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Good morning, New York Giants fans!
Tim Tebow, Jaylon Smith headline list of NFL veterans from each team who should fear chopping block in 2021 - CBSSports.com
Will Hernandez makes this list, which I disagree with. There are a couple of noteworthy former Giants also on the list.
Ranking 2021 NFL bounce-back candidates: Odell Beckham Jr. headlines top 10 players set to rebound - CBSSports.com
Saquon Barkley, of course, makes the list.
Barkley isn't just trying to erase memories of an injury that wiped out all but two starts in 2020. He's also working to erase memories of a sluggish start to last season, when he averaged just 1.8 yards per carry before going down. New York may ease him back into a workhorse role through camp and even into September, but even if he misses another start or three this year, the pure physical talent is undeniable. When he's on the field and up to form, he's one of the most explosive play-makers at his position. It helps that Daniel Jones and Co. have a few other offensive toys this year.
The Giants check in at No. 19.
Biggest strength: The Giants have thrown resources at their secondary over the past several seasons. They've added James Bradberry, Adoree' Jackson and Logan Ryan via free agency. Xavier McKinney, Julian Love and Darnay Holmes have been drafted to their ranks. Jabrill Peppers was included in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade two offseasons ago. The result is a unit that has an opportunity to be a top-five secondary in the league this season. New York's newest addition, Jackson, earned a career-high 82.5 coverage grade in 2019 before missing much of last season with injury.
Biggest weakness: As a franchise, you always want to put your young quarterback in a position to succeed early in his NFL career. The Giants have at least added playmakers such as Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney to Jones' receiving corps this offseason, but the offensive line remains an area of concern. Andrew Thomas was the only projected starter on the unit to earn a PFF grade above 60.0 on at least 200 snaps last season. And he was still a bottom-10 graded left tackle in the league. New York needs big leaps from several of their younger players there.
X factor for 2021: Azeez Ojulari, a rookie out of Georgia, has an opportunity to assuage some of the concerns regarding the edge defender talent on this defense. The Giants' top four pressure producers a season ago all played on the interior. That is unusual, to say the least. Ojulari will look to change that. He showed arguably the best cornering ability in this draft class and earned a 91.7 pass-rushing grade for the Bulldogs in 2020.
In case you missed it
- NFC East Dream Team: The division’s best offensive lineup
- Giants 2021 roster profile: What are fair expectations for OLB Azeez Ojulari?
- Summer School 2021: Exploring 10 personnel
- Giants 2021 roster profile: Edge Ifeadi Odenigbo
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