The New York Giants roster is set to be one of the NFL’s top 10 players for the 2023 season. He has a mix of veterans with young talent for coach Brian Dabol in his sophomore season.
With the OTAs over and only mandatory mini-camp standing in the way of summer break, it’s time to take a look at the top end of the list and the players who are likely to have the biggest impact on the season.
Here are the Giants’ top 20 players going into the upcoming season (rookies are not included because they haven’t yet taken an NFL game):
- CB Cor’Dale is great
- QB Tyrod Taylor
- OL Mark Glowinski
- NT Rakeem Nunez-Roches
Some might scoff at Matt Breda’s inclusion on this list but he’s a good player for the Giants. He is able to tackle and handle large workloads if needed, averages about 5.0 yards per carry in his career, and is a good threat from behind the field. Buraydah is greatly underrated.
Daniel Bellinger may take a back seat to Darren Waller this season but his upside is clear. If injuries hadn’t derailed him a season earlier, he might have ranked higher on this list. He is a good blocker and is able (and improves) passing.
Darius Slayton should be higher on this list due to his speed and relationship with quarterback Daniel Jones, but a dribble problem prevents that. However, he’s still the most consistent of the Giants’ wide receivers, and if he can work out his fall issues, he could climb up this list.
Wan’Dale Robinson was really starting to strike his own before suffering a torn ACL last season. He is a quick and cunning receiver, capable of separating and improving team spacing on the field. Don’t be surprised if he puts up big numbers in 2023.
Jihad Ward is a ball of energy and a strong defensive lineman. He can rush passers-by, stop a run, and even engage in cover, although he may not be the best suited for this. His numbers in PFF be damned, Ward is a solid and reliable member of the Wink Martindale defense.
It’s crazy to think that the Giants managed to get Isaiah Hodgins as an assignment claim last year. He broke into the season and quickly picked up the team’s offense thanks to his high football IQ. Then, with limited reps, he went out and played at a very high level, setting himself up as a clutch target for quarterback Daniel Jones.
Newly added Parris Campbell is a step forward for the Giants depth at wide receiver. He comes right away and takes on a major role. His speed, running style, and overall athleticism should help boost the team’s wide receivers significantly.
Graham Gano is often overlooked when discussing a team’s top talent and that shouldn’t be the case. Their veteran tackler was essentially automatic and let teammates rest easy on field goal attempts. With a big leg, he also extends the Giants’ scoring range.
When healthy, Aziz Ogullari is a game destroyer. He doesn’t have to score sacks to be annoying, often takes offensive penalties and helps set the stage for other edge rushes to get the quarterback. If he can stay on the field for all 17 games, the Giants defense will benefit greatly.
The Giants haven’t had a dominant off-the-ball linebacker in many years, and while Bobby Okereke has some flaws, he has instantly upgraded the team’s defensive talent. He has a high football IQ, is a natural leader and will play a key role in Wink Martindale’s defence. Expect to get the green spot in the regular season.
Xavier McKinney is a rookie whose development hit a snag last year when he suffered a severe hand injury during the team’s bye week. The expectation is that he’ll come back to 100% and that’s good news for the Giants because McKinney is a legit hooker on safety.
Sterling Shepherd is the Giants’ best runner by the mile and when he’s healthy, he’s the best wide receiver. The problem with Shepard is that he is constantly battling an injury bug and it has kept him from reaching his true potential. It is much better than the reputation he developed for lack of health.
Adoree’ Jackson may be one of the Giants’ most underrated players. He is a very talented athletic man with a knack for undercutting throws and playing on the ball. He will sometimes gamble a lot and get defeated, but he is easily forgetful and will often balance any loss with a big game.
Leonard Williams was an increasingly dominant infield for the Giants, especially against a home run. And regardless of an injury-plagued 2022 season, Williams is a dual threat on defense that a player who opposes offense must reckon with.
Some will point to Kayvon Thibodeaux’s lack of sacks as a junior as a reason he isn’t listed so high but there’s more to the game than just one stat. Tepes is a rising player who made great strides a season ago and has a remarkably high ceiling. He can do a little bit of everything well and often comes off big in the big moments.
Darren Waller, when he’s healthy, is a dynamic player who’s around. His combination of size, speed, strength, athleticism, and catch radius is rare among the most elite players in the league. He makes things look easy and it would be a total mismatch for the Giants to exploit throughout the 2023 season.
The snub of Daniel Jones will cause some to scoff at this rating but the truth is that DJ is a legitimate dual-threat quarterback who will excel with added weapons around him. He is deceptively fast and can make something out of nothing. He is also very accurate with his throws, boasts a strong arm and can make any lateral pass. 2023 is going to be a big year that we hope will calm down the anti-DJ crowd.
The only surprise here is that Saquon Barkley didn’t top the list. He is arguably the NFL’s most talented running back, capable of breaking open a game with big runs, pulling passes from the backfield or protecting the quarterback with catching blitzes. He has a history of injury and will occasionally drop a pass but overall, less is better.
Once called a bust (totally premature), Andrew Thomas has now established himself as one of the most dominant left tackles in all of football. Even more impressive about it is that he’s only just beginning to scratch the surface of his talent. He has Hall of Fame potential, and if he can continue to grow, Thomas will be a stalwart for years to come.
Dexter Lawrence belongs to a unique class of athletes. He is a gigantic humanoid who can quickly overwhelm his opponents or overwhelm them with strength. He is a dominant run, elite as an inside tackle and has arms long enough to disrupt any throwing lane. He’s a guy like Aaron Donald who’s getting better every day. Truth be told, he’s the Giants’ next legendary defender.