The New York Giants’ pass rush struggled last season, ranking 23rd in hits, 19th in pressures, 18th in pressure percentage, and 28th in sacks.
Kayvon Thibodeaux had a great 2023 campaign, but the Giants still need help at EDGE rusher.
They acquired an elite pass rusher this offseason.
The New York Giants acquired an elite pass rusher.
The Giants traded a 2024 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Panthers for Brian Burns and swapped their fifth-round picks from 2024. Burns then signed a 5-year, $141 million contract with a $35 million signing bonus and $87.5 million guaranteed.
Unfortunately, the Giants still need help at EDGE rusher because their depth is relatively weak, and they need more serviceable backups.
The Giants had a visit with a top defensive prospect.
The New York Giants hosted an elite EDGE rusher for a visit.
According to Art Stapleton, the Giants had a top-30 visit with Dallas Turner.
Dallas Turner played college football with the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Turner committed to the Crimson Tide as a five-star recruit for the 2021 season.
Turner had a great true freshman season, with 30 tackles, ten for a loss, 8.5 sacks, and a 66.7 PFF Grade. FWAA and 247 Sports named him to their Freshman All-American Team.
Turner saw a slight decline in production in his sophomore season, with 37 tackles, eight for a loss, four sacks, and a 73.1 PFF Grade.
Turner had his best statistical season as a junior, with 53 tackles, 14.5 for a loss, ten sacks, two forced fumbles, and an 81.6 PFF Grade. The Associated Press named him to their All-American first team, and SEC coaches named him the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Lance Zierlein did a scouting report of Dallas Turner.
Lance Zierlein of NFL Network did a scouting report of Turner.
“Long and athletic with the explosive traits needed to become an impactful NFL pass rusher. Turner’s first-step quickness and elite closing burst are important building blocks, but he still needs to work on his process from Point A to Point B. He hasn’t learned to create the space and angles needed to consistently attack the edges, but that should come with better hand development and a more diversified approach.
“A team would be wise to widen him out and allow him a better runway to ignite his burst and overwhelm tackles with his speed. He’s added 20 pounds since coming to Alabama, but he struggles at times to stack and shed run blockers or set a firm edge. Turner’s frame and game are much less developed than Will Anderson Jr.’s coming out of Alabama last year, so it could take time for him to make his mark as a starting 3-4 outside linebacker.”
The New York Giants need to improve their EDGE rusher depth.
Despite having Thibodeaux and Burns, the Giants need to improve their depth at EDGE rusher. Azeez Ojulari is a solid pass rusher, but he has missed 16 games in his last two seasons, and Boogie Basham failed to record a sack in his first season with the team.
What round will the Giants draft an EDGE rusher?
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