It’s fair to say that the New York Giants front office has made some questionable moves. Allowing superstar running back (and former second overall pick) Saquon Barkley to go and sign with a bitter division rival is hard to live down. Giving Daniel Jones an enormous contract after he had only one decent season and then releasing him in the second year of that contract is a second big strike.
However, the Giants have hit a grand slam home run in one position group: the defensive line.
Say What You Will, But The Giants Are Beasts on the D-Line
Former NFL safety Ryan Clark said, “I don’t necessarily think that this makes the Giants a contender, but who is going to want to block this front when you’re facing them week after week.”
Not just week after week but play after play. The Giants have possibly the best defensive line in football. Dexter Lawrence II anchors them at NT. The 340 lb. powerhouse finished 2024 with 44 tackles and a career-best 9.0 sacks in 12 games played.
He’s been a dominant force in the middle since he arrived from Clemson in 2019. He can plow offensive linemen back into their quarterback, stuff running lanes by himself, and demand double teams on almost every play, just like Aaron Donald did.
“I don’t necessarily think that this makes the Giants a contender, but who is going to want to block this front when you’re facing them week after week.”
—@Realrclark25 on the Giants’ defensive threat 😤 pic.twitter.com/MyhDJvCrgR
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) June 17, 2025
Flanking Lawrence at defensive end is Kayvon Thibodeau, who has 21.0 career sacks across 43 games. His 2024 was limited by a wrist injury, but when healthy, he uses his elite speed to flank offensive tackles, leverage his way into the pocket, and force quarterbacks out of their comfort zone.
It’s almost unfair that Brian Burns flanks Lawrence as the other defensive end. He racked up 8.5 sacks, 42 solo tackles, 29 assists, eight pass deflections, and two forced fumbles in 2024. He made the Pro Bowl with the Carolina Panthers in ’21 and ’22 and is a threat to be a top-ten threat off the edge every season.
Cleaning up their draft history became easier with EDGE Abdul Carter’s third overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. His elite athleticism, speed, and ability to fight through blocks made him a no-brainer for the Giants.
As suggested by Clark, the idea is for the Giants’ pass rush to disrupt passing sight lines on every down. They are built to clog rushing lanes and force teams to make uncomfortable adjustments. Their goal is to meet as the quarterback, and their talent suggests they can do so at a higher-than-average degree.
It’s not outrageous to say this is the best Giants defensive line since the days of Michael Strahan. Whether or not a Super Bowl is in the offing is a far more open question.