Giants’ Dexter Lawrence named to the PFWA All-Rookie team

No member of the New York Giants will appear on the 2020 Pro Bowl roster, nor on this year’s All-Pro team, but at least one Giant is getting post-season honors.

Giants’ rookie defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II has been named to the PFWA All-Rookie team alongside Rookie of The Year and Defensive Rookie of The Year Nick Bosa, Jacksonville Jaguars EDGE Josh Allen, and Buffalo Bills DT Ed Oliver.

Lawrence started every game of the season and despite getting off to a slow start and wasn’t a factor in the first two weeks of the season, he came on in Week 3 and flashed routinely over the next eight weeks.

He faded following the Giants’ bye week, recording just four QB hits and one tackle for a loss in the final six games. Part of his drop in production is likely linked to the arrival of Leonard Williams and Lawrence playing more snaps at nose tackle. But by that point Lawrence had done enough to cement himself as the second-best rookie defensive tackle behind Oliver.

This is good news for the Giants’ defense, but continued development for Lawrence, as well as DeAndre Baker, Oshane Ximines, Sam Beal, Julian Love, and Corey Ballentine will be crucial for the defense as a whole.