ESPN's Mike Clay ranks Giants No. 1 interior defensive line unit
Week 1 may still be about four months away, but it's never too early to start previewing the season.
ESPN's Mike Clay recently ranked all 32 teams' interior defensive linemen, and coming in at the very top of the list was the New York Giants, led by Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams.
While speaking to the media at the NFL Combine, general manager Joe Schoen made it clear that he planned on improving the team's depth along the defensive line.
"Talk about allocating resources to positions. It's important," Schoen said prior to the start of free agency. "We've got to be better next year at stopping the run. I think some of that is our depth where Dexter doesn't have to play the amount of snaps he has to play or Leo doesn't have to be out there as much as he was out there. So, it's important not just there but across the board. We need to improve the depth on both sides of the ball."
Fast forward to today, Schoen has done a tremendous job of boosting that area of the roster. In addition to signing Lawrence to a multi-year extension, the Giants added veterans A'Shawn Robinson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches in free agency.
The group of Lawrence, Williams, Robinson, Nunez-Roches and Ryder Anderson ranked No. 1 on Clay's list.
Lawrence enjoyed a true breakout campaign in 2022 on his way to being named Second-Team All-Pro. The fourth-year defensive lineman set new career-highs with 7.5 sacks and 28 quarterback hits, shattering his previous high marks of 4.0 sacks and 11 QB hits. He has also set new career-bests in total tackles (68), tackles for loss (seven), pass breakups (three) and forced fumbles (two), which led to his first selection to the Pro Bowl. Lawrence registered 70 total pressures, including the playoffs, and 42 defensive stops, according to PFF.
Williams missed time due to injury for the first time in his eight-year career this past season. In the 12 games he did play, the veteran lineman registered 45 tackles (26 solo), 2.5 sacks, 12 quarterback hits, five tackles for loss, one forced fumble and a career-best two fumble recoveries.
Robinson, 6-4 and 330 pounds, has played in 93 regular-season games with 61 starts. His career totals include 293 tackles (181 solo), 7.0 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, one interception, which he returned two yards for a touchdown, 20 quarterback hits, 17 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
Nunez-Roches has registered 132 tackles, 3.5 sacks (career-high 2.0 last season), 12 quarterback hits, 14 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery across 102 games (38 starts).
Here are Clay's full 2023 interior defensive linemen unit rankings and depth charts.
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2023 offseason.
C John Michael Schmitz - Selection List Signing (May 23)
DL Dexter Lawrence - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (May 5)
OLB Oshane Ximines - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
OLB Habakkuk Baldonado - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
LB Troy Brown - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
DB Alex Cook - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
QB Tommy DeVito - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
DB Gemon Green - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
LB Dyontae Johnson - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
TE Ryan Jones - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
LS Cameron Lyons - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
CB Deonte Banks - Selected in Round 1 (Pick No. 24) of 2023 NFL Draft
CB Deonte Banks - Selection List Signing (May 18)
OL John Michael Schmitz - Selected in Round 2 (Pick No. 57) of 2023 NFL Draft
WR Jalin Hyatt - Selected in Round 3 (Pick No. 73) of 2023 NFL Draft
WR Jalin Hyatt - Selection List Signing (May 15)
RB Eric Gray - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 172) of 2023 NFL Draft
RB Eric Gray - Selection List Signing (May 5)
CB Tre Hawkins III - Selected in Round 6 (Pick No. 209) of 2023 NFL Draft
CB Tre Hawkins III - Selection List Signing (May 5)
DL Jordon Riley - Selected in Round 7 (Pick No. 243) of 2023 NFL Draft
DL Jordan Riley - Selection List Signing (May 6)
DB Gervarrius Owens - Selected in Round 7 (Pick No. 254) of 2023 NFL Draft
DB Gervarrius Owens - Selection List Signing (May 5)
DT A'Shawn Robinson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 24)
C J.C. Hassenauer - Free Agent Signing (April 7)
OLB Jihad Ward - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 29)
TE Tommy Sweeney - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 23)
CB Amani Oruwariye - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 23)
WR Jamison Crowder - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 23)
S Bobby McCain - Free Agent Signing (March 23)
CB Leonard Johnson - Free Agent Signing (March 20)
WR Darius Slayton - Free Agent Signing (March 20)
DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
WR Parris Campbell - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
WR Jeff Smith - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
LB Bobby Okereke - Free Agent Signing (March 16)
WR Sterling Shepard - Free Agent Signing (March 15)
TE Darren Waller - Acquired via trade with Las Vegas Raiders (March 15)
RB Matt Breida - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 14)
P Jamie Gillan - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 13)
LS Casey Kreiter - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 13)
G Wyatt Davis - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 13)
QB Daniel Jones - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 7)
RB Saquon Barkley - Designated Franchise Player (March 7)
LB Jarrad Davis - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 7)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Signed, Exclusive Rights (February 16)
G Jack Anderson - Signed, Exclusive Rights (February 14)
TE Lawrence Cager - Signed, Exclusive Rights (February 13)
WR David Sills V - Reserve/Future Signing (January 26)
DB Terrell Burgess - Reserve/Future Signing (January 26)
TE Chris Myarick - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
T Devery Hamilton - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Dre Miller - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DB Zyon Gilbert - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DT Vernon Butler - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Makai Polk - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
T Korey Cunningham - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Jaydon Mickens - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Kalil Pimpleton - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
RB Jashaun Corbin - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DB Trenton Thompson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DB Terrell Burgess - Waived/Injured (May 5)
G Solomon Kindley - Waived
WR Kenny Golladay - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 15)
Currently on Giants.com
View photos of the New York Giants' official 2023 schedule.
Week 1 - New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys
Sep. 10, 8:20 PM ET at MetLife Stadium
Week 2 - New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals
Sep. 17, 4:05 PM at State Farm Stadium
Week 3 - New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers
Sep. 21, 8:15 PM ET at Levi's Stadium
Week 4 - New York Giants vs. Seattle Seahawks
Oct. 2, 8:15 PM ET at MetLife Stadium
Week 5 - New York Giants at Miami Dolphins
Oct. 8, 1:00 PM at Hard Rock Stadium
Week 6 - New York Giants at Buffalo Bills
Oct. 15, 8:20 PM ET at Highmark Stadium
Week 7 - New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders
Oct. 22, 1:00 PM at MetLife Stadium
Week 8 - New York Giants vs. New York Jets
Oct. 29, 1:00 PM at MetLife Stadium
Week 9 - New York Giants at Las Vegas Raiders
Nov. 5, 4:25 PM ET at Allegiant Stadium
Week 10 - New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
Nov. 12, 4:25 PM ET at AT&T Stadium
Week 11 - New York Giants at Washington Commanders
Nov. 19, 1:00 PM at FedEx Field
Week 12 - New York Giants vs. New England Patriots
Nov. 26, 1:00 PM at MetLife Stadium
Week 13 - BYE WEEK
Week 14 - New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers
Dec. 11, 8:15 PM ET at MetLife Stadium
Week 15 - New York Giants at New Orleans Saints
Dec. 17, 1:00 PM ET at Caesars Superdome
Week 16 - New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
Dec. 25, 4:30 PM ET at Lincoln Financial Field
Week 17 - New York Giants vs. Los Angeles Rams
Dec. 31, 1:00 PM ET at MetLife Stadium
Week 18 - New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Jan. 6/7, Time TBD at MetLife Stadium
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