In last week's Cover 3, we discussed which returning players to watch this season. Today, we debate which offseason addition, either via free agency or the draft, we're most interested to see in a Giants uniform for the first time.
John Schmeelk: For questions like these, I usually like to pick a younger player I have some questions about or needs to prove something. I decided to go against the grain and pick cornerback James Bradberry. He has a track record of being a good NFL cornerback, and there's no reason that should change now, so my usual criteria do not apply to him. Other than Daniel Jones, Bradberry might be the most important player on the roster.
Last season, the Giants were the fifth worst team in the league in passing yards allowed and second worst in pass defense DVOA (an advanced metric that measures defensive efficiency against the pass). The team faces another gauntlet of excellent quarterbacks this year and the ability to stop the pass must improve if the defense is going to get better and the team is to win more games.
Bradberry is the key to the team getting better against the pass. He traveled with the opposing team's best receiver when he was with Carolina and will probably be asked to do the same in what is likely to be Patrick Graham's heavy man to man defensive scheme. He must play well if teams are going to be slowed on third down and late in games when the passing game is most prevalent and impacts winning and losing the most.
Other than Bradberry, there are a lot of unknowns when it comes to the Giants pass defense. DeAndre Baker, Sam Beal and Corey Ballentine are unproven, and what the team gets out of each this year is impossible to know. The nickel spot is filled with young developing players like Grant Haley, Julian Love and rookie Darnay Holmes. Bradberry is the one cornerback from whom the team should know what to expect.
The Giants did not add a big-ticket pass rusher in free agency or in the first three rounds of the draft. They signed Kyler Fackrell and could bring back Markus Golden, but it will be a pass rush by committee that may rely on a lot of blitzing. If the team does send five or six men after the quarterback regularly, even more pressure will be put on the shoulders of Bradberry.
Practice will give a good read of how well Bradberry will play this year. He has three very good players with different skillsets that he will face every day. Darius Slayton is more of a traditional outside X receiver, while Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate are effective outside and in the slot. It will be fun watching Bradberry try to cover them in practice, whenever that time comes.
View photos of every roster addition made by the Giants this offseason.
OT Andrew Thomas
(AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
S Xavier McKinney
(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
OT Matt Peart
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
CB Darnay Holmes
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
OL Shane Lemieux
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
LB Cam Brown
(AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
LB Carter Coughlin
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
LB T.J. Brunson
(AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
DB Chris Williamson
(AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
LB Tae Crowder
(AP Photo/John Amis)
CB James Bradberry
(AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
LB Blake Martinez
(AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
LB Kyler Fackrell
(AP Photo/Morry Gash)
OT Cam Fleming
(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
RB Dion Lewis
(AP Photo/James Kenney)
LS Casey Kreiter
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
DL Austin Johnson
(AP Photo/James Kenney)
S Nate Ebner
(Ryan Kang via AP)
QB Colt McCoy
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
DB Dravon Askew-Henry
(AP Photo/James Kenney)
K Chandler Catanzaro
TE Levine Toilolo
(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
S Montre Hartage
(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (7) passes during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019 in Santa Clara, Calif. The 49ers defeated the Cowboys 17-9. (Greg Trott via AP)
S Jaquarius Landrews
(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
RB Javon Leake
(AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
WR Austin Mack
(AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
T Kyle Murphy
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
WR Derrick Dillon
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
WR Binjimen Victor
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
TE Kyle Markway
(AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
OLB Dominique Ross
(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
DE Dana Levine
(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
DE Oluwole Betiku
(AP Photo/Holly Hart)
OT Tyler Haycraft (60)
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
QB Case Cookus, Northern Arizona
DB Malcolm Elmore, Central Methodist
DE Niko Lalos, Dartmouth
TE Rysen John
DB Dravon Askew-Henry
(Ryan Kang via AP)
DB Dravon Askew-Henry
(Joe Robbins via AP)
DB Dravon Askew-Henry
(AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
DB Dravon Askew-Henry
(Ryan Kang via AP)
LS Casey Kreiter
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
LS Casey Kreiter
(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
LS Casey Kreiter
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
LS Casey Kreiter
(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
DL Austin Johnson
(Scott Boehm via AP)
DL Austin Johnson
(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
DL Austin Johnson
(Scott Boehm via AP)
DL Austin Johnson
(Paul Spinelli via AP)
RB Dion Lewis
(AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
RB Dion Lewis
(AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
RB Dion Lewis
(AP Photo/James Kenney)
RB Dion Lewis
(AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
QB Colt McCoy
(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
QB Colt McCoy
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
QB Colt McCoy
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
QB Colt McCoy
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
S Nate Ebner
(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
S Nate Ebner
(AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
S Nate Ebner
(AP Photo/Steven Senne)
S Nate Ebner
(Al Tielemans via AP)
OT Cam Fleming
(AP Photo/Josie Lepe)
OT Cam Fleming
(AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
OT Cam Fleming
(AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
OT Cam Fleming
(AP Photo/Josie Lepe)
OLB Kyler Fackrell
(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
LB Kyler Fackrell
(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
OLB Kyler Fackrell
(Scott Boehm via AP)
LB Kyler Fackrell
(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
CB James Bradberry
(AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
CB James Bradberry
(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
CB James Bradberry
(AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
CB James Bradberry
(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
LB Blake Martinez
(AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
LB Blake Martinez
(AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
LB Blake Martinez
(Ryan Kang via AP)
LB Blake Martinez
(Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
TE Levine Toilolo
(G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
TE Levine Toilolo
(Kevin Terrell via AP)
TE Levine Toilolo (Greg Trott via AP)
TE Levine Toilolo (Kevin Terrell via AP)
S Montre Hartage
(Logan Bowles via AP)
S Montre Hartage
(Logan Bowles via AP)
S Montre Hartage
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
S Montre Hartage
(Logan Bowles via AP)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (7) in the first half during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. (Rick Scuteri via AP)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (7) tosses a pass during pregame of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (7) rolls out to pass during a NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019 in Arlington, Tex. The Cowboys won the game 34-0. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (7) scrambles up the middle during a 2019 NFL week 2 preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, August 17, 2019 in Honolulu. The Cowboys defeated the Rams, 14-10. (James D. Smith via AP)
OT Andrew Thomas
(AP Photo/John Amis)
OT Andrew Thomas
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)
OT Andrew Thomas
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
OT Andrew Thomas
(AP Photo/Brett Carlsen)
S Xavier McKinney
(AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
S Xavier McKinney
(AP Photo/Sam Craft, File)
S Xavier McKinney
(AP Photo/Marvin Gentry)
S Xavier McKinney
(AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
OT Matt Peart
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
OT Matt Peart
(AP Photo/Stephen Dunn)
OT Matt Peart
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
OT Matt Peart
(AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
CB Darnay Holmes
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
CB Darnay Holmes
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
CB Darnay Holmes
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
CB Darnay Holmes
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
OL Shane Lemieux
(AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
OL Shane Lemieux
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
OL Shane Lemieux
(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
OL Shane Lemieux
(AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
LB Cam Brown
(AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
LB Cam Brown
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
LB Cam Brown
(AP Photo/Chris Knight)
LB Cam Brown
(AP Photo/Chris Knight)
LB Carter Coughlin
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
LB Carter Coughlin
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
LB Carter Coughlin
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
LB Carter Coughlin
(AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
LB T.J. Brunson
(AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
LB T.J. Brunson
(AP Photo/Sean Rayford, File)
LB T.J. Brunson
(AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
LB T.J. Brunson
(AP Photo/John Raoux)
DB Chris Williamson
(AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
DB Chris Williamson (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
DB Chris Williamson
(AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
DB Chris Williamson
(AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
LB Tae Crowder
(AP Photo/Bill Feig)
LB Tae Crowder
(AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
LB Tae Crowder
(AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
LB Tae Crowder
(AP Photo/John Amis)
S Jaquarius Landrews
(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
S Jaquarius Landrews
(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
S Jaquarius Landrews
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
S Jaquarius Landrews
(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
RB Javon Leake
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
RB Javon Leake
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
RB Javon Leake
(AP Photo/Will Newton)
RB Javon Leake
(AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
WR Austin Mack
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
WR Austin Mack
(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
WR Austin Mack
(AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
WR Austin Mack
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
T Kyle Murphy
(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
T Kyle Murphy
(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
T Kyle Murphy
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
T Kyle Murphy
(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
WR Derrick Dillon
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
WR Derrick Dillon
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
WR Derrick Dillon
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
WR Derrick Dillon
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
WR Binjimen Victor
(AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
WR Binjimen Victor
(AP Photo/AJ Mast)
WR Binjimen Victor
(AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
WR Binjimen Victor
(AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
TE Kyle Markway
(AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
TE Kyle Markway
(AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
TE Kyle Markway
(AP Photo/Wade Payne)
TE Kyle Markway
(AP Photo/Wade Payne)
LB Dominique Ross
(AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
OLB Dominique Ross
(AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
OLB Dominique Ross
(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
DE Dana Levine
(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Dan Salomone: The offensive line sets the tone for the team. General manager Dave Gettleman and coach Joe Judge are in lockstep in this thinking, so it came as no surprise when they made Andrew Thomas the highest offensive lineman drafted by the organization since Ohio State's John Hicks arrived as the third overall pick in 1974.
"We want to fix this offensive line once and for all," Gettleman said at the top of his opening remarks following the selection.
The offensive line has been a rebuild inside of a rebuild for Gettleman, who invested resources in free agency and the draft on the unit before – but not like what he did last month. His philosophy is to build from the inside. The best way to help Daniel Jones, who set every franchise rookie record last year and did some things no other first-year QB had ever done league-wide, is not to give him more weapons. It's to keep him upright.
Lance Medow: If there's one area on the team that will continue to be a big focus in 2020, it's the pass rush and if there's any player who can help that cause the most, it's outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell because of his previous flashes with the Packers and connection to Patrick Graham. In 2018, the Utah State product collected a career-high 10.5 sacks with Green Bay when Graham was a member of the defensive coaching staff. That was the season before the Packers made a big splash in free agency and signed pass rushers Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith. With those two in the mix in 2019, Fackrell's sack total fell to just one, but he recorded more pressures in 2019 with less snaps than he did in 2018 when he had nine and a half more sacks. That tells us there's potential there to consistently disrupt the quarterback despite not finishing every time.
The Giants are clearly seeking playmakers in the pass rush. Markus Golden led the team in sacks (10) and quarterback hits (27) last season, but he is currently a free agent. If he does not return, someone will have to fill that void and Fackrell has a great opportunity to do some of the heavy lifting. Fackrell is the only player on the roster who has a double-digit sack season on his resume. That's it. The opportunity is there for him to tap into his 2018 production. That's why I'm interested to see how his season unfolds.
