by: Menachem Ickovitz

On Thursday afternoon the Houston Texans fired head coach David Culley after just one season on the job. He became the eighth coach to lose his job from the 2021 season. With the numerous head coaching vacancies in the NFL this off-season, we decided to rank the jobs from worst to first.

8. Houston Texans

The most recent job to open up is one currently ranked last on our list. After a 4 ”“ 13 season which was played with QB DeShaun Watson on the sidelines, without being injured, the Texans fired Culley. Rookie quarterback Davis Mills had some good games but is still considered a developmental quarterback.

One of the biggest negatives going for the Texans is Jack Easterby who was a driving force in trading away receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals. Many fans in Houston don’t like or trust Easterby and would have liked him fired along with (or instead of) Culley.

7. New York Giants

The New York Giants were a once-proud franchise that has fallen on tough times. They have had three coaches in the last six years and the fans are hoping that Giants ownership doesn’t screw this one up as well.

There is some optimism, as the Giants are also looking for a new General Manager after the “retirement” of Dave Gettelman. Additionally, there are some young and talented players on the roster, however, there are questions surrounding quarterback Daniel Jones and his ability to lead the Giants to where they want to go.

6. Miami Dolphins

The Miami job being available was a bit of a surprise, especially when you consider that after firing Brian Flores, he became one of the hottest names out there for other teams to hire.

The Dolphins are saying they are committed to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa but he has not done enough yet to make you feel confident that he can lead the Dolphins. Perhaps the right coach can get the best out of him, but for now the job is ranked where it is due to his inconsistency.

5. Denver Broncos

The Broncos situation may actually be better than fifth; however, the top four teams on the list all have a better quarterback situation at the moment. Give the Broncos a quarterback better than Teddy Bridgewater or Drew Lock and they will make the playoffs.

Denver was named as one of the potential landing spots if Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers leaves Green Bay. If that were to happen, Denver becomes the best job available. An interesting possibility is the Broncos hire Green Bay OC Nathanial Hackett as their new head coach and bring Rodgers in as their new quarterback. If that were to happen, the Broncos go from the fifth best job available to Super Bowl contenders.

4. Minnesota Vikings

Ziggy Wilf, the owner of the Minnesota Vikings does not make changes for the sake of making changes like some NFL owners. Former coach Mike Zimmer was with the Vikings for seven years, some more successful than others.

This is one of a few jobs that also has a General Manager search going along with it. To some that makes the job more attractive; to others, less. The Vikings have offensive firepower and key contributors on defense, so this might be more of a “re-tool” than a “rebuild” which is very attractive to potential coaches.

3. Las Vegas Raiders

2021 was a difficult season for the Las Vegas Raiders, but it did end with a playoff appearance. For that reason, the job is more attractive than some of the others on the list.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that quarterback Derek Carr’s future is tied to who the new head coach will be, meaning that there is no guarantee that Carr is back. Obviously, if Carr doesn’t return this job is less desirable as not only did Carr lead the Raiders to the playoffs, but he was what kept the team together during their tumultuous 2021 season.

Other than Carr, the Raiders have an array of top-level talent, including TE Darren Waller, RB Josh Jacobs and DE Maxx Crosby. A new head coach will have a lot to work with.

2. Chicago Bears

What the Bears needed this year was a coach to bring out the best in rookie quarterback Justin Fields. When that did not occur, this job became one of the best available. Additionally, the Bears have a good defense highlighted by Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith.

In a previously written article, I suggested that current Bills defensive coordinator and former member of the ’85 Bears, Leslie Frazier would be a good fit for the Bears job. If they do go with a defensive-minded head coach it will be imperative to bring in a smart offensive play-caller to develop Fields.

The Bears are also looking for a General Manager and one downside for this job is the lack of a first-round pick.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars are a young team; they have great draft capital and plenty of cap space. Most impressively, quarterback Trevor Lawrence started to play better towards the end of the season.

The Jaguars need a good leader after the Urban Meyer debacle and like many other teams on this list, a good offensive-minded coach like Byron Leftwich or Bill O’Brien would be a great fit.

The post Ranking the NFL head coach openings appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Charlie Vakassian

I have been watching the Giants ever since I was a little kid. There have been so many heroic moments: The Helmet Catch in 2007. The improbable run in 2011.

Stars like Michael Strahan, Eli Manning, and Odell Beckham have worn the blue with pride. This is why it’s a real shame to see a once-proud franchise fallen hard so far. The Giants once again showed their amazing ineptitude on Sunday, losing a game that seemed close, but was never within reach. Let’s take a look at the performances on each side of the ball, and what comes next.

Offense

Just another all-around miserable performance by an offensive unit that has shown it cannot move the ball at all. Jake Fromm looked uncomfortable all game and was constantly under pressure by the Washington front four. He only completed 15 of 31 passes for 103 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, as well as a bad fumble where he tried to throw a forward pass and the ball simply slipped out of his hands.

Saquon Barkley never got going, with only 30 yards on 11 carries. Fromm was the leading rusher with 53 yards on a few scrambles. Yes, you read that correctly. Darius Slayton caught the lone TD of the day for New York. The offensive line was in tatters, and aside from Andrew Thomas, everyone was constantly getting beat. Simply put, the Giants need new starters at four offensive line spots.

The final straw was when the Giants were backed up inside their own five yard line, and on back to back plays, head coach Joe Judge called for QB sneaks in what was essentially victory formation, to avoid a safety. Two straight give-up plays, and it enabled Washington to get the ball back with good field position.

Those two play calls were basically a surrender. I have never seen anything like it in all my years of watching football.

Defense

I feel so bad for the defense. They leave their hearts out on the field, only to consistently get let down by an atrocious offense. Leonard Williams and Lorenzo Carter both notched sacks. Dexter Lawrence and Azeez Ojulari were getting pressure often, and even the secondary did their jobs. Being on the field for so long, along with the turnovers on offense, led to them eventually wilting in the fourth quarter, allowing the WFT to pull away.

If there is one thing this defense needs, it is an alpha pass rusher. If Kayvon Thibodeaux or Aidan Hutchinson is available at pick 5, they need Roger Goodell to run to that podium.

Special Teams

Alex Bachmann had a solid punt return for 16 yards the lone opportunity he got. Graham Gano hit his extra point, but had no FG opportunities.

Riley Dixon, who is a disappointment this season, actually got off some impressive punts, averaging 51 yards per punt in six tries, landing one inside the 20. Special teams coverage was good, holding dangerous return man DeAndre Carter to less than six yards per return on four punt returns.

Coaching

Joe Judge was in fact fired. It was deemed Mission Impossible for the Giants to lure in the right GM with the head coach that would make him run laps if he messed up, so they opted to finally pull the plug on Judge.

Final Thoughts/Offseason Sneak Peek

So the Giants season ends not with a bang, but a whimper. There are a lot of changes that are going to be made. General Manager Dave Gettleman is retiring, and Joe Judge may be on the hot seat himself.

Evan Engram and Jabrill Peppers are key free agents. There will need to be new starters on the offensive line, as well as tight end, linebacker, and on the edge.

The draft is going to be huge, as the new GM will have a a lot of early picks (5,7,36,67,81) to fill a lot of holes. Free agency will have to be a lot of bargain bin shopping, as there is little to no cap space right now, although cuts can be made to free up some room.

Next week we will do positional breakdowns, as well as potential free agency/draft options at said positions.

The post New York Giants Week 18 reflection and Giants offseason outlook appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Daniel Racz @Danny___Dimes

Introduction

Joe Judge’s hire during the 2020 offseason shocked many fans. His emphasis on the basics of football, including proper preparation like sound tackling and lots of cardio, was the antithesis of the modern NFL. While coaches like Kliff Kingsbury run their teams more like colleges, Judge is staunchly an old-school football guy. During his first training camp, he tried out stars like Saquon Barkley as a punt returner and had any player that made a mistake (including Barkley) run laps as punishment. 

However, Judge eventually endeared himself to Giants’ fans through his participation in drills, like jumping in mud to recover a fumble to demonstrate the proper form. This year, there is still a lot to be discovered during Giants’ camp, but we know a few key focal points already.

Prioritization of conditioning 

Joe Judge, like most of his Patriots’ predecessors, wants his team to be in shape. During his interviews this week, Judge spoke about why conditioning can help win games. The Giants’ coach explained that anyone can play their best ball for the first few minutes of a game, but it becomes much more difficult during the fourth quarter. Judge preaches that the team will not practice anything that will not make them better during regular-season games. Veterans like Sterling Shepard have already come out in support of their rigorous conditioning program. Shepard felt that there were times last year late in games where he had an extra gear that was absent in prior seasons.

Zero tolerance for slacking

The Biggest story from training camp so far comes in the (large) form of Kelvin Benjamin. The Giants’ current general manager drafted Benjamin with the 28th selection of the 2014 NFL draft. During his rookie season, Benjamin won rookie of the year. Since then, Kelvin’s career has been a disappointment. 

The Giants brought in Benjamin as a tight end for camp. Benjamin came into minicamp a few weeks ago weighing 265 pounds. Judge and the Giants reportedly told me to cut his weight down to 251 pounds for training camp. Though Benjamin passed the conditioning tests today, he weighed a whopping 268 pounds. Benjamin claimed that the weight change came from added muscle. To Judge, the added muscle could not be more irrelevant. Coach Judge told Benjamin to hit a goal, and Benjamin completely failed. Judge confronted Benjamin during practice on the 28th and he was released that afternoon. After the practice, Kelvin spoke to certain media members and voiced his displeasure for Judge, though it came across more like a series of baseless complaints than an actual critique of Judge’s style. 

Rookies need to earn their spots

The Giants’ 2021 draft class could play a crucial role in their 2021 playoff quest, but it will not be easy for them to see the field. 1st round pick Kadarius Toney recently tested positive for COVID-19, meaning he may have even more trouble acclimating to the league. Toney tested out of the COVID-19 list, but Judge said he would be eased into practices. Toney will need to work tremendously hard to see starting work in three-wide receiver sets, as the Giants’ core of Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, and Darius Slayton remains strong. Toney will see schemed-up touches like screens and pitches, but anything more than that is wishful thinking early on.

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By: Ladarius Brown

Looking at this division, you have a mixed bag of head coaching experience. Two head coaches have coached in a Super Bowl, one who is entering year two, and one who is a rookie head coach. That being said, here are my rankings of the head coaches in the NFC East. 

4. Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles 

I am a believer in the importance of making the right first impression. If you are an Eagles fan, his introductory press conference made an impression for sure. Biggest takeaway: systems. Speaking of systems, I am curious to see what Sirianni brings to this Eagles team. He was the Colts’ offensive coordinator for the last three seasons under Frank Reich. One of the things that the Colts were good at offensively under Sirianni was scoring on their drives.  

In two of his years, the Colts scored on over 40% of their drives. In 2020, the Eagles were 31st in the league, scoring on just 27.9% of their offensive drives. It helped that Sirianni had some great running backs in Marlin Mack and Jonathan Taylor on the roster in Indy. In Philly, he has a pair of good running backs in Miles Sanders and Boston Scott. Given the state of their offense, the Eagles’ run game is the x-factor. 

Their pass game got better with drafting wide receiver DeVonta Smith of Alabama in the 1st round of this year’s draft. Smith joins wide receivers Jalen Reagor and Travis Fulgham as weapons for 2nd-year quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts will enter into the season knowing he will the guy under center after Wentz was shipped to the Colts.  

Sirianni and the coaching staff have the task of molding Hurts and there is a lot of talent to Hurts. Seeing Brian Johnson as the quarterbacks coach is an assurance in my estimation that Hurts has the right guy molding him. Johnson worked with now Buccaneers quarterback Kyle Trask while at the University of Florida. Hurts will pick up the “system” sooner rather than later. 

3. Joe Judge, New York Giants 

In his 1st year, Judge led the Giants to a 6-10 record, good for 2nd place last year. Their defense under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham finished in the top 15. The offense, however, was next to last in the league at 31st. This year, the Giants upgraded on the offensive side of the ball, signing wide receiver Kenny Golladay from the Lions and Kyle Rudolph from the Vikings. It is clear to Judge and everyone in the Giants organization that quarterback Daniel Jones has to take that leap in year three. If he does not, the gavel will drop on Judge. 

The Giants have fired the previous two coaches, Pat Shurmur and Ben McAdoo, after two years. One way Judge can get the 3rd year in the Big Apple is if the 2018 AP ROTY Saquon Barkley is healthy. Barkley suffered a torn ACL in his right knee along with the MCL and meniscus damage. There is a chance we will see him in the backfield come Week 1 versus the Broncos. Working under Belichick from 2012-2019 & Saban at Alabama from 2009-2011, Judge has learned under the greatest coach in NFL & college football over the last decade.  

Plus, the special teams improved as well. Kicker Graham Gano went 31/32 (96.9%) in 2020. Being a special teams coordinator under Belichick, Judge knows how important this aspect of the game is. If Daniel Jones can be that guy and Barkley is 100%, the Giants could sneak up on some teams. However, the jury is still out on Judge’s squad. 

2. Ron Rivera, Washington Football Team (WFT) 

Before I talk about Ron Rivera the coach, let me briefly talk about Ron Rivera the man. He beat cancer after being diagnosed in August 2020 with squamous-cell cancer detected in a lymph node. He still coached and his team won the division last year. You did not have to be a fan of the Washington Football Team to love his journey. Shifting back to coaching, Riverboat Ron is turning this team around. Statistically speaking, the WFT had the 2nd best defense in the league and defensive end Chase Young won defensive ROTY. Rivera’s defense allowed the 3rd fewest 1st downs (289) and 6th in 3rd down efficiency (37.5). 

As for the offense, they ranked 30th in the league and finished 28th in rushing yards per attempt (4.03). They started three quarterbacks: Alex Smith & Dwyane Haskins (six games) and Kyle Allen (four games). Combined, they had 16 passing touchdowns and 16 interceptions. This offseason, they re-signed quarterback Taylor Heinicke and signed Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick will likely serve as the bridge quarterback to either Heinicke or Allen since they did not draft one this year. Their run game with running back Antonio Gibson was a bright spot on this offense. He had 795 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns, which was tied for 7th in 2020.  

The question mark for me is their offensive line. They allowed 50 sacks, which was tied for the 2nd most in the NFL. Signing left tackle Charles Leno Jr. after the Bears released him and drafting tackle Samuel Cosmi of Texas in the 2nd round were ways to shore up the line. The question is can FitzMagic finds its way into the nation’s capital? 

1. Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys 

Despite last season, McCarthy is atop this list mainly for his time with the Packers. He has a 17-26 in his last three seasons as a head coach. In his first season as the Cowboys head coach, he lost his franchise quarterback Dak Prescott in Week 5 at home versus the Giants to a dislocated and compound fracture of his right ankle. Throw in a slew of other injuries and it was a down year in Big D. I almost forgot: the defense was bad…I mean bad. 

The Cowboys allowed the most points in franchise history (473) and finished 31st in the league in run defense. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan switched the scheme from the 4-3 to a hybrid. Needless to say, Nolan and defensive line coach Jim Tomsula was let go after the last season. They made a run towards the end of last season as the defense had 12 takeaways in the last four games after getting just 11 in the first 12. Last year, Dan Quinn was fired by the Falcons after Week 5, he was hired as the Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator in the offseason. He was the defensive coordinator in Seattle as they had the No. 1 defense in 2013.  

If McCarthy and the Cowboys expect to compete in this division and be a possible Super Bowl contender, Quinn has to turn this defense around this year. The last time the Cowboys won a Super Bowl, Michael Jordan came out of retirement. If the Cowboys make it back to the Super Bowl, will HOF wide receiver Michael Irvin come out of retirement?  

The post Ranking the head coaches of the NFC East appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Daniel Racz

Introduction 

The New York Giants are entering a make-or-break year for many within the organization. Quarterback Daniel Jones is entering the vaunted third year leading the franchise, and many are doubting whether he will earn a second contract. This offseason general manager Dave Gettleman, who himself is on the hot seat, gave Jones a supporting cast through the offseason and draft. Big Blue broke the bank to add ex-Lion wideout Kenny Golladay and spent the 20th pick in the draft, acquired from Chicago in Dave’s first trade-down, on Florida playmaker Kadarius Toney. During free agency, the Giants also added tight end, Kyle Rudolph, on a two-year contract. The Giants decided to not add to their offensive line, instead choosing to rely on past investments.

On the defensive side of the football, the Giants did not make any super splashy moves. The team re-signed defensive lineman Leonard Williams while letting interior presence Dalvin Tomlinson sign with the Vikings. The Giants added a collection of bodies to their front seven with the hope to remain an above-average defense. In regards to their secondary, the Giants drafted UCF cornerback Aaron Robinson in round three and gave a three-year, 39-million-dollar contract to Adoree’ Jackson. The Giants made waves when they signed Jackson, Golladay, and Rudolph, but other moves deserve recognition. 

Gaining future capital

Before the draft, media personalities were saying “There will be right turns in NASCAR before Dave Gettleman trades back.” In his first seven drafts for the Giants and Panthers, Gettleman had never traded back. However, within the first two rounds of the 2021 draft, Gettleman moved back twice. Some even started calling him “Trader Dave” given his newfound affinity for defraying risk through moving down the draft board and acquiring 2022 draft picks. The Giants were rumored to be in love with Alabama wide receiver Devonta Smith. However, when the Eagles traded up ahead of the Giants for Smith, the Giants pivoted.

The Giants moved down from pick 11 to pick 20, acquiring a 2021 5th round pick and 2022 1st & 4th round picks in the process. 

During the second round of the draft, the Giants were on the clock at 42. First-round caliber pass rusher Azeez Ojulari was on the board, yet the Giants moved down to 50, taking Miami’s 2022 3rd round pick to do so. At 50, Ojulari was still on the board, so the Giants rushed their card in to make him a Giant. 

The Giants exited the draft with extra first, third, and fourth-round picks in the 2022 draft. Gettleman managed to add players that can help the Giants compete for a 2021 playoff spot while also having sustained success. If the Giants do not have a winning record in 2021, Gettleman (and possibly Daniel Jones) will be out of a job, but the team will have plenty of assets to move up the board in 2022. Quarterbacks like Sam Howell, Spencer Rattler, Carson Strong, and Malik Willis will be in play for the Giants if Jones does not pan out, and that extra first-round pick will come in handy. 

Trusting their in-house offensive lineman

The New York Giants offensive line has been putrid for the better half of a decade. When Dave Gettleman took over, he promised that he would fix the offensive line. The results have not been promising. Will Hernandez, a 2018 second-round pick, is in the final year of his rookie contract. Nate Solder is a free agent after the 2021 season following a re-working of his contract. New York brings back another lineman Andrew Thomas, Nick Gates, Matt Peart, and Shane Lemieux. Their group did not play well in 2020, but there are plenty of excuses that can be made. The team came off a limited offseason and had to learn offensive coordinator Jason Garrett’s new scheme. During the year, Joe Judge fired their offensive line coach. Once Judge relieved Marc Colombo of his role with the franchise, the group played better.

The Giants hired former Louisiana offensive coordinator and line coach Rob Sale to mentor their hog mollies. Sale has gotten rave reviews from the Giants camp so far this offseason, giving fans a reason to expect improvement. The Giants have reiterated that they have confidence in their young unit. While the group has not come together yet, this will be their first complete offseason together in the Judge regime. If the young, affordable unit plays at a close to league average level, it could catapult the team into the playoffs.

Adding front seven depth

The New York Giants’ 2020 defense was a revelation. The success came from new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and his innovative multiple schemes. Graham’s scheme relies on moving defensive lineman, disguising blitzes, and man defense. Last season Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence were the top two pass rushers on Big Blue’s defense. While both return and likely retain their roles as the key disruptors, there are now a plethora of players around them. 

Edge rushers Lorenzo Carter and Oshane Ximines both return from injuries that cost them the majority of their 2020 seasons. The Giants also added Georgia pass rusher Azeez Ojulari and Northern Iowa edge player Ellerson Smith during rounds two and four of the draft, respectively. In free agency, the Giants signed depth rushers Ifeadi Odenigbo and Ryan Anderson to round out the group.  On the interior, the Giants brought back Austin Johnson and added nose tackle, Danny Shelton. To stabilize their linebacker group, the Giants signed Reggie Ragland. None of these individual moves likely move the needle, but the collection will make an impact. The Giants’ edge presence was lacking last year, mainly due to the absence of Carter and Ximines.

The Giants defense was a top ten unit last season, and to improve the unit the Giants quietly added a handful of players that will see meaningful snaps during the season. The edge rush presence will allow Pat Graham to drop more players into coverage when necessary and still feel confident that his group will pressure the quarterback enough. The Giants’ defense does not have to be a top three-unit, but if they want to sniff the playoffs they must have an above-average group.

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By Calvin K (Twitter: @Calvin_SGF)

The NFC East is shaping up to be a very competitive division in 2021, as all four teams have at least a somewhat legitimate shot at the crown. I find many expert rankings surprising, given, for example, how much they favor the Dallas Cowboys over the Washington Football Team. Another thing that’s really surprising is how many experts have put the New York Giants third or last.

The Giants finished last year at 6-10, but that doesn’t mean they don’t belong in the division title conversation. They may end up losing out to the Washington Football Team in that department. However, this team is very solid despite how they’ve been flying under the radar, and they’re good enough to secure a Wild Card berth in 2021. Here are three reasons why.

They have a very underrated defense

The Washington Football Team’s defense stole the show, but while they were getting headlines, the Giants’ defense was quietly putting up good performances. New York held six of its last eight 2020 opponents to 20 points or less, and they never allowed more than 27. That schedule was no cakewalk either, as they faced the Ravens, Browns, Cardinals, and Seahawks in that span, all teams with very good offenses.

The Giants have many star playmakers on defense, led by defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who got himself a huge payday after racking up 11.5 sacks in 2020. Blake Martinez piled up 151 tackles last year to lead a solid linebacker group. However, what really makes this defense click is the secondary.

Logan Ryan, Jabrill Peppers, James Bradberry, Julian Love, and Xavier McKinney form a fearsome big five that truly has the potential to be elite next year. The secondary is full of great athletes, and other than Ryan (who is 30), none of these players are over 27 years old (the other ages are 27, 25, 23, and 22). This means that the Giants are well set up for the future at cornerback and safety, but the secondary is good enough to make a difference now, and they are the group that could bring this defense to another level.

Daniel Jones improved last year

It’s easy to forget that Daniel Jones was actually not a bad QB near the end of last year, as he’s certainly had his fair share of struggles throughout his career. Jones also got hurt last year, and when he was on the field, he wasn’t himself due to the injury.

Jones’ 2020 numbers were very similar to his inconsistent rookie campaign (62-63% completions, about 3,000 passing yards), but those numbers don’t tell the whole story. Jones’ main improvement came in the form of smarter decisions. No one doubts Jones’ arm talent, but his main problem has been his penchant for relying on his arm too much and making bad throws. Late last year, however, he played smarter.

Jones cut down on the silly mistakes, and with the help of offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, he transformed into more of a game manager. Jones wasn’t making a ton of spectacular plays, but he also wasn’t getting himself in trouble with bad throws. In 2020, he got used to throwing the ball away when under pressure instead of forcing a play, and that made him a better QB overall. Some might say that the lack of spectacular plays limits his upside, however, this last section will explain why Jones still has the potential to be electric in 2021.

The Giants have multiple lethal weapons to add to the offense

Obviously, Saquon Barkley was already a Giant before this offseason, however, his return from a season-ending torn ACL will do wonders for the Giants’ offense. Barkley is an incredibly explosive runner, and his acceleration and athleticism is matched by no one. Giants opponents will have to stack the box to have any hope of stopping Barkley, which will certainly make life a lot easier for Jones in the passing game.

The addition of Kenny Golladay, perhaps the best WR in this year’s free agent class, should also do wonders for Jones. Last year, we saw star Stefon Diggs completely change QB Josh Allen’s production when he went to Buffalo. It’s not terribly common for quarterbacks to have an Allen-like transformation in a year, but when you consider Jones’ physical and improving mental traits, it’s reasonable to expect a sizeable jump in his production. Golladay is a great deep-ball receiver, and he will be a field-stretcher causing major problems for opposing defenses.

After signing Golladay, the Giants decided that they weren’t done improving their offense, and they showed that by selecting Florida WR Kadarius Toney with the #20 overall pick in the NFL draft. Toney is an amazing athlete, and his explosiveness makes him lethal in the open field. Toney is the type of player who can catch a screen pass, make defenders miss, and run to the end zone, so he’s a great complement to Golladay. Overall, these three players should make a huge difference to Jones’ success, and if the offense and defense click like they should, the Giants can be a very dangerous team next year.

The post Why the Giants will be the most improved team next year appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Daniel Racz @Danny___Dimes

Introduction

Ever since Tom Coughlin left the Giants after the 2015 season, the Giants have been searching for a long-term solution at their head coaching spot. With rumors circulating that the Giants had interest in Matt Rhule during the 2020 offseason, the Giants shocked the league and hired Joe Judge. 

Judge’s Giants finished with a 6-10 record in year one, but the team recorded five of its six wins during the back half of the season. The progress the Giants made in Judge’s first year gives optimism to Giants fans regarding the team’s playoff aspirations. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham’s stellar defense was perhaps the greatest surprise for the Giants last year. This offseason, the Giants broke the bank to improve their roster, and further boosted their roster in the draft. The Giants also have a healthy weapons group to start the season, so a winning record is on the horizon. 

Top-Ten Defense

The New York Giants defense took major strides during the 2020 season. The emergence of Leonard Williams as a borderline top-five interior defensive lineman in the league and the pro-bowl play of corner James Bradbury made the Giants an above-average unit. The Giants ranked in the top ten in rushing defense and top sixteen in passing defense and  total defense allowed. After years of atrocious defensive play, a year where the Giants allowed only 5,589 total yards across sixteen games is a welcome surprise. The Giants also placed ninth in expected points contributed via their defense, courtesy of pro football reference. 

Healthy Offense

The success of the 2020 New York Giants came entirely from their defense. Daniel Jones did not win games for the team, though he did not lose them either. His improved PFF grade in the 2020 season compared to the 2019 season (78.4 vs 65.9) is a positive sign. Jones did not get to play all of the 2020 season, which is both a red flag and a reason for optimism in 2021. 

The Giants are also getting back their all-pro running back, Saquon Barkley. In Barkley’s rookie season, he posted over 2,000 yards-from-scrimmage. The Giants unleashed Daniel Jones’ rushing ability after Barkley tore his ACL during week two, and they could continue to use his running skill in the backfield to pair with Barkley’s dynamism. 

Offseason Additions

The phenomena of “winning windows” has become increasingly relevant since the 2010 CBA made rookie contracts incredibly inexpensive. When a quarterback is on a rookie deal, a front office can assemble a great team around them and make the playoffs. Even below-average quarterbacks like Jared Goff can lead their team to a super bowl on a rookie deal if their surrounding talent is sufficient. 

The Giants signed Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay to a four-year, 72-million-dollar contract, giving Daniel Jones a legitimate alpha weapon. The Giants also drafted gadget-weapon Kadarius Toney at 20, giving the team a diverse group of playmakers. On the defensive side of the football, the Giants gave cornerback Adoree Jackson a three-year, 39-million-dollar deal to play across from James Bradbury. They then drafted Azeez Ojulari in the second round, potentially completing their pass-rushing group.

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