With the calendar flipped to July, Giants.com asks 22 important questions leading up to the start of the 2022 training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
For 22 days, a member of the Giants.com crew will answer one question about the roster, coaching staff, schedule, and much more.
No. 20: Who will be the Giants' Defensive MVP?
John Schmeelk: I will attack this in two different ways. If this is done with traditional MVP voting, it will be whatever Giants' front seven player leads the team in sacks. It could be Azeez Ojulari, Leonard Williams or Kayvon Thibodeau. One of those players will likely break through to double digit sacks because of Wink Martindale's blitz-heavy system.
But that's not how I am going to play this game. The most important, indispensable and ultimately valuable player to the Giants' defense this season is going to be Adoree' Jackson. The Giants have other young and talented cornerbacks, but none with a proven track record in the NFL. The Giants are going to need him to cover the opposing team's top wide receiver every week, often times without safety help when the Giants blitz. They need him to have a good season.
The other player that could be in the mix here is safety Xavier McKinney. He might be the best player on the entire defense when all is said and done at the end of the season. There's a chance he could be a factor on blitzes, forcing turnovers, in the run game and in one-on-one coverage against opposing tight ends.
Once again, the New York Giants are bringing back their classic blue uniforms from the '80s and '90s this Sunday as part of two Legacy Games presented by Quest.