Last season, we kept tabs on the Giants’ rookies, most of whom had a minor impact. Let’s look at the outlook for each player heading into year two and assess whether they could play an expanded role.
CB Deonte Banks
Banks will head into his second season as the Giants’ unquestioned No. 1 cornerback, after a solid rookie season that saw him start 15 games. He only intercepted two passes in 2023, but Banks will be looking to build on that in 2024, having been tied for the team lead with 11 pass breakups.
Another thing Banks will be looking to improve upon is his on-field discipline. He was flagged eight times in 844 defensive snaps. However, he did a good job of limiting big plays as he only gave up one 40-yard pass all season.
C John Michael Schmitz
Schmitz stepped right into the starting lineup under difficult circumstances, as the Giants were forced to deal with a series of personnel changes due to injuries. While he had plenty of positive moments, it was a learning experience for Schmitz who gave up five sacks in 13 starts.
Pro Football Focus had Schmitz ranked last out of the 37 NFL centers who played over 20 percent of the snaps in 2023, so he will need to improve his consistency. The Giants are definitely planning for him to start at center again, and the hope is that he’ll fare better with more continuity and stability from the players alongside him.
WR Jalin Hyatt
Hyatt brought some excitement last season as he averaged over 16 yards per catch and made several downfield catches. However, his production was extremely sporadic as he had 25 yards or fewer in 14 of 17 games and ended up with just 23 receptions.
The fact that the Giants used their top draft pick in 2024 on Malik Nabers is a clear sign they don’t believe Hyatt can be a No. 1 option.
Nevertheless, he still has the talent to make an impact in 2024 and beyond, as he showed when he recorded his first 100-yard game against the Commanders in November. Hyatt’s primary goal should be to display…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/expect-giants-2023-draft-picks-140055339.html
Author : SNY
Publish date : 2024-05-28 14:00:55
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