2 Giants among PFF’s top 101 players from the 2023 NFL season

2 New York Giants were ranked among Pro Football Focus’ top 101 players from the 2023 NFL season, but Saquon Barkley was not among them.

Pro Football Focus released their list of the top 101 players from the 2023 NFL season earlier this week and two New York Giants made the cut.

Interestingly, running back Saquon Barkley, who is an impending free agent, was not among them.

The first Giant to crack the rankings was linebacker Bobby Okereke, who dominated in his first season with the team and deserved both Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.

Okereke debuted at No. 91 on PFF’s list.

Okereke had an excellent year in Wink Martendale’s aggressive Giants defense. His athleticism and range allowed him to post an 82.5 PFF coverage grade, and he allowed an 89.1 passer rating into his coverage, some 15 points lower than the league average for linebackers.

The next Giant on the list was ranked much higher with safety Xavier McKinney checking in at No. 57.

The high points we saw from McKinney this year in Wink Martindale’s aggressive defense were spectacular, with none better than his final game of the season, in which he brought in two interceptions against the Eagles. McKinney has become a do-it-all threat in the secondary.

Both Okereke and McKinney were among the best defenders in the league under Martindale, which is even more significant for McKinney because he played in a role that may not have been designed for his strengths.

Like Barkley, McKinney was not tagged by the Giants at the deadline and is expected to become an unrestricted free agent next week.

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Bobby Okereke a ‘little ticked’ Giants parted ways with Wink Martindale

Bobby Okereke admits he’s a little PO’d that the New York Giants parted ways with defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.

Shortly after Black Monday, the New York Giants and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale “parted ways.”

There was a bit of, we’ll call it tension, between Wink and head coach Brian Daboll, which is ultimately what led to his departure. Several players and many around the league couldn’t understand why the Giants didn’t try to keep Martindale around considering the defense carried the team in 2023.

One player who has been vocal about his displeasure with Martindale’s departure is linebacker Bobby Okereke.

During Super Bowl week, Okereke joined reporters on radio row where he credited Wink with his improvement this past season.

“You know, I gotta say that being in the Wink Martindale defense, the way he coaches… Wink is a savage, he’s such a cool guy and he simplifies the game (in) a way that really just spoke to me. So I was just able to play free and fast and physical,” Okereke said, via The Charity Stripe.

When asked if he was upset with the decision to part ways, Okereke didn’t hold back.

“I’m a little (expletive). I love Wink, but Shane Bowen is a great coach. I got to meet him, talk to him, so I’m very excited for our future,” Okereke added.

Of Wink, the star linebacker said, “He just gets it. And he knows how to speak to the players and really bring a group together.”

Okereke had the best season of his career in 2023. And while he’s ‘ticked’ that Wink is gone, he’s already had productive conversations with new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen.

Okereke admits the new defensive scheme is very different from Martindale’s, but hopefully, that won’t impact his production next season.

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Giants’ Bobby Okereke already jelling with DC Shane Bowen

New York Giants LB Bobby Okereke has already spoken with DC Shane Bowen, is excited about the new system and feels the two are jelling.

The New York Giants’ defense will have a new look and new attitude under recently hired coordinator Shane Bowen.

Bowen, who held the same position the past few seasons with the Tennessee Titans, will have a solid base to work with, most notably defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence and inside linebacker Bobby Okereke.

Okereke, who led the Giants in tackles this season in his first year with Big Blue under coordinator Wink Martindale, was making the rounds on Radio Row at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas this week. He told the New York Post that he and Bowen are already in touch.

“Had a great conversation with him,” Okereke said on Friday. “I’m very excited.

“I’m excited, really, how fast we jelled based on the conversation we had. We sat there and talked ball for about 10 minutes, talking to him about my experiences, playing with Matt Eberflus in the Cover-2 system, playing with Gus Bradley in the Cover 3-system, and obviously playing with Wink in the blitz-man system. … Excited to immerse myself in what they do, what we do now. Just excited to start playing football again.”

Okereke and Lawrence won’t be the only pieces Bowen is inheriting. Cornerback Deonte Banks, outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux and fellow inside linebacker Micah McFadden are also in that group.

Okereke had the best season of his five-year NFL career with a team-high 149 tackles and also set career highs in passes defensed (10), forced fumbles (four), sacks (2.5), tackles for loss (11) and quarterback hits (six) while playing every single defensive snap (1,128) for the Giants this year.

Okereke will likely be asked to wear the headset again next season to call the defensive signals. He acknowledges that Bowen’s system is much different than that of Martindale’s blitzing regimen that he flourished in last year. There will be changes.

“We’re gonna simplify it. Everybody’s gonna know exactly what we’re gonna do. There’s not gonna be too many wrinkles. We’re gonna play very fundamentally sound football,” Okereke said. “We’ll probably run a good bit of 3-4, a good bit of 4-3, good bit of quarters, a good bit of Cover-2, Cover-5, so we’re all excited.”

Okereke was asked if the changes would be for the better.

“I think it will be a very good thing,” Okereke said. “That was my experience my first couple of games adjusting to the Wink system. I got to bring a lot of the tools I learned in previous systems and incorporated it into Wink’s system. I think everybody’s gonna go through that same adjustment and it’s gonna be much better form.

“A lot of the tools, a lot of the fundamental teachings we had from Wink, that’s ingrained in us, that’s part of our toolbelt and now we can go incorporate it in a different defense with a different play style. It’s only gonna help.”

As for the rift between Martindale and head coach Brian Daboll, Okereke had this to say.

“Obviously knew there was some tension there,” Okereke said. “You got two alpha coaches, everyone’s not always going to get along.

“Definitely wouldn’t have forecast it that Wink wouldn’t be our coach at the end of the year but very happy for him to get the Michigan job, and talking to Shane, I’m very excited about it, so I think it all works out.”

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Giants’ Bobby Okereke wins Michelle Brown Toughness and Perseverance Award

Following a phenomenal first season with the New York Giants, Bobby Okereke won the Michelle Brown Toughness and Perseverance award.

Last offseason, the New York Giants made a big splash in free agency when they signed linebacker Bobby Okereke to a four-year deal.

Okereke excelled in his first season in a Giants uniform — he was one of the team’s most consistent pieces and arguably the team’s best player on the defensive side of the ball.

Earlier this week, Okereke was named the winner of the Michelle Brown Toughness and Perseverance Award.

The award, named after a lifelong Giants fan and late mother of Giants366’s Dylan Davis, was awarded to Okereke after playing through multiple injuries and leading the team in tackles on the year.

Okereke was one of two players in the entire NFL to play every defensive snap this past season. The other was teammate Xavier McKinney.

This wasn’t the first award Okereke was nominated for during his impressive first year in Giants’ blue. Okereke’s performance this season drew conversations about him being the Giants’ best free agent acquisition in a very long time.

Despite his impressive season, Okereke was snubbed from Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. Certainly, the Giants got something special in Okereke and clearly someone with a team-first mentality which is a big reason he took home the award.

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Kayvon Thibodeaux ‘thanked God’ the Giants signed Bobby Okereke

New York Giants LB Kayvon Thibodeaux says fellow LB Bobby Okereke is someone he wants to emulate and “thanked God” the team signed him.

Kayvon Thibodeaux, the New York Giants’ premier edge rusher, has high praise for his teammate, Bobby Okereke.

The Giants signed Okereke from the Indianapolis Colts to a four-year, $40 million deal in the 2023 offseason. This was their splash signing of the year and it paid off in dividends as Okereke was a force to be reckoned with.

The middle linebacker finished the season with 149 tackles (his third straight season posting over 130). He also finished with career-highs in sacks (2.5), tackles for loss (11), and forced fumbles (four). His defense in the pass game was also elite as he posted a career-high 10 passes defensed and tied his career-high in interceptions with two.

Okereke’s presence can be felt alone by how much he stuffed the stat sheet but his leadership and drive make him that much more impactful.

“We just signed a guy, Bobby Okereke. He’s our middle linebacker. And I literally sat and I thanked God that they brought him on the team,” Thibodeaux said on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast. “His ambition — he’s on Year (6) now, I’m on Year 3. When you talk about who he is at this moment and who I am at this moment, we’re not the same player. He embodies who I want to be.”

Okereke is a great person for Thibodeaux to look up to and probably helped him already this past season.

The sophomore edge rusher saw his stats boost from 4.0 to 11.5 sacks and six to 12 tackles for loss as he had a true breakout season. Thibodeaux’s offseason work definitely paid off and he truly showed why the Giants picked him fifth overall.

Nevertheless, the inspiring words of Okereke in the locker room surely helped.

“He literally told me, ‘Bro, every day you come here you gotta find motivation.’ (One day) he gets in the cold tub, right, (and) he put his neck all the way down up to here. Cold tub, me? I’m going to the hips. He’s like, ‘Damn, KT, you ain’t gonna give your shoulders no love?’ I’m like, ‘Man, my shoulders don’t need no love.’ He said, ‘Man, what, your shoulders ain’t worth $100 million?’ He said, ‘Oh, your shoulders ain’t worth greatness?’ And I’m like, ‘alright you got me messed up.'”

Okereke still has three years left on his contract and with a fifth-year option on Thibodeaux’s contract, it looks like the linebacker/edge-rusher duo will be wreaking havoc for a few more years.

The Giants have found two foundational building blocks for their defense for years to come.

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Bobby Okereke named Giants’ unsung hero of 2023

NFL Network has named linebacker Bobby Okereke the unsung hero of the 2023 New York Giants.

In what was a down year for the New York Giants, who finished with a 6-11 record, there were few bright spots. Poor coaching, underperformance, injuries, and in-fighting dominated most headlines.

But that’s not to say all was bad.

There was the emergence of rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito, who briefly took the league by storm, and there was a season-ending victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

There was also the play of linebacker Bobby Okereke.

Signed to a four-year, $40 million contract in free agency, Okereke came in and immediately improved the inside linebacker position. He not only dominated at his post but raised the play of those around him — most notably Micah McFadden.

For his efforts, Okereke was named the Giants’ unsung hero by Kevin Patra of NFL Network.

It feels almost like cheating to name Okereke here, but the linebacker was snubbed from every awards list, getting shut out of the initial Pro Bowl rosters and All-Pro teams. In his first season with Big Blue, Okereke was all over the field, generating 149 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 21 QB pressures, two interceptions, 10 passes defended and four forced fumbles while playing every single defensive snap. Stellar in coverage and stout versus the run, Okereke was the glue for New York’s defense in 2023. He will remain a force in 2024 for the team’s next defensive coordinator.

For those associated with the Giants or those who watched them on a weekly basis, Okereke was far from under the radar. He was paramount to any success on defense and deserved any and all praise he received.

Unfortunately, as Patra notes, Okereke was passed over for both the 2024 Pro Bowl Games and the All-Pro Team. Perhaps that does make him an unsung hero.

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Giants’ Dexter Lawrence named to PFWA All-NFC Team

New York Giants NT Dexter Lawrence has been named to Pro Football Writers of America’s (PFWA) 2023 All-NFC Team.

New York Giants defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence was named to the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-NFC Team on Monday.

For the second consecutive season, Lawrence, 26, who was also named a second-team All-Pro as well as a Pro Bowl selection, received PFWA honors.

Lawrence registered 53 total tackles (32 solo, seven for a loss) with 21 QB hits and 4.5 sacks.

Lawrence was named along with future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald as the NFC’s top defensive tackles. Lawrence was aced out by Donald and Kansas City’s Chris Jones for All-NFL honors.

The Dallas Cowboys placed a league-high five players on the All-NFL team, while the San Francisco 49ers had four players honored.

The PFWA has selected an All-NFL team since 1966, and All-AFC and All-NFC teams since 1992.

Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke, who seemed to have a lot of support heading into the voting, did not make the cut.

Okereke played his first four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and signed a four-year, $40 million free agent contract with the Giants last March.

The former Stanford star led the Giants in tackles in his first season (149 total, 92 solo, 11 for a loss) and added four forced fumbles, two interceptions and 2.5 sacks.

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Bears LBs coach Dave Borgonzi named defensive coordinator for East-West Shrine Bowl

Dave Borgonzi joins Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower’s staff at this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl.

Another Chicago Bears coach is joining the staff for the East-West Shrine Bowl. Bears linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi will be the defensive coordinator for the East team. Borgonzi joins Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower’s staff for the game, who will serve as the East’s head coach. Arizona Cardinals passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Drew Terrell will serve as Hightower’s offensive coordinator.

Borgonzi joined the Bears in 2022, coming over from the Indianapolis Colts with head coach Matt Eberflus, where he held the same role. Borgonzi has played a role in developing young linebackers such as Shaq Leonard and Bobby Okereke with the Colts and Jack Sanborn with the Bears. Under his tutelage this past season, linebackers TJ Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds excelled in their first season with the Bears.

The East-West Shrine Bowl is one of college football’s postseason all-star games that dates back to 1925. Since 2017, the game has pulled assistant coaches from the NFL to serve as coaches for each side. This year’s game takes place Thursday, February 4th, at 7 p.m. CT at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, TX.

Giants’ Bobby Okereke motivated by All-Pro, Pro Bowl snubs

New York Giants LB Bobby Okereke sounds like a man motivated by being snubbed for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games and AP All-Pro Team.

The New York Giants made their biggest splash of free agency when they signed former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Bobby Okereke to a four-year deal last offseason.

It wasn’t long before we learned Okereke actually told his agent he wanted to play for Big Blue and later in the offseason, Okereke was tabbed as a player set to become a star.

Okereke did just that in his first year in a Giants’ uniform and at times, he was the best player on the team’s defense.

Unfortunately, Okereke was probably the biggest surprise on the Giants’ roster to be snubbed from Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.

Okereke took exception to his absence for each and intends to use it as motivation.

Judging by Okereke’s play in his first year with Big Blue, they may have their best free agent signing in a long time.

Okereke fell two tackles short of his career-high but collectively had his best season as a pro.

Okereke was certainly deserving of both Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. It appears the snub from the All-Pro list is something that he’s taking note of as he heads toward his second year with the Giants.

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Giants 2023 season awards: MVP, Rookie of the Year and more

Giants Wire votes on and hands out 2023 season awards, including MVP and Rookie of the Year, for the New York Giants.

The New York Giants finished the 2023 regular season with a record of 6-11 which was a far cry from their playoff appearance (and single playoff win) a year ago.

Despite the regression, there were quite a few bright spots that deserved recognition.

While the NFL announces its official awards at a later date, we’ll be discussing who deserves the MVP, Rookie of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year awards for the Giants in 2023.