The Giants.com crew is presented with four statements and must decide whether they are Fact or Fiction.
Azeez Ojulari will have more sacks than he did when he set the franchise rookie record of eight in 2021
Dan Salomone: Fact – The encouraging part of Ojulari's numbers last year is they were spread out. He had at least a half-sack in seven separate games, with only one outing where he recorded multiple sacks. So, it's not like he bunched them up in two or three games and was invisible in the others. The arrival of Kayvon Thibodeaux on the other side – not mention Wink Martindale's aggressive scheme – should help Ojulari flourish in his sophomore season.
Lance Medow: Fiction – Last season, Ojulari collected eight sacks but he had only 2.5 over the final 10 games. Although sacks tend to come in bunches, you can never assume a player's total from one season will be guaranteed the next. Case in point, Leonard Williams recorded his first career double-digit sack season (11.5) in 2020 but notched only 6.5 last season. And don't overlook the fact that in Wink Martindale's four seasons as the Ravens defensive coordinator, no player ever had more than 9.5 sacks in one season - and that figure only happened once. Baltimore's sacks were mainly spread out across the board and that's a product of a variety of different players used through blitzing.
Matt Citak: Fact – Ojulari's eight sacks as a rookie led the team in 2021. This season, Ojulari and Kayvon Thibodeaux will become the most talented edge combination the Giants have had since Osi Umenyiora and Jason Pierre-Paul. The presence of Thibodeaux, along with talented interior linemen Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence, will make it very difficult for teams to double-team Ojulari. Double-digit sacks are certainly a possibility for the second-year linebacker from Georgia.
Safety Julian Love is the most underrated player on the Giants
Dan Salomone: Fact – He's a coach's dream. He provides versatility and will do whatever is asked of him with a smile on his face - it applies to special teams and the defense, where the former fourth-round pick has a chance for a larger role following the departures of Logan Ryan and Jabrill Peppers.
Lance Medow: Fact – In a very young secondary, Love is actually considered a seasoned veteran as he's entering his fourth NFL season – only Adoree Jackson and Maurice Canady have been in the league longer. Love has the versatility to play corner and safety, which has proven to be extremely valuable in previous seasons given injuries to the secondary. When you take into consideration his experience, skills, and the fact that he was a fourth-round pick, you're not going to find a more underrated player in the secondary and you'd be hard pressed to put him behind several other players on the roster.
Matt Citak: Fiction – Love has shown flashes of his potential over his first three seasons, and a chance to possibly start more than six games for the first time in his career could lead to a jump for the young safety. But when it comes to underrated and underappreciated players on the Giants, it's hard not to think of Adoree' Jackson. Jackson was one of the team's big free agent signings last off-season, and after a little bit of a bumpy start to the schedule, the corner stepped up as the season wore on. Jackson finished the year with an 80.9 coverage grade from PFF, the fourth-highest among cornerbacks, and had eight pass breakups in 13 games. Jackson has become the team's No. 1 corner, so a repeat performance this season would go a long way in helping the Giants reach their potential in 2022.
View the best photos from spring practices at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
DL Leonard Williams (99)
New York Giants corner back Adoree' Jackson (22) returns an interception during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney (29) returns an interception during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
DL Dexter Lawrence (97), LB Azeez Ojulari (51)
TE Daniel Bellinger (45)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
WR C.J. Board (18)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
OL Jon Feliciano (76)
WR Robert Foster (82)
TE Daniel Bellinger (45)2
S Xavier McKinney (29)
TE Andre Miller (43)
LB Blake Martinez (54)
DB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
General Manager Joe Schoen, Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka
P Jamie Gillan (17)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
TE Daniel Bellinger (45)
Kayvon Thibodeaux during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 14, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Head Coach Brian Daboll
WR Darius Slayton (86)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday May 17, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
TE Ricky Seals-Jones (83)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
G Joshua Ezeudu (75)
LB Jihad Ward (55)
DL Leonard Williams (99), DL Dexter Lawrence (97)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
WR Sterling Shepard (3)
RB Gary Brightwell (23)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
WR C.J. Board (18)
Director of Coaching Operations Laura Young, RB Saquon Barkley (26)
LB Oshane Ximines (53)
LB Jihad Ward (55)
LB Elerson Smith (94)
LB Elerson Smith (94)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Julian Love (20)
Carter Coughlin (52)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Niko Lalos (57)
FB Jeremiah Hall (27)
TE Austin Allen (46)
FB Jeremiah Hall (27)
TE Andre Miller (43)
TE Chris Myarick (85)
WR David Sills (84)
S Julian Love (20)
CB Jarren Williams (34)
CB Jarren Williams (34)
RB Gary Brightwell (23)
WR David Sills (84)
LB Darrian Beavers (41)
LB Carter Coughlin (52)
LB Tae Crowder (48)
LB Darrian Beavers (41)
LB Micah McFadden (43)
Director of Coaching Operations Laura Young, RB Saquon Barkley (26)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
Jarren Williams (34)
Brian Daboll Head Coach, WR David Sills V (84)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
T Korey Cunningham (79)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
WR Alex Bachman (81)
OL Marcus McKethan (60)
T Korey Cunningham (79)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
LB Tae Crowder (48)
WR Alex Bachman (81)
T Korey Cunningham (79)
Julian Love (20), Xavier McKinney (29)
Jarren Williams (34)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
CB Jarren Williams (34)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) takes a handoff during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
G Shane Lemieux (66)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
LB Jihad Ward (55)
TE Daniel Bellinger (45)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
WR Austin Proehl (87)
TE Chris Myarick (85)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
S Julian Love
WR David Sills V (84)
RB sandro platzgummer (34)
LB Tae Crowder (48)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
WR C.J. Board (18)
TE Jordan Akins (88)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
LB Tae Crowder (48)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
RB sandro platzgummer (34)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
TE Chris Myarick (85)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
TE Ricky Seals-Jones (83)
TE Andre Miller (43)
TE Daniel Bellinger (45)
WR C.J. Board (18)
New York Giants punter Jamie Gillan (17) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants corner back Cor'Dale Flott (28) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants cornerback Adoree' Jackson (22) shakes hands with Brian Daboll after returning an interception during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Carter Coughlin (52) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll talks to his team following an organized team activity practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
CB Adoree' Jackson (22)
Jeff Feagles talks with punter Jamie Gillan (17) during organized team activity at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
QB Daniel Jones (8)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
LB Azeez Ojulari (51)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
LB Elerson Smith (94)
RB Matt Breida (31)
TE Chris Myarick (85)2
S Julian Love (20)
LB Tae Crowder (48)
RB Sandro Platzgummer (34), RB Matt Breida (31), RB Saquon Barkley (26), DeAndre Smith Running Backs Coach, RB Antonio Williams (21), RB Jashaun Corbin (25), RB Gary Brightwell (23)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)2
The Giants will have a rookie make the Pro Bowl this season
Dan Salomone: Fact – With two picks in the Top 10 for the first time in team history, the Giants have a good shot at one. Last year, six rookies made the Pro Bowl: quarterback Mac Jones (Patriots), running back Najee Harris (Steelers), wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (Bengals), linebacker Micah Parsons (Cowboys), tight end Kyle Pitts (Falcons), and offensive tackle Rashawn Slater (Chargers).
Lance Medow: Fiction – The last time a Giants' rookie made the Pro Bowl was 2018, when Saquon Barkley received the nod. With two first-round picks this year, that increases the team's chances; but even if Kayvon Thibodeaux or Evan Neal have an impressive campaign, you have to consider the competition at their positions. Last year, the NFC's three tackles were Trent Williams of the Niners, Tampa Bay's Tristan Wirfs and Tyron Smith of the Cowboys and the outside linebackers were the Cardinals' Chandler Jones, Robert Quinn of the Bears and the Bucs' Shaq Barrett. Jones is the only player who is no longer in the conference; and notice none of the six players were rookies.
Matt Citak: Fact – The 2022 Pro Bowl included six rookies: OT Rashawn Slater, WR Ja'Marr Chase, LB Micah Parsons, QB Mac Jones, TE Kyle Pitts and RB Najee Harris. All of them were first-round selections in the 2021 NFL Draft, and five of the six were taken in the first half of the round. Well, the Giants had two picks in the top seven in last month's draft, and walked away with two Day 1 starters in Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal. It's not unrealistic in the slightest that one, if not both, of them will participate in the 2023 Pro Bowl in Las Vegas.
The NFC East is the most open division in the NFL
Dan Salomone: Fact – This is a good time to use one of the craziest active streaks in sports: There has not been a repeat champion in the NFC East since the Eagles won four in a row from 2001-04. The Giants, Commanders, and Eagles will try to keep it going for another year while dethrowning the Cowboys.
Lance Medow: Fiction – Although the turnover rate in the NFC East with respect to the division winner has been unmatched over the past two decades, the Cowboys and Eagles have fewer questions than the Commanders and Giants; so it's fair to say the former two teams have a leg up on the latter two. So let's go with the AFC North or AFC West as the most open divisions - the North getting the slight edge because of Kansas City's recent run. In the North, you can make a case for all four teams based on recent history. The Bengals are coming off a Super Bowl appearance, the Ravens and Steelers have been consistent contenders and the Browns, a 2020 playoff team, just acquired Deshaun Watson.
Matt Citak: Fiction – There are two divisions that are the most open, and neither are in the NFC. In the AFC North, you have the reigning AFC Champion Bengals, the Deshaun Watson-led Browns, former MVP Lamar Jackson's Ravens, and the consistent Steelers with Mike Tomlin at the helm. Then, there's the AFC West, where the Chiefs, Chargers, Broncos and Raiders each went out and made some key additions during the off-season. Both of these AFC divisions are truly up for grabs, and according to the national pundits, each of their win total odds are around the same.
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2022 offseason.
K Ryan Santoso - Waived
S Yusuf Corker - Waived
DB Olaijah Griffin - Waived
WR Keelan Doss - Waived
WR Travis Toivonen - Waived
OL Josh Rivas - Waived
T Eric Smith - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
WR Travis Toivonen - Free Agent Signing
K Ryan Santoso - Free Agent Signing
S Andrew Adams - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
WR Bailey Gaither - Waived, Failed Physical
TE Tanner Hudson - Free Agent Signing
C Chris Owens - Waived
DB Harrison Hand - Claimed (off Waivers from MIN)
WR Jaylon Moore - Claimed (off Waivers from BAL)
WR Collin Johnson - Reserve/Injured
WR Marcus Kemp - Reserve/Injured
TE Jordan Akins - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
WR Sterling Shepard - Passed Physical
LB Darrian Beavers - Reserve/Injured
TE Andre Miller - Reserve/Injured
TE Ricky Seals-Jones - Reserve/Injured
T Matt Peart - Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform
C Nick Gates - Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform
OL Chris Owens - Free Agent Signing
OL Josh Rivas - Free Agent Signing
WR Robert Foster - Reserve/Injured
DL Christopher Hinton - Waived
DB Gavin Heslop - Waived
TE Jeremiah Hall - Waived
WR Austin Proehl - Waived, Injured
DB Olaijah Griffin - Claimed (off waivers from BUF)
OLB Azeez Ojulari - Passed Physical
Michael Jacquet III - Waived
OL Josh Rivas - Waived
DB Jarrod Wilson - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
T Eric Smith - Free Agent Signing
T Matt Gono - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
G Marcus McKethan - Reserve/Injured
T Will Holden - Free Agent Signing
DE Niko Lalos - Waived
DB Nate Meadors - Claimed (off waivers from CLV)
LB Austin Calitro - Free Agent Signing
LB Justin Hilliard - Waived
OT Garrett McGhin - Free Agent Signing
OT Kamaal Seymour - Waived
TE Daniel Bellinger - Passed Physical
WR Sterling Shepard - Declared Physically Unable to Perform
T Matt Peart - Declared Physically Unable to Perform
C Nick Gates - Declared Physically Unable to Perform
LB Azeez Ojulari - Declared Non-Football Injury
DB Andrew Adams - Free Agent Signing
DE Nick Williams - Free Agent Signing
WR Marcus Kemp - Free Agent Signing
OT Kamaal Seymour - Free Agent Signing
DB Maurice Canady - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
WR Travis Toivonen - Waived, No Recall
DT Jabari Ellis - Waived, No Recall
DB Henry Black - Waived, No Recall
DB Gavin Heslop – Free Agent Signing
OT Korey Cunningham - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Non-Football Injury
TE Daniel Bellinger - Declared Physically Unable to Perform
DB Dane Belton - Selection List Signing
WR Wan'Dale Robinson - Selection List Signing
TE Daniel Bellinger - Selection List Signing
WR Keelan Doss - Free Agent Signing
G Joshua Ezeudu - Selection List Signing
CB Cor'Dale Flott - Selection List Signing
DB Michael Jacquet - Free Agent Signing
S Henry Black - Free Agent Signing
CB Maurice Canady - Free Agent Signing
CB Khalil Dorsey - Free Agent Signing
DE Jalyn Holmes - Free Agent Signing
OLB Kavyon Thibodeaux - Selection List Signing
T Evan Neal - Selection List Signing
LB Micah McFadden - Selection List Signing
DT D.J. Davidson - Selection List Signing
OL Marcus McKethan - Selection List Signing
LB Darrian Beavers - Selection List Signing
DE Ryder Anderson - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
RB Jashaun Corbin - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
LB Tomon Fox - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
TE Austin Allen - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
DB Darren Evans - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
G Josh Rivas - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
DT Jabari Ellis - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
FB Jeremiah Hall - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
DT Christopher Hinton - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
DB Trenton Thompson - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
DB Zyon Gilbert - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
DB Yusuf Corker - Undrafted Free Agent Signing
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - Selected in Round 1 (Pick No. 5) of 2022 NFL Draft
OT Evan Neal - Selected in Round 1 (Pick No. 7) of 2022 NFL Draft
WR Wan'Dale Robinson - Selected in Round 2 (Pick No. 43) of 2022 NFL Draft
OL Joshua Ezeudu - Selected in Round 3 (Pick No. 67) of 2022 NFL Draft
CB Cor'Dale Flott - Selected in Round 3 (Pick No. 81) of 2022 NFL Draft
TE Daniel Bellinger - Selected in Round 4 (Pick No. 112) of 2022 NFL Draft
S Dane Belton - Selected in Round 4 (Pick No. 114) of 2022 NFL Draft
LB Micah McFadden - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 146) of 2022 NFL Draft
DL D.J. Davidson - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 147) of 2022 NFL Draft
OL Marcus McKethan - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 173) of 2022 NFL Draft
LB Darrian Beavers - Selected in Round 6 (Pick No. 182) of 2022 NFL Draft
TE Jordan Akins - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
OT Roy Mbaeteka - Free Agent Signing
OL Max Garcia - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
RB Sandro Platzgummer - Free Agent Signing
WR Richie James - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
DT Justin Ellis - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
RB Matt Breida - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
LB Jihad Ward - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
OL Jamil Douglas - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
LS Casey Kreiter - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
TE Ricky Seals-Jones - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
OL Mark Glowinski - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
QB Tyrod Taylor - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
OT Korey Cunningham - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing
OL Jon Feliciano - Free Agent Signing
DB Jarren Williams - Exclusive Rights Signing
WR Robert Foster - Free Agent Signing
WR C.J. Board - Signed, Prior to becoming a Free Agent
OL Matt Gono - Free Agent Signing
WR David Sills V - Signed
TE Chris Myarick - Free Agent Signing
WR Austin Proehl - Free Agent Signing
QB Davis Webb - Reserve/Future Signing
P Jamie Gillan - Reserve/Future Signing
RB Antonio Williams - Reserve/Future Signing
WR Alex Bachman - Reserve/Future Signing
DE Niko Lalos - Reserve/Future Signing
WR Travis Toivonen - Reserve/Future Signing
DT David Moa - Reserve/Future Signing
OT Devery Hamilton - Reserve/Future Signing
LB TJ Brunson - Waived, No Recall
DT Antonio Valentino - Waived
QB Brian Lewerke - Waived
DE Raymond Johnson III - Waived
DB Jordan Mosley - Waived
LB Trent Harris - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
LB Omari Cobb - Waived
OL Wes Martin - Waived
TE Jake Hausmann - Waived
TE Rysen John - Waived
CB James Bradberry - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
DB Logan Ryan - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
TE Kaden Smith - Waived
P Riley Dixon - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
RB Devontae Booker - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
TE Kyle Rudolph - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
