The New York Giants have had a successful offseason. They overhauled the quarterback room, they revamped their secondary, and they added franchise pillars at two of the most important positions in football (quarterback and edge rusher).
However, one area general manager Joe Schoen likely could have addressed more is the team's run defense. Since taking over as GM in 2022, Big Blue's run defense has been nonexistent. You don't have to be a math major to see this defense has lost its focus:
|
Giants season |
Rushing yards allowed |
NFL rank |
|---|---|---|
|
2022 |
2,451 yards |
27th |
|
2023 |
2,251 yards |
29th |
|
2024 |
2,316 yards |
27th |
Schoen drafted Darius Alexander in the third round and signed veterans Jeremiah Ledbetter, Chauncey Golston, and Roy Robertson-Harris to give Dexter Lawrence and Rakeem Nunez some help, but it's hard to see any one—potentially excluding Alexander—of the three making serious waves in 2025. The team knows of the struggles, too. Appearing on the Giants Huddle podcast, Nunez-Roches voiced how he believes the G-Men will improve in 2025.
Giants' run defense is still a major work in progress
Keeping it short and sweet, the 32-year-old laid out a pretty simple plan for New York's run defense: "To be honest with you, a simple fix: Just do your job," Nunez-Roches said to John Schmeel. Unfortunately, he hasn't practiced what he's preached, affecting some decision-making.
The 11-year NFL vet was originally brought in to be the run-stopper this defense needed. Through two seasons, he just hasn't lived up to the expectations. If it were only as simple as just doing his job, he'd likely be in a better spot entering training camp—he's currently on the bubble.
The depth chart already houses Lawrence, Alexander, Robertson-Harris, Golston, and Ledbetter, along with development pieces like DJ Davidson, Jordan Riley, and Elijah Chatman, so Nunez-Roches had better get to work ASAP. Also going against him is his contract. He's in the last year of a three-year, $12 million deal, and New York can save $3.6 million by releasing him outright. Not a great spot for the once-perceived run stuffer.
He hasn't made a strong case to stay either. Over the past two seasons, his run defense grades have been worrisome, with a career-low 43.8 in 2023, improving only slightly in 2024 to 50.2. The urgency is now. His age, declining performance, and contract all make him expendable. With the cavalry here and reporting for duty, it’s not hard to see the numbers game squeezing him out.
If “just do your job” really is the fix, then Nunez-Roches will need to take his own advice sooner rather than later. Because as it stands, that job is far from guaranteed.
