The New York Giants had several areas that needed to be addressed entering the offseason, and for the most part, general manager Dave Gettleman did a good job adding necessary pieces at those positions.
One area the Giants failed to adequately address however, comes along the edge.
Although the Giants did sign outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell, he’s hardly the sort of elite talent that’s going to completely transform the defense or scare opposing offenses.
The possibility remains that linebacker Markus Golden ultimately returns, but even then, the Giants are still extremely thin along the edge. For that reason, it should come as little surprise that Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report says the lacking pass rush remains the Giants’ biggest red flag.
The New York Giants front office should be anxious to find out what happens next with Markus Golden.
The Giants placed the unrestricted free-agent tender on Golden before he entered the market. If the player signs elsewhere, he would count toward the 2021 compensatory pick formula. Or, the team would retain exclusive rights if Golden remains unsigned past July 22.
The clock is ticking, and the Giants need Golden and last season’s team-leading 10 sacks. No one else on the roster managed more than 4.5, and New York didn’t make the splash in free agency many expected, such as pursuing Jadeveon Clowney.
With Golden on the roster, the Giants still finished among the bottom half of the league in sacks. Plus, New York’s defense lacks a true bookend.
The Giants were never seriously in the market for Clowney or any other “top end” pass rusher, instead seeming content to rely on the New England Patriots’ or Baltimore Ravens’ way of doing business — generating a pass rush via defensive scheme.
It’s a risky endeavor being taken by the Giants, but one that could work. If their young secondary can somehow hold strong, it will allow defensive coordinator Patrick Graham to create pressure schematically.
That’s not going to help fans rest easy at night, but it’s a method proven to work with the right personnel. The real question is whether the Giants currently have enough on defense to get that done.
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