Many New York Giants fans were surprised when the team let starting safety Julian Love walk in free agency this past week.
Most were sure they would find a way to bring the former Notre Dame star — who has improved each season he’s been here — back into the fold.
In a recent article for Pro Football Focus, Brad Spielberger listed Love as the Giants’ biggest loss this offseason.
Many people around the league are very surprised by Love signing a deal for just two years and $12 million (with Seattle). It will be interesting to see how the Giants address their secondary because they need reinforcements.
Love earned a career-high 71.5 coverage grade in 2022 and lined up all over the formation, with 271 snaps down in the box, 154 in the slot and 494 at free safety. He’s a Swiss Army knife on the back end who rarely misses a tackle. Among 43 safeties with at least 150 tackles over the past three seasons, Love’s 13 missed tackles are the second fewest.
The Giants’ defense under coordinator Wink Martindale is always going to be predicated on generating pressure up front, which will require investments in the front seven. The addition of off-ball linebacker Bobby Okereke addressed a massive need, but New York’s secondary doesn’t look great on paper as of today.
In reviewing the decision to let Love walk, it makes sense given Wink Martindale’s philosophy. He likes his safeties to be solid run supporters and play a physical style.
The Giants also have a bit of depth at the position that outsiders could be underrating. Xavier McKinney is a solid starter and he will be paired with the recently signed Bobby McCain. There is also second-year player Dane Belton and Jason Pinnock, who the team is high on.
In addition, the Giants have two other young players listed on the depth chart — Trenton Thompson and Terrell Burgess.
As Spielberger says, they are more invested in their front seven at the moment and are willing to let the young bucks battle for the backup safety spots. They also have 10 picks in the draft and could very well add another player to the mix.
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