Tag: Dexter Lawrence

Do Giants have one of NFL’s top young cores?

Things look bad for the New York Giants right now, but do they actually have one of the NFL’s best young cores?

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The New York Giants are mired in another losing season and fans are beginning to groan that things are never going to change, but when stepping back and looking at their roster objectively, is there enough young talent to warrant some long-term optimism?

Chris Roling of Bleacher Report certainly thinks so. In fact, he believe the Giants have one of the top young cores in the NFL, just edging out the New York Jets.

9. New York Giants

Key Young Core Players: Saquon Barkley, Daniel Jones, Dexter Lawrence

It is hard not to like a core that has a player with the rushing prowess of Saquon Barkley.

The 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year bullied his way to 1,300-plus yards on the ground and 11 touchdowns last year for a bad New York Giants team. While the 22-year-old running back had one particularly awful showing in Week 10 this season (13 carries for one yard), he would still be on pace for nearly a 1,000-yard campaign if he weren’t missing time with a shoulder injury.

Barkley is a nice support for rookie Daniel Jones, who was hindered by a coaching staff unwilling to move on from Eli Manning. The 22-year-old quarterback has shown big upside while completing 63 percent of his passes with 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions despite taking 32 sacks.

Dexter Lawrence, a first-round pick this year, has quietly been a force. The 22-year-old defensive tackle is the highest-graded player on the Giants because of his run defense (sixth at his position), according to Pro Football Focus.

And there are also guys like tight end Evan Engram (25) and guard Will Hernandez (24), not to mention a young wideout not part of the 25-and-under core in Sterling Shepard.

Roling makes his case without even mentioning breakout wide receiver Darius Slayton, talented linebacker Ryan Connelly and a few other 25-and-under stars like Jabrill Peppers, Dalvin Tomlinson, B.J. Hill and Leonard Williams.

The reality is, the Giants are stocked with young front-end talent, but are struggling due to their inexperience and lack of depth behind them. Time will provide a wealth of knowledge for most, but the Giants still have a lot of roster building to do — this young talent needs some veteran experience and leadership around them. Certainly more than the team has right now.

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Terry McLaurin has NFL’s fourth-highest grade among rookies through Week 10

McLaurin is one of the NFL’s best targets beyond the sticks this season, and his reliability will help Dwayne Haskins down the road.

The Washington Redskins have shifted their focus to rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who will be making his second career start this Sunday against the New York Jets. However, don’t let that distract you from the highly-encouraging season that rookie wide receiver Terry McLaurin has had through these first nine games.

Heading into Week 11, McLaurin ranks as the fourth-highest graded rookie in the 2019 draft class by Pro Football focus, beating out names like Kyler Murray, and Marquise Brown. He trails only Dexter Lawrence, Nick Bosa, and Josh Jacobs.

Here’s what PFF had to say about the rookie:

While reports are circulating as to whether or not Washington should go the Arizona Cardinals route and draft another quarterback in the first round in back-to-back drafts — whoever ends up as Washington’s quarterback of the future will at least have one of the top premier wide receivers in the NFL in Terry McLaurin. The former Ohio State Buckeye has been one of the most reliable and dangerous downfield threats, as he is tied for fifth in PFF grade on targets past the sticks. It’s safe to say McLaurin is a certified deep threat.

Whether or not Haskins finds success during the rest of his rookie season is yet to be seen, but it helps that his old college teammate is going to be there for him out on the numbers, as reliable an option as there is in the game.

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Dexter Lawrence is the highest-graded Giant per Pro Football Focus

Going into Week 11, rookie Dexter Lawrence is the highest-graded members of the New York Giants courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

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Pro Football Focus released a list on Tuesday ranking the highest graded player on every NFL team. According to this list, rookie defensive linemen Dexter Lawrence is the highest-graded New York Giant (82.8) through the first nine games of the season.

After acquiring the 17th overall pick from the Cleveland Browns last March in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade, Giants general manager selected Clemson defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence in the first round.

Selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Lawrence is already one of the NFL’s best run defenders. In addition to his 82.8 overall grade, Lawrence has earned an 88.0 run-defense grade that ranks sixth at his position so far this season.

Since the start of the regular season, Lawrence has made his presence felt in the middle of the Giants’ defensive line recording 26 tackles and two for a loss in nine starts. This helped earn his 88.0 run-defense grade, good for sixth-best in the league at his position, as previously mentioned.

Coming out of college, scouts labeled Lawrence exclusively as a nose tackle. Despite being considered a one-dimensional player, the Clemson Tigers product has proven these critics wrong with his play on the field as he has seen time lined up in a one, three and five technique.

One of the most impressive plays of his young NFL career came last Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys. When lined up in the three-technique, Lawrence blew up Cowboys right tackle La’el Collins driving him into the backfield to drop running back Zeke Elliot for a loss (see below).

Not only has Lawrence excelled as a run stopper, but he has showcased his pass rushing ability with 2.5 sacks, three hurries, five hits and 10 pressures, as well.

In a disappointing 2-8 start to Big Blue’s season, Lawrence has been one of the few bright spots. There is little doubt this kid has a positive future ahead of him and his rookie season provides a glimmer of hope in the Giants long term blueprint.

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