The Giants are coming off a disappointing 6-11 season, looking to again resemble the team that won a playoff game in Minnesota two years ago.
In this series, we’ll break down the depth chart for every position group heading into the 2024 season. This time, we’ll go in-depth at the safeties group…
Projected depth chart
Starters: Jason Pinnock, Dane Belton
Key Backups: Jalen Mills, Tyler Nubin, Elijah Riley, Gervarrius Owens
Key additions/losses: Xavier McKinney signed with Packers, drafted Nubin in second round, signed Mills
Top Performer in 2023: McKinney, with 116 tackles, three interceptions, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries
What Giants’ safeties have going for them
The Giants suffered a huge loss on the offensive side of the Ball with Saquon Barkley departing for the Eagles. But the defense suffered perhaps as big, if not a bigger loss in seeing Xavier McKinney sign with Green Bay. McKinney was a playmaker on the back end of the Giants defense, and replacing his production will be no easy task.
But what the Giants do have going for them is a lot of options at the safety spot. It seems set in stone that Pinnock will lock down one of the starting spots. Pinnock had a strong 2023 season, starting 16 games with two picks, six pass break-ups, and two forced fumbles.
The other starting spot is probably up for grabs (we’ll dig more into the competition below), but the Giants have an established veteran like Mills, a young up-and-comer like Belton, and a second-round draft pick in Nubin who could all be factors at different times for Big Blue.
Key concern for 2024: Can McKinney’s talent be replicated?
McKinney was often the last line of defense for the Giants, roaming in center field and keeping the play in front of him. He had nine interceptions in 49 career games, and he developed into the ballhawk the Giants thought he could be when they drafted him in the second round in 2020.
The Giants took another safety in the second round of this year’s draft,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-2024-position-breakdown-jason-143000603.html
Author : SNY
Publish date : 2024-06-08 14:30:00
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