Commanders: Ranking the NFC East linebacker rooms in 2022

3. New York Giants

The Giants surprised a lot of people by cutting their best-known linebacker Blake Martinez just before the season. Martinez is coming back from an ACL injury that cost him virtually all of 2021, and New York may have felt he was never going to be the player he once was. The decision to let him go isn’t too surprising, given his age and injury situation.

But as with so much of their roster, the cupboard is not exactly teeming with guys to step into his shoes. To be fair, I am doing the Giants a bit of a disservice by categorizing their edge players – who the team lists as 3-4 outside linebackers – with the defensive linemen. I think that is a more accurate way to view them. But it means that I am discounting the most athletic players – namely rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux, but also Oshane Ximenes and Azeez Ojulari – when talking about this group. What you’re left with is a rather undistinguished group of inside guys. 3-4 inside backers are not the most dynamic guys on the field. The good ones tend to be a little smaller, tough as nails, and smart enough to diagnose plays in the middle of a maelstrom.

Tae Crowder is developing into that kind of player, though the jury is still out on how good he can ultimately be. He is the only member of this group that logged serious minutes for the Giants in 2021. In addition to Martinez, New York bid farewell to Reggie Ragland, the often-disappointing Bernardrick McKinney, and the well-traveled Jaylon Smith. Quincy Roche, who was pressed into service following Martinez’ injury, returned to the practice squad.

The new guys – Austin Calitro (who has been with ten franchises in five seasons) and 2022 5th rounder Micah McFadden – don’t inspire all that much confidence as of now. Maybe they figured drafting linebackers named Micah is the key to success. That would be a Giant thing to do.

Dallas has the best linebacking group in the NFC East, almost entirely because of how good Parsons is. The rebuilt Eagles group is next. If I throw out the Giants’ outside linebackers, then maybe Washington does move ahead of them, but that seems unfair. Cole Holcomb and Tae Crowder may be a push. Jamin Davis has more talent than any of the Giants inside backers, but if I throw Thibodeaux into it, the Giants are ahead. Fact is, neither is a very good unit. It may not matter much who you have at three and who you have at four with these groups.

But if you’re unhappy that Washington is coming in last, here’s some solace. Mando, the dog, immediately steps into the number spot for division mascots, trailing only the Eagles Swoop, and well ahead of the Cowboys noxious Rowdy.

The Giants, true to form, do not have a mascot.