Three ways new Giants defense may look different: More takeaways, better tackling

New York Times

24-06-2025

After hearing what New York Giants co-owner John Mara had to say about the team's defense at the end of last season — 'I'm tired of watching teams go up and down the field on us' — it wasn't a big surprise that a major offseason focus for the front office was overhauling the unit.
The Giants invested heavily in upgrades in both free agency and the NFL Draft in the hopes that improved personnel would help defensive coordinator Shane Bowen in his second year on the job. Bowen, who also let go of two secondary coaches at the beginning of the offseason to kick-start the defensive makeover, knows he's under pressure to deliver drastic improvement after his unit finished 21st in points allowed last season.
Advertisement
While it won't be easy, there are a few reasons to be optimistic about a resurgence from the Giants' defense. Let's examine a few of the ways this unit should look different in 2025:
The Giants haven't just overhauled their defense; they're fostering a youth movement. A vast majority of players in key roles for the defense this year will be 27 years old or younger when the season starts. Only inside linebacker Bobby Okereke (28), defensive linemen Roy Robertson-Harris (32) and Rakeem Nunez-Roches (32) are older.
The young players will need to deliver on their promise, but they should be exciting for Giants fans, who can watch this side of the ball grow together.
Let's put a quick spotlight on the secondary, which underwent the most dramatic overhaul these past two seasons. Four of the Giants' five presumed starters (cornerback Paulson Adebo, nickel Dru Phillips and safeties Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin) were either draft picks in 2024 or joined in free agency this offseason. Deonte Banks, who the Giants drafted in 2023, will likely serve as the other starting outside cornerback next to Adebo, though he'll need to beat out Cor'Dale Flott (a 2022 draft pick) for the job.
Regardless of who wins, Adebo will easily be the oldest member of the starting secondary, and he's just 26. However, Adebo does have five years of NFL experience under his belt, and he'll need to take on a leadership role within the young unit.
'I think he's been an asset in (that room), just the experience, the knowledge,' Bowen said of Adebo. 'Coming in, we have high expectations for him, and part of that was the leadership role. We're expecting him to come in here and take on that role and thrive in that role and hopefully continue to help us to develop some of these younger guys.'
If Adebo can indeed help coax the best out of players like Banks, Flott and Phillips, he'll be worth every cent of the $54 million New York gave him this offseason. Something similar could be true for Burns and Thibodeaux as they help Abdul Carter, this year's No. 3 overall pick, acclimate to the NFL.
'When you look at our youth, that is our nucleus,' assistant general manager Brandon Brown said. '(But finding) guys who can help supplement, not just from an age and leadership standpoint but a versatility and skill set standpoint, was really important for us.'
Despite the Giants having one of the worst overall run defenses in the league (27th in rushing yards allowed and 24th in yards per carry allowed), it was the secondary that saw major upgrades this offseason.
If that seems somewhat backwards to you, that's understandable. But make no mistake, the Giants know they have a lot of room to improve in terms of stopping the run, particularly when it comes to limiting big plays. While the Giants finished fourth in the NFL in the percentage of opponents' runs that went for zero or negative yards (22.5 percent), according to TruMedia, they also allowed the second-most runs (19) that went for 20-plus yards.
Advertisement
A major reason for that is missed tackles. According to Next Gen Stats, the Giants were one of six teams to surrender more than 1,000 yards after missed tackles last season.
'There were a lot of good snaps in there in the run game, and then we had way too many explosives,' said Bowen. 'It's finding a way, and it goes back to tackling — it takes all 11 every snap. But making sure some of those runs that they might crease us and get through the line of scrimmage, let's see if we can limit those to 10 to 12 yards instead of the 40-yarders that showed up last year, right?'
The upgrades in the secondary should theoretically help, as Holland (six missed tackles in 2024, according to Pro Football Reference) replaces former starter Jason Pinnock (nine), but the Giants also simply need better play from their linebackers. McFadden led the team with 15 missed tackles, while Okereke was third with eight.
Those two upping their games as the rest of the young defense grows around them should help the Giants take a step forward when it comes to stopping the run.
After a season in which the Giants finished 28th in takeaways with just 15, turnovers were unsurprisingly a huge focal point this spring. Bowen, inspired by his son's T-ball team name, the Pirates, implemented a 'turnover chest' to celebrate takeaways throughout OTAs.
'We've got to get better at takeaways,' Bowen said. 'Somehow got the idea of piracy, violent, attacking to steal possessions or goods, right? You'll hear our guys say it. I say it ad nauseam: 'Be a damn pirate.' We've got to find ways to get the ball. And, again, you get what you emphasize. We're making it a priority this year to make sure we find ways to get the ball.'
Adebo is a fan: 'I'm happy and excited to try to get a lot of turnovers, and hopefully I can put a lot of balls in (the chest).'
Advertisement
And the new addition to the cornerback room, along with the new safety, should help in that regard. Adebo has 10 interceptions in his career, including three in just seven games last year. Holland has tallied five interceptions, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in his four NFL seasons.
If Carter's addition boosts the pass rush the way the Giants think it might, that could go a long way in helping create more opportunities for turnovers. Not only will Carter and company look to rack up strip-sacks, but the pass rush should force plenty of errant throws for the secondary to capitalize on.
(Photo of Brian Daboll and Abdul Carter: Dan Mullan / Getty Images)