The New York Giants have made significant changes to their roster this offseason, adding several key free agents and welcoming a new, talented draft class.
One unit that got a huge boost was the linebackers, where the Giants added free agent Tremaine Edmunds and rookie Arvell Reese to a group that already boasts talent such as Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Micah McFadden.
Ben Solak of ESPN believes the Giants’ additions qualify them for his “10 biggest position upgrades” this offseason in the NFL.
“Reese and Edmunds should give the Giants an infusion of team speed and stopping power at the second level of the defense,” writes Solak. “And New York’s 2.5 yards allowed before contact per carry last season — the league’s worst figure — should recover back to league average.”
The Giants played last season without their leading tackler, inside linebacker Micah McFadden, leaving Bobby Okereke all alone in the middle playing alongside backups. Although Okereke had a statistically fine season, the Giants parted ways with him this winter and replaced him with Edmunds.
“The Giants swapped Okereke for Edmunds, who himself was a cap casualty in Chicago,” says Solak. “Edmunds was drafted a year before Okereke, but is younger, bigger, and faster — he just has a larger range of influence, even if he still has mental lapses on the field. Had Edmunds been the only change, the Giants’ linebackers room wouldn’t have sniffed this list.
“But he’s not. New York also adds Reese with the fifth pick, and that is exciting. Reese was discussed as an edge rusher for much of the predraft process, but I’ve always liked him best as an off-ball linebacker. He’s a particularly cool fit beside Edmunds, as both have a blend of speed, length, and size not often found at off-ball linebacker. The Giants’ linebackers room certainly wins the title of “first off the bus.”
Reese will play the WILL linebacker position to start, in between Pro Bowler Brian Burns and Edmunds. Carter will play the left outside spot, and Thibodeaux will be sprinkled in via packages.
All four of those players were former first-round picks in the NFL draft. It will be interesting to see how this experiment pans out.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants praised for improvements to linebacker position
Reporting by John Fennelly, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
