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The defensive line of the New York Giants has been a strength for as long as the team’s offensive line has been a major issue. The Giants can attribute this to the reliable play of Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams.
However, things are shifting. At the trade deadline of the previous year, Williams—whose career total of over 7,400 defensive snaps—was moved to Seattle. Even though veteran A’Shawn Robinson replaced him in the starting lineup, the Giants seem to be leaning more toward a youth movement on their defensive line going forward.
Naturally, Lawrence, who was selected to his second consecutive Pro Bowl this season and is the only Giant to have received All-Pro recognition from the NFLPA and AP, will serve as the unit’s leader. Lawrence is the defensive line unit’s glue because of his versatility; he can rush the quarterback and is a force against the run.
The best part is that, at just 26 years old, Lawrence has only participated in 3,800 defensive snaps across the course of his five-year career; his 2023 total of 709 snaps is the second-lowest of his career.
In addition, the Giants plan to enter 2024 with a youthful defensive line that includes 30-year-old versatile defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches, as well as players like Timmy Horne, D.J. Davidson, and Jordan Riley.
A’Shawn Robinson, who entered the starting lineup following Williams’ trade, is scheduled to become a UFA when his contract expires, therefore the Giants will likely add to this group. It remains to be seen if the new addition will come in the form of a draft pick, a veteran, or both, but there is a movement on the defensive line toward youth, which is a wise approach to develop in the pit.
Dexter Lawrence: Lawrence really blossomed in 2022 after switching to nose tackle, and he continued to dominate in 2023. The coaches were able to use a lot of two-down linemen because of Lawrence’s exceptional play, as his run defense consistently pulled two blockers while still causing havoc. For the majority of the season, especially after Leonard Williams was traded, he was also the only inside pass-rush threat. Lawrence’s output was impacted by that incident just as much as, if not more than, by his hamstring injury.
