Earlier this week, Pro Football Focus ranked the New York Giants’ defensive line third in the NFL. They trailed only the Pittsburgh Steelers and rival Philadelphia Eagles. Not surprisingly, the team invested heavily in their defensive front this offseason. Highlighted by drafting Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, the team looks to regain the physical identity that helped them win their most recent Super Bowls. The multi-faceted Carter will be grouped with Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence. All of whom are capable of double-digit sack seasons in their own right. On paper, the New York Giants’ defensive line ranks among the best in the NFL. However, they’ll need to prove it once the season begins.
2024 Defensive Line in Review
After Joe Schoen traded for and simultaneously extended edge rusher Brian Burns, it was expected that the team’s pass rush was going to be a strength in 2024. The goal was for the trio of Burns, Thibodeaux, and Lawrence to wreck the line of scrimmage and mask an inexperienced secondary.
The strategy worked to a certain degree early in the season. The pass rush was the epicenter of their two early-season wins against Cleveland and Seattle. In those two games alone, the team had 15 total sacks. In fact, they were leading the league in that category around midseason. Despite missing the second half of the season, which is when the pass rush truly began to struggle, Dexter Lawrence still finished third among NFL defensive tackles with an astounding 89.3 PFF pass-rushing grade. In addition, Burns played through injuries and still finished with an 82.9 pass-rushing grade. That was the second-highest of his career.
Here Comes Carter
With 2024’s pass-rushing trio healthy and intact, the Giants added Abdul Carter with the third overall pick in the NFL draft. Already, Carter has been compared to Micah Parsons and Von Miller. The Parsons comparison feels shallow to make because they’re both Penn State pass rushers who wore number 11. However, the truth is that Carter’s versatility and explosiveness off the snap are reminiscent of his Penn State predecessor. Carter gives the Giants the ability to line up over the line of scrimmage. There, he can take advantage of the interior line.
Carter’s bend around the edge mirrors Von Miller. While in Denver, Miller was able to use his explosiveness to beat left tackles and use his length to affect the quarterback. Expect Abdul Carter to attack the edge in a similar capacity. He’s not the most physically imposing defensive end, think Myles Garrett, who bull-rushes tackles into the pocket and disrupts plays in that regard. Rather, Carter uses his elite speed and athleticism off the edge, accelerating the quarterback’s throwing time.
Other New Pieces
In addition to Abdul Carter, the Giants also brought in former Cowboys defensive lineman Chauncey Golston and drafted Darius Alexander in the third round. For 2024, both of them will be depth pieces that will contribute sparingly. However, the team is likely projecting that Darius Alexander will develop into a full-time player next to Dexter Lawrence by 2026. These additions are important because they give the Giants reliable flexibility for rotations. The depth behind Lawrence in 2024 was thin. Teams found ways to work around his presence.
If the Giants are going to surprise teams in 2025, it will be because of their pass rush. There is a legitimate scenario where the Giants’ defensive line ranks among the best in their entire league by the end of the season. If that’s the case, expect the team to be scrappy and win a few upsets. This team’s identity will run through their defensive line.
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