With the additions that general manager Joe Schoen made this offseason, the New York Giants defense could be elite this season.
First, Schoen addressed the secondary by signing cornerback Paulson Adebo and safety Jevon Holland. He then selected the best pass rusher in the NFL Draft in Abdul Carter with the third overall pick, and continued to bolster the defensive line by taking Darius Alexander in the third round.
When you look at the defense, there are playmakers at every level, and this should produce a dramatic improvement from being the 24th-ranked unit in 2024.
It’s going to take all 11 starters on defense to play at a high level for the team to have success in 2025. But a few players will have individual performances that will stand out, placing them on top of statistical categories.
Here’s our look at who will lead the Giants in sacks, interceptions, and tackles.
Who will lead the team in sacks?
New York’s front seven has been the strength of the team for several years, led by All-Pro Dexter Lawrence. Last season, the team registered 45 sacks, and this was with Lawrence missing the last five games after tallying a career-high nine sacks, Kayvon Thibodeaux sidelined for five games, and Brian Burns dealing with multiple injuries throughout the season.
Now with the additions of Carter and Alexander, Big Blue’s sack total should increase significantly. The question is, who will lead the team in sacks?
Four viable candidates could lead the team in sacks this year: Lawrence, Thibodeaux, Burns, and Carter. All will benefit from being on the field with one another because with the exception of Lawrence, the others won’t be double-teamed often.
The biggest mystery of the defense is how they will incorporate all three edge rushers (Thibodeaux, Burns, and Carter) on the field together. This is a good problem to have, as there is a saying, “You can never have too many pass rushers.”
Expect the Giants to finish top five in the NFL in sacks, with Carter leading the team in sacks with 12.
Who will lead the team in interceptions?
In 2024, New York’s defense set an embarrassing record for going 11 consecutive games without recording an interception. They finished the year with just five picks, which was 31st in the league.
This prompted the team to acquire Holland and Adebo.
The team is hopeful that second-year safety Tyler Nubin will display the ball-hawking skills he showed in college, after not registering an interception as a rookie. Third-year corner Deonte Banks will look to have a bounce-back season after a disappointing 2024.
In addition, the team has other young and talented defensive backs such as Dru Phillips, Dane Belton, and Cor’Dale Flott who could have breakout seasons. However, when it’s all said and done, Adebo will have a huge impact in his first season with Big Blue as he will lead the team in interceptions and set a new career-high with five.
Which player will lead the team in tackles?
Last season, the Giants had three players who had over 90 total tackles: Micah McFadden with 107, Nubin with 98, and Bobby Okereke with 93. Barring an injury, all three should once again have a high tackle output.
Stopping the run was one of the team’s biggest issues last year, as they ranked 27th and allowed 136.2 yards per game. It will take a collective effort by the defense if they’re going to significantly improve from 2024.
Despite trade rumors this offseason, Okereke is one of the most consistent and effective inside linebackers in the league. He may not have 149 tackles as he did in 2023 in his first season with New York, but he will register over 100 tackles for the fourth time in his career and lead the team.
