Big Blue View
Giants have upgraded the personnel across the defense — now Bowen has to make it all work
There was a bounce in his step and a smile on his face when New York Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen arrived at the podium on Thursday to meet with the media.
Who can blame him? Bowen has lots of new toys to play with this season. He presides over a defense that added edge defender Abdul Carter with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, along with defensive tackle Darius Alexander in Round 3. In free agency, cornerback Paulson Adebo, safety Jevon Holland, defensive end Chauncey Golston and a variety of other depth pieces were also added.
“I‘m excited about the additions. I am,” Bowen said. “They’ve all come in here, they’re pros, they’re working hard. All the free agents we brought in, they’ve had a significant impact here early I think just in terms of being a pro, showing some of the young guys what it takes to be a pro. You feel their leadership out there on the field, in the meeting room.
“And then of course the young guys we drafted, really excited about those guys as well.”
Bowen should be excited.
Every position group on the defense appears to be deeper and more talented than a year ago.
There is also pressure on Bowen entering 2025.
He wasn’t the Giants’ first choice to replace Wink Martindale last year. In some quarters, he may have been considered an uninspiring hire after three seasons working under Mike Vrabel as defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans.
Defense was not the Giants’ biggest problem in 2024, but it still drew the ire of co-owner John Mara after finishing 21st in points allowed.
“I’m tired of watching teams go up and down the field on us,” Mara said in January. “So, I think that has to be addressed.”
GM Joe Schoen followed orders and did exactly that. Now, it is up to Bowen to make the pieces fit.
“I wouldn’t say pressure. I’m driven by the guys. My job is to get these guys ready to go out there to execute at the highest level, to maximize their potential, and to perform and ultimately win,” Bowen said.
“So I’m driven by that. Come to work every day for them, doing everything I can to make them improve, to help them improve, to help our team improve.
“That’s really what fuels me. Don’t really feel the pressure of it. We’re working every day to improve right now. It’s still early. There is a lot of moving parts still that we’ll figure out and we’re figuring out each day how we’re going to make it work.”
The biggest curiosity, of course, is how Bowen will get Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns a maximum amount of playing time.
“You got three guys for two spots when you look at it from the outside in. It’s a really good...
