Post by EddieNYG on Aug 23, 2023 14:30:26 GMT -5
Fox Sports: NFL young talent rankings: No. 12 Giants have pieces to build perennial contender by Ralph Vacchiano (8/22/23)
Times are changing in East Rutherford, though, where the Giants went on a spending spree on their homegrown talent this offseason. They gave big money to quarterback Daniel Jones (four years, $160 million), defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (four years, $90 million) and left tackle Andrew Thomas (five years, $117.5 million). They gave smaller deals to receiver Darius Slayton (two years, $12 million) and edge rusher Oshane Ximines (one year, $1.18 million), too.
That's a lot of second contracts for players they drafted in 2019 or 2020, especially for a team that only gave out second contracts to two players they drafted between 2011 and 2018 (receivers Sterling Shepard and Odell Beckham).
It's proof that general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll believe that for the first time in a decade, the Giants' cupboard of talent isn't bare.
"I think a lot of those guys earned it off of the way they played in 2022," Schoen said. "They played well, (and) getting to know them as people and how they work, they're pros in every sense of the word. So, after being around for a year, all those guys have earned what they've gotten and look forward for them being here for a long time."
And those are just players Schoen inherited from the failed regime of his predecessor, Dave Gettleman. Schoen has had two promising draft classes since, including his first one in 2022 that produced several players — edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, right tackle Evan Neal and tight end Daniel Bellinger — who were key contributors to a surprising team that went 9-8-1, made the playoffs and even won a playoff game.
That's helped raise expectations for the 2023 season. But just as importantly, it's increased optimism about the Giants' long-term future. Schoen's stated goal has always been to build a perennial contender, which he knew he had to do by producing and keeping young talent.
The Giants are finally doing that again. And for the first time in a long time, they have young talent they actually want to keep.
Young core
QB Daniel Jones
DT Dexter Lawrence
LT Andrew Thomas
RT Evan Neal
LB Kayvon Thibodeaux
LB Azeez Ojulari
S Xavier McKinney
That's a lot of second contracts for players they drafted in 2019 or 2020, especially for a team that only gave out second contracts to two players they drafted between 2011 and 2018 (receivers Sterling Shepard and Odell Beckham).
It's proof that general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll believe that for the first time in a decade, the Giants' cupboard of talent isn't bare.
"I think a lot of those guys earned it off of the way they played in 2022," Schoen said. "They played well, (and) getting to know them as people and how they work, they're pros in every sense of the word. So, after being around for a year, all those guys have earned what they've gotten and look forward for them being here for a long time."
And those are just players Schoen inherited from the failed regime of his predecessor, Dave Gettleman. Schoen has had two promising draft classes since, including his first one in 2022 that produced several players — edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, right tackle Evan Neal and tight end Daniel Bellinger — who were key contributors to a surprising team that went 9-8-1, made the playoffs and even won a playoff game.
That's helped raise expectations for the 2023 season. But just as importantly, it's increased optimism about the Giants' long-term future. Schoen's stated goal has always been to build a perennial contender, which he knew he had to do by producing and keeping young talent.
The Giants are finally doing that again. And for the first time in a long time, they have young talent they actually want to keep.
Young core
QB Daniel Jones
DT Dexter Lawrence
LT Andrew Thomas
RT Evan Neal
LB Kayvon Thibodeaux
LB Azeez Ojulari
S Xavier McKinney
Potential breakout
LB Azeez Ojulari: When the Giants were on the clock with the 20th pick of the 2021 draft, one of the names they considered was Georgia linebacker Azeez Ojulari. Some teams thought he had a chance to go higher than 20 that year.
So imagine the Giants' surprise when he was still available 30 picks later, deep in the second round.
While some teams were scared off by his knee issues and his somewhat-slight frame (6-2, 240), the Giants knew they had a steal right away. He was a pass-rushing demon in the SEC with 15 sacks in two seasons, and he was an immediate presence off the edge in the NFL, setting a Giants rookie record with eight sacks. Last season, when he was limited to just seven games because of a calf injury, he had 5.5 sacks — including 4.5 in four games after he was activated off injured reserve.
"What's impressive about him is how much he creates the pressure for himself," said one NFC scout. "As a rookie, he had no help off the edge. He was all they had and he still got eight sacks. Last year they finally had (rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux) on the other edge and look what happened when he came back (from the calf injury).
"If they can stay healthy, those two, with the big guys (Lawrence, Leonard Williams) in the middle … it's all going to be hard to stop."
Ojulari could be the biggest beneficiary of the stacked defensive line. He was on pace for an easy double-digit sack total last season, and there's no reason he can't get there this year with the same cast around him. He'll see plenty of one-on-one matchups and he has the speed around the edge to take advantage.
All he has to do is stay on the field.
LB Azeez Ojulari: When the Giants were on the clock with the 20th pick of the 2021 draft, one of the names they considered was Georgia linebacker Azeez Ojulari. Some teams thought he had a chance to go higher than 20 that year.
So imagine the Giants' surprise when he was still available 30 picks later, deep in the second round.
While some teams were scared off by his knee issues and his somewhat-slight frame (6-2, 240), the Giants knew they had a steal right away. He was a pass-rushing demon in the SEC with 15 sacks in two seasons, and he was an immediate presence off the edge in the NFL, setting a Giants rookie record with eight sacks. Last season, when he was limited to just seven games because of a calf injury, he had 5.5 sacks — including 4.5 in four games after he was activated off injured reserve.
"What's impressive about him is how much he creates the pressure for himself," said one NFC scout. "As a rookie, he had no help off the edge. He was all they had and he still got eight sacks. Last year they finally had (rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux) on the other edge and look what happened when he came back (from the calf injury).
"If they can stay healthy, those two, with the big guys (Lawrence, Leonard Williams) in the middle … it's all going to be hard to stop."
Ojulari could be the biggest beneficiary of the stacked defensive line. He was on pace for an easy double-digit sack total last season, and there's no reason he can't get there this year with the same cast around him. He'll see plenty of one-on-one matchups and he has the speed around the edge to take advantage.
All he has to do is stay on the field.
Inside Info
DE Dexter Lawrence: Last year's improved production is starting to get Lawrence the attention he's deserved since a dominant true freshman season at Clemson in 2016. Lawrence is just another level. As physically dominant at the point of attack as any defensive tackle in the league, routinely overpowering opponents with his sheer size and strength. To this day, Lawrence's 36 reps (of 225 pounds) in the bench press at the 2019 Scouting Combine remains amazing. Lawrence did that despite very long (34 ¾") arms, which in simple physics means that his feat of strength is even more incredible than from someone lifting the bar a shorter distance. He may be the most powerful player in the entire NFL. —NFL scouting source
RT Evan Neal: I was stunned at how bad he looked last season. I really thought coming out of (Alabama) he was ready. But he just looked lost at times. I know he had some injury issues late in the year (he missed four games with a sprained left knee), but he was bad before that. His technique just looked off. I honestly thought he was worse than (Andrew) Thomas was as a rookie, and Thomas wasn't good then. But that's the reason not to give up on him. He's big (6-7, 350), but more importantly he's smart. And that's a good coaching staff. They'll figure it out. —NFC scout
QB Daniel Jones: I laugh every time I hear someone questioning the Giants for giving him that $160 million (contract). When you've got a quarterback like that, you don't let him walk. And this guy has all the tools. There are only a handful of guys in this league who can both run and throw like that. And I keep coming back to this: Look at what he did with nobody around him. I mean nobody. He had no help and he carried that team to the playoffs. He's got better weapons this year. Not great, but better. If they can protect him, he's going to be a top-10 (quarterback). Just watch. —NFC executive
DE Dexter Lawrence: Last year's improved production is starting to get Lawrence the attention he's deserved since a dominant true freshman season at Clemson in 2016. Lawrence is just another level. As physically dominant at the point of attack as any defensive tackle in the league, routinely overpowering opponents with his sheer size and strength. To this day, Lawrence's 36 reps (of 225 pounds) in the bench press at the 2019 Scouting Combine remains amazing. Lawrence did that despite very long (34 ¾") arms, which in simple physics means that his feat of strength is even more incredible than from someone lifting the bar a shorter distance. He may be the most powerful player in the entire NFL. —NFL scouting source
RT Evan Neal: I was stunned at how bad he looked last season. I really thought coming out of (Alabama) he was ready. But he just looked lost at times. I know he had some injury issues late in the year (he missed four games with a sprained left knee), but he was bad before that. His technique just looked off. I honestly thought he was worse than (Andrew) Thomas was as a rookie, and Thomas wasn't good then. But that's the reason not to give up on him. He's big (6-7, 350), but more importantly he's smart. And that's a good coaching staff. They'll figure it out. —NFC scout
QB Daniel Jones: I laugh every time I hear someone questioning the Giants for giving him that $160 million (contract). When you've got a quarterback like that, you don't let him walk. And this guy has all the tools. There are only a handful of guys in this league who can both run and throw like that. And I keep coming back to this: Look at what he did with nobody around him. I mean nobody. He had no help and he carried that team to the playoffs. He's got better weapons this year. Not great, but better. If they can protect him, he's going to be a top-10 (quarterback). Just watch. —NFC executive