ESPN Predicts 'Nuclear' Giants Defense To Rank Among NFL's Elite
ESPN Predicts 'Nuclear' Giants Defense To Rank Among NFL's Elite originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
General manager Joe Schoen has committed ample resources into the defense in an attempt to drag the New York Giants out of the NFC East basement and back to relevancy.
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While those efforts haven't yielded a division title since their last Super Bowl win in 2011, many believe this offseason's moves have has been as productive as any in recent years in making up some ground with their rivals.
They remain a long shot to win the division, but the Giants' defense could see some major improvements this season after another productive offseason addressing that side of the ball.
ESPN's Mina Kimes has predicted the Giants' defense to rank in the top 10 across the league this season, thanks in large part to their depth up front.
'I chose this team entirely based on the idea that the defensive line can just completely take over games and ruin the lives of quarterbacks,' Kimes said, as the G-men were the final team she named in this projection.
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The headliner of New York's offseason on defense was the organization going back to its old ways and loading up on pass rushers. Joining Dexter Lawrence, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns is the No. 3 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft, Abdul Carter.
"It's a nightmare," Kimes said about the ferocious defensive line.
She also mentions, however, that other free agency moves should be helpful as well.
'They also added some players in the back end that I think could stabilize things with Javon Holland at safety, [cornerback] Paulson Adebo, [Dru] Phillips is really good. I really like the combination of Javon Holland and Tyler Nubin together, because I think you can have Nuban playing closer to the box where he's better, personally,' Kimes said.
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Even battling injuries last season, the Giants still managed to finish within or near the top 10 in multiple pass rush categories: eighth in sacks, fifth in sack rate, and 13th in pass-rush win rate.
The concern arises with the secondary and whether New York can cover receivers long enough for the D-line to rush the quarterback before he lets it go. In takeaways, the Giants were abysmal, finishing with just five interceptions in 2024. Opposing offenses netted 6.5 yards per passing attempt, which was tied for the sixth-most in the league.
As Kimes emphasized, the Giants' defensive line is what powers this defense, and as long as the secondary can avoid getting into trouble, they could be in store for a destructive season.
'Every year there's a defense where the pass rush just goes nuclear and I feel like 'why not the Giants?'"
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Related: Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux Included In Trade Rumor As He Sets Major Sack Goals
Related: Giants Receive NFL-Worst Ranking in Madden 26
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
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