Big Blue View
It was a surprise to some that first-year New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh wanted to tinker with the roster rather than engage in a wholesale rebuild.
And for the most part, the roster was not overhauled this year. There was, perhaps, more churn than usual for an NFL team, but that’s to be expected with a new coach. But there were a few positions where there was a major change.
The linebacker position is the obvious exception to that statement, as pointed out by ESPN’s Jordan Raanan in ESPN’s poll of the NFC beat writers.
The upgrade at inside linebacker. The Giants signed Tremaine Edmunds and drafted Arvell Reese fifth out of Ohio State. Even though many had Reese pegged as an edge rusher at the NFL level, the Giants do not. He is an inside linebacker for them. Now New York has two long, physical linebackers in the middle of its defense. Reese and Edmunds are both listed at 6-foot-4 and should make it difficult for opposing quarterbacks to find passing lanes. It should be an upgrade from last year’s starting combination of Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden. The Giants now have McFadden, a proven NFL starter, in a reserve role.
The additions of Edmunds and Reese have the potential to be transformative for the Giants’ defense against the run and the pass. They both have a rare combination of size, length, and athleticism for an off-ball linebacker, as well as significant upside in multiple phases.
Edmunds is a veteran linebacker who has consistently been a solid run defender throughout his career. His tackle radius and athleticism should work well behind the Giants’ block-eating defensive tackles. He also has a nose for the football and has 9 interceptions over the last three years, which is significant for a Giants’ defense that’s only had 14 interceptions over the last two years.
Reese, meanwhile, has the wheels to turn and run with running backs and tight ends as a WILL linebacker. That gives the Giants a space presence they lacked a year ago, with Bobby Okereke’s decline and Micah McFadden’s injury. He also presents significant upside as a blitzer. The Giants are also getting McFadden back, giving them a third proven starter at the second level and a player who was coming off a breakout season. The Giants also added BYU’s Jack Kelly in the draft, a similar player to McFadden.
The Giants have, frankly, shocking athleticism throughout their second level when counting their edge defenders. Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Abdul Carter can play as true outside linebackers, drop into space, and play downhill.
EDGE/Outside linebackers
Off-ball linebackers
