Big Blue View
New York Giants headlines for July 4th
Good morning, New York Giants fans! Happy Fourth of July! As Ed always says on his podcast, “stay safe out there.”
6. Malik Nabers, New York Giants: 19.1% Threat Rate. Last year’s sixth-overall draft pick saw 41 targets with his quarterback under duress last season, the most for a rookie receiver since 2020. Nabers and Ladd McConkey were the only rookies to be targeted more than 25 times in such situations, and Nabers also tied McConkey with 24 catches. He finished with 311 receiving yards, 16 first downs and four touchdown catches. Nabers also ranked eighth in yards after the catch (79) and yards after contact (35) and generated the fourth-best deep target rate (31.7%) in pressure situations.
Gridiron Intelligence data showed that the Giants ranked in the bottom five league-wide in both passing to their tight ends and converting on third down. Of the Giants’ 232 third-down conversion attempts last year, 180 were pass attempts. The Giants’ tight ends were targeted just 19 times on third down, catching 12 such passes. Theo Johnson and Daniel Bellinger both converted just two third-down pass conversions apiece. Bellinger’s two conversions came on plays needing three or fewer yards, whereas Johnson’s two came on third-downs needing 6+ yards.
Thomas Fidone II, the young tight end that displayed great athleticism throughout the spring. Fidone was the top tight end recruit coming out of high school, ahead of Brock Bowers, before back-to-back ACL injures derailed the start of his collegiate career. Now fully healthy, Fidone showed some flashes of that potential with some impressive grabs during the spring.
2. Lawrence Taylor, OLB (1981). The best defensive player of all time is also the best second overall pick of all time. Taylor is one of two defensive players to ever win league MVP (in 1986, joining defensive tackle Alan Page in 1971), and that rarefied air all but cements him over contenders such as Marshall Faulk, Julius Peppers and Calvin Johnson. Modern contenders such as Von Miller, Saquon Barkley and Nick Bosa are excellent in their time but don't hold a candle to L.T., who finished his 13-year career with 142 sacks.
40. Michael Strahan, DE (1993). I really wanted to pick Thurman Thomas here -- an MVP winner at running back whose number is retired in Buffalo....
