisaw, Rashawn Slater, Quenton Nelson, and Zack Martin in recent years, has come back to haunt the Giants. These players are all former first-rounders who are some of the best players at their positions. If the Giants want to have a respectable offense, they need to solidify the offensive line once and for all. It shouldn’t surprise any Giants fan if they addressed the position again, in the draft and via free agency.
Looking Ahead
The Giants are equipped with seven draft choices, three in the first 64 picks. At this rate, they are destined to finish with a top-five pick. Should the Giants use this opportunity to move up and select a new Quarterback? It looks like time is running out on Daniel Jones ever being the franchise quarterback. They need a true number-one wide receiver like Marvin Harrison Jr, but skipping on a franchise quarterback could be costly.
The direction of the franchise is in the hands of General Manager Joe Schoen and Head Coach Brian Daboll, who most likely will have the opportunity to draft “their guy”. As a reminder, they inherited a bottom-five roster and have only been on the job for twenty months. As much as fans are frustrated, they need to remain patient and trust that the correct people are in place to turn this historic franchise around. All eyes are on 2024.
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