Today I look at the potential starters with at least one year as a Giant and how they rank on the list of all-time Giants. I give their current rank for a statistic and where a projected amount for 2020 would place them at the end of the 2020 season. The projected amount is generally based on what they did in 2019. I then list the Giants they would pass if they hit the projected amount in 2020.
Offense
Saquon Barkley
1st – Rushing yards per game
2nd – Yards per attempt. In yards per attempt Barkley qualifies as a leader but not a career leader as he does not yet have 750 attempts.
14th – Rushing Yards – 1,000 yards in 2020 he will move to 10th passing Joe Morrison, Rob Carpenter, Tuffy Leemans and Eddie Price.
14th – Rushing Touchdowns – 6 in 2020 he will move to 11th passing Joe Morrison, Rob Carpenter, Tuffy Leemans Eddie Price and Doug Kotar.
Sterling Shepard
2nd – Catch Percentage among wide receivers (since 1992)
9th – Receiving Yards Per Game
14th – Receptions – 61 in 2020 he moves to 11th passing Aaron Thomas, Mark Bavaro, Kyle Rote and Victor Cruz.
13th – Receiving yards per target (since 1992)
21st – Receiving Yds – 820 in 2020 and he moves to 19th passing Bob Schnelker and Plaxico Burress.
Darius Slayton
10th – Receiving yards per game
3rd – Receiving yards per target (since 1992)
Golden Tate
5th – Receiving yards per game
8th – Yards per target (since 1992)
Evan Engram
1st – Receiving yards per game among tight ends (13th overall)
Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones qualifies in the following places as an all-time Giant leader. He does not qualify as a all-time career leader as he does not have a minimum 1500 pass attempts.
2nd – Completion Percentage
3rd – Passing Yards per game
4th – Interception Percentage
10th – Touchdown percentage
13th – Yards per passing attempt
14th – Game winning drives – 2 in 2020 will move him to tenth pulling ahead of multiple players including Jeff Hostetler, Earl Morrall, Craig Morton and Kent Graham.
Offensive Summary
The offensive skills positions are filled with players that are in the all-time Giants top ten for at least one statistic with many with multiple stats in the top ten. The Giants focused in the draft on upgrading the offensive line by spending three of their first five picks.
One of the recent most talented Giants team in offensive skills positions was the 2008-2011 teams. They won the Super Bowl in 2011 despite having a defense that was ranked 25th in points allowed and 27th in yards allowed. This team had season and career leaders of Eli Manning, Ahmad Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs, Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz.
Daniel Jones has only one season but has shown promise by ranking in the top ten among Giants in key passing stats. His completion percentage is ninth in season career leaders that started more than 4 games. His TD% is 24th and his Interception percentage is 18th. Jones’ yards per game is 20th. He is the youngest Giant to rank that high in all those stats.
Saquon Barkley has the most rushing yards and rushing touchdowns among all-time Giants in their first 29 games. He is second to only Ahmad Bradshaw in rushing yards per attempt in their first 29 games. Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate and Darius Slayton are all top ten Giant leaders in receiving yards per game. In receiving yards per target, a stat kept since 1992, they are all top thirteen. Evan Engram missed 14 games over his three season career but when healthy has been the most productive tight end in Giants history in receiving yards.
This is a talented offensive team. However it did not come together last year. Injuries and suspensions prevented Slayton, Tate, Shepard, Barkley, and Engram to be all in the lineup for even one game in 2019. The Giants ranked 19th in yards per play and 31st in percentage of drives ending in an offensive score. There has been a major overhaul in the coaching staff with only 8 positions out of 27 top coaching spots retaining a former Giants coach. The main position coaches to remain are wide receivers and special teams. This offense could see a significant improvement in 2020 if they remain healthy.
Defense
Lorenzo Carter
13th – Quarterback Hits – 11 in 2020 will move Carter to 8th passing Damontre Moore, Cullen Jenkins and Michael Strahan (since 2006).
33rd – Tackles for Loss -6 in 2020 will move Carter to 22nd passing Cullen Jenkins, Dave Tollefson, Cedric Jones and Robert Ayers.
38th – Sacks – 4 in 2020 will move Carter to 27th pulling away from Damonte Moore, Chris Canty, Cullen Jenkins, Mike Fox and Dave Tollefson.
50th – Passed defended – 4 in 2020 will move him to 34th pulling away from Keenan Robinson, Dhani Jones, Chase Blackburn, Nick Greisen, Carlos Emmons and Brandon Short.
81st – Forced Fumbles – 1 in 2020 would move Carter to 46th passing Mario Edwards, Keith Washington, Avery Moss and Chris Canty.
124th – Solo Tackles – 25 in 2020 will move Carter to 90th passing Dave Tollefson.
Oshane Ximines
28th – Quarterback hits – 9 in 2020 would move Oshane Ximines to 18th passing Kareem Martin.
55th – Sacks – 4.5 in 2020 would move Ximines to 34th passing Kerry Wynn, Coleman Rudolph, Eric Dorsey and Damontre Moore.
74th – Tackle For Loss – 5 in 2020 would move Ximines to 44th passing Keith Washington, Renaldo Wynn, Kareem Martin and Damontre Moore.
Deandre Baker
60th – Passes Defended – 8 in 2020 will move Deandre Baker to 27th passing Trevin Wade, R.W. McQuarters, Phillippi Sparks, Ross Cockrell and Jayron Hosley.
116th – Tackle For Loss – 2 in 2020 will move Baker to 88th passing Leon Hall, Ross Cockrell, B.W. Webb, Jayron Hosley, Mike Harris and Trevin Wade.
135th – Solo Tackles – 48 in 2020 will move Baker to 77th passing B.W. Webb, Curtis Riley, Trevin Wade, R.W. McQuarters, Jayron Hosley and Corey Raymond.
Jabrill Peppers
30th – Forced Fumbles – 3 in 2020 would move Jabrill Peppers to 15th passing Will Hill and Landon Collins
74th – Tackle For Loss – 5 in 2020 will move Peppers to 44th passing Michael Thomas, James Butler and Sam Garnes.
82nd – Passes Defended – 5 in 2020 will move Peppers to 46th passing Brandon Meriweather, Andrew Adams and Michael Thomas.
129th – Solo Tackles – 51 in 2020 will move Peppers to 72nd passing Craig Dahl, Andrew Adams, Michael Thomas and Will Hill.
200th – Interceptions – 1 in 2020 will move Peppers to 148th passing Andrew Adams.
Julian Love
74th – Tackle For Loss – 5 in 2020 will move Julian Love to 44th passing Michael Thomas and Deon Grant.
81st – Forced Fumbles – 1 in 2020 would move Love to 46th passing Tyler Sash, Myron Guyton, Craig Dahl, Andrew Adams, Will Demps, Michael Thomas, Michael Johnson and Brent Alexander.
109th – Passes defended – 3 in 2020 will move Love to 71st passing C.C. Brown, Craig Dahl and Will Hill.
163rd – Solo Tackles – 30 in 2020 will move Love to 119th passing C.C. Brown.
200th – Interceptions – 1 in 2020 will move Love to 148th passing Bud Hebert, Andrew Adams, Darian Thompson and Antoine Bethea.
Ryan Connelly
115th Passes defended – 2 in 2020 will move Ryan Connelly to 85th passing Jameel McClain, Scott Galyon, Kevin Lewis and Mark Herzlich.
116th – Tackle For Loss – 2 in 2020 will move Connelly to 88th passing Clint Sintim, Bryan Kell, Kelvin Sheppard, Jon Beason and Spencer Paysinger.
127th – Sacks – 1 in 2020 would move Connelly to 94th passing Bryan Kehl, Spencer Paysinger, Jasper Brinkley, Kanavis McGhee and Carlton Bailey.
148th – Interceptions – 2 in 2020 will move Connelly to 103rd passing Lou Slaby, Dan Lloyd, Uani Unga, Kelvin Sheppard and Ryan Phillips.
232nd – Solo tackles – 10 in 2020 will move Connelly to 185th passing Kanavis McGhee, Curtis Grant, Doug Colman and Ray-Ray Armstrong.
Leonard Williams
21st – Quarterback hits – 16 in 2020 would move Leonard Williams to 7th passing Jay Bromley, Linval Joseph, Barry Cofield and Jonathan Hankins.
81st – Forced Fumbles – 1 in 2020 would move Williams to 46th passing Chris Maumalanga, Bernard Holsey, Christian Peter, Lance Legree, Rocky Bernard and Cornelius Griffin.
115th – Passes Defended – 2 in 2020 will move Williams to 85th .
116th – Tackle For Loss – 2 in 2020 will move Williams to 88th passing Damane Duckett, Markus Kuhn, Robert Harris and Montori Hughes.
180th – Sacks – 0.5 in 2020 would move Williams to 127th passing Davern Williams.
216th – Solo Tackles – 21 in 2020 would move Williams to 156th passing Norman Hand, Ryan Hale, Markus Kuhn, Kenderick Allen, Kendrick Clancy and Mike Patterson.
Dalvin Tomlinson
24th Quarterback Hits – 9 would move Dalvin Tomlinson to 18th passing Jay Bromley.
33rd – Tackles For Loss – 7 would move Tomlinson to 20th passing Damon Harrison, Lance Legree, Linval Joseph and Jonathan Hankins.
55th – Sacks – 3.5 in 2020 would move Tomlinson to 40th passing Stacy Dillard and William Joseph.
81st – Forced Fumbles – 1 in 2020 would move Tomlinson to 46th passing Chris Maumalanga, Bernard Holsey, Christian Peter, Lance Legree, Rocky Bernard and Cornelius Griffin.
88th – Solo Tackles – 23 would move Tomlinson to 72nd place passing Jonathan Hankins.
137th – Passes defended – 1 in 2020 would move Tomlinson to 115th passing George Williams, Ryan Hale, Bernard Holsey, Jay Alford, Christian Peter, Jay Bromley and Lance Legree.
Dexter Lawrence
28th – Quarterback Hits – 9 would move Dexter Lawrence to 18th passing Jay Bromley.
81st – Forced Fumbles – 1 would move Lawrence to 46th passing Chris Maumalanga, Bernard Holsey, Christian Peter, Lance Legree, Rocky Bernard and Cornelius Griffin.
86th – Sacks – 2.5 would move Lawrence to 49th passing Christian Peter, Kenderick Allen, Bernard Holsey, Jay Alford, Ray Agnew, Lance Legree, Damon Harrison and Rocky Bernard.
100th – Tackle For Loss – 3 would move Lawrence to 68th passing Montori Hughes, Jay Alford, Mike Patterson and Christian Peter.
137th – Passes Defended – 1 would move Lawrence to 115th passing George Williams, Bernard Holsey, Norman Hand, Ryan Hale, Robert Harris, Christian Peter, Lance Legree, Russell Davis, Jay Alford and Jay Bromley.
177th – Solo Tackles – 24 would move Lawrence to 135th passing Markus Kuhn, Kenderick Allen, Kendrick Clancy, Mike Patterson, Bernard Holsey and Jay Bromley.
Defensive History And Summary
The Giants have not had a player in the top twenty all-time Giants for interceptions since Corey Webster at 12th in 2013 and Jason Sehorn at 14th in 2002. They waived Janoris Jenkins this past season after using a derogatory slur on social media. Coach Pat Schurmur said in a statement that the incident and Jenkins “refusal to acknowledge the inappropriate and offensive language, was the determining factor.” Jenkins was third all-time Giants for passes defended.
Solo tackles is another area that has been lacking. There has been only one player, safety Antrel Rolle, who has made the Giants top ten in the last decade. Landon Collins was the last player to hit the top twenty in solo tackles in 2018.Collins signed an $84 million six year contract with the Redskins in free agency. He is currently the highest paid safety in the league. The Giants have not had a linebacker in the top twenty for solo tackles since Antonio Pierce in 2009.
The Giants traded Jason Pierre-Paul to the Buccaneers in March 2018. JPP is in the top ten all-time Giants for passes defended, forced fumbles, sacks, tackles for loss and quarterback hits. JPP had a large $19.5 million he was due to count against the cap in 2019 and $17.5 million in 2020. This coupled with having a large payout to Olivier Vernon plus the fact they were most likely transitioning to a 3-4 defense probably all played into the move. Some may think JPP was on the decline following his accident. However on Tamp Bay he had his third best season in sacks, tackle for loss and quarterback hits. His other season there was his fourth best in sacks and quarterback hits.
The Giants traded Olivier Vernon to the Browns in March 2019. Vernon is 15th Giants all-time in sacks. Of the top twenty Giant players for sacks, Vernon and JPP are almost equal in sacks per year and come in at 5th and 6th respectively. However Vernon was often injured and missed nine games over his last two seasons as a Giant. In his last season as a Giant Vernon ranked 37th in the league in number of pressures but 13th in pressures per game.
Markus Golden is a free agent. The Giants placed the unrestricted free agent tender on Golden, meaning if Golden remains a free agent by July 22, he can only play for the Giants, if he signs with another team, the Giants will receive a compensatory. Golden is ninth all-time Giants for quarterback hits. Among the top twenty he is first in quarterback hits per season with his 27 in his first year as a Giant. In 2019 Golden was ninth in the league in number of pressures and 11th in pressures per game.
On defense only Lorenzo Carter is in the top twenty for 13th at quarterback hits and none are in the top ten.
The Giants have by plan or circumstance moved on from their high production/high priced defensive players and brought in a younger low cost defensive crew. The Giants 2020 defensive spending is the second lowest in the league. The average age of the defense is 24.2 on the final day of 2020.
In Conclusion
This is a young and talented team. The offensive players discussed should continue to rise up the Giant historical leader board. The defensive players discussed can rise quickly up the Giants historical leader board if they win significant playing time, continue to play as they have and remain Giants.
