Andre in Maine: Carter Coughlin and Cam Brown have done well this year, do you see their roles increasing next year or do you think overcrowding at the position will push them out?
John Schmeelk: Brown and Coughlin are natural outside linebackers or edge rushers but a bit undersized to be full-time players in a 3-4 scheme because teams will run the ball more frequently on the early downs. Both have the athleticism and skills to be explosive players in space who can also get after the quarterback.
Right now, the Giants do not have many edge rushers under contract for next season. Lorenzo Carter and Oshane Ximines will be returning from injury and Niko Lalos returns for his second year. So, Coughlin and Brown will have a chance to compete. At the very least, both should be returning to big roles on special teams.
Coughlin, who was an effective edge rusher (with consistent sack production) at Minnesota, is more likely to earn a larger role. Brown may be more suited to be an off-ball 4-3 outside linebacker. But Patrick Graham will find a way to utilize both their skill sets effectively.
Jacob in Brooklyn: Do you think the Giants need to add guys that can make more plays on offense this offseason?
John Schmeelk: The Giants addressed this topic at the conclusion of the season.
"I think we certainly need to help our offense a little bit this off-season, be it free agency and the draft. I think we need some more pieces there," team president/CEO John Mara said after the season. "There's no question that we need to help our offense going forward and add some more pieces. That will be a priority for us."
"At the end of the day, we need to find playmakers," GM Dave Gettleman said. "That's all there is to it. I'm not sugar coating it. If you talk about philosophically doing roster building, it's the Q [quarterback], it's the big men who allow you to compete. On offense, it's playmakers. We have to be very conscious of it. We're going to find the right guys to help Daniel [Jones] get us over that hump."
