The Giants.com crew is presented with four statements and must decide whether they are Fact or Fiction.
S Jevón Holland will steal the most possessions for the Giants' turnover chest this season.
John Schmeelk: Fiction – Predicting who will lead the team in takeaways is always a challenge because those numbers are often dictated by not only where opponents decide to throw the football, but also where they make their mistakes. Much of it can be out of the control of the defensive players on the field. With that said, I like to pick safeties for questions like this since those players are the ones that often have their eyes on the quarterback and don't have man-to-man coverage responsibilities. I am going to lean towards Tyler Nubin over Holland here for a simple reason: positioning. I think Nubin will be closer to the line of scrimmage, while Holland will more often be the deep safety that won't see quite as many opportunities to attack the football. There's a good chance Nubin will operate in that intermediate area of the field, where disguise can coax the opposing quarterback into mistakes.
Dan Salomone: Fiction – I think cornerback Paulson Adebo can get there on interceptions alone. He was on pace to double his career high last season for the Saints, recording three picks in seven games before breaking his femur. The year before that, he recorded four interceptions. Adebo is still ascending as a professional, and when you couple that with the havoc being generated in front of him by Dexter Lawrence, Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux, he could pick up right where he left off.
Matt Citak: Fact – Based on team drills this spring, you can make an argument for any of the Giants' top safeties having the most turnovers this season. Holland, Nubin and Belton have combined for four interceptions over the last two weeks, with Makari Paige, another safety, adding a fifth. It seems like there's a good chance that the Giants' safeties could be plundering the most takeaways this year, and Holland will be leading the way. Across his first 60 games, Holland has five interceptions, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. He has two different seasons with five or more INTs, FFs and FRs combined, and this year he will make it three out of five years.
S Dane Belton has been the standout of OTAs so far.
John Schmeelk: Fact – No one has gotten their hands on the football more than Dane Belton. He has been the beneficiary of being in the right place at the right time, but has also taken advantage of those opportunities. I have also been impressed by cornerback Paulson Adebo, who has played tight coverage and hasn't given up a ton of catches down the field.
Dan Salomone: Fact – No disagreement here. Shane Bowen singled him out before Thursday's practice, saying the safety has "been really good for us here early, like he's had a really good spring." The defensive coordinator added they are going to find ways to get him on the field in a crowded secondary. That's what you do for a player who recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff of his NFL debut. No matter how much or how little he plays, Belton finds the ball.
Matt Citak: Fact – Belton leads the way with two interceptions this spring, which makes sense giving his tendency to find the football in limited snaps his first three seasons. Belton has five interceptions, one forced fumble and four fumble recoveries across 49 games, without ever playing more than 42 percent of defensive snaps in a season. The fourth-year safety is likely looking at the No. 3 safety role, but if he keeps playing like he has during OTAs, the coaching staff won't be able to keep him off the field much.
View practice photos from OTA No. 6 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.


WR Darius Slayton (18),TE Daniel Bellinger (82)

S Jevón Holland (8)

QB Jaxson Dart (6) and QB Tommy DeVito (15)

TE Chris Manhertz (85)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13) and WR Malik Nabers (1)

WR Zach Pascal (83)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

OLB Abdul Carter (51)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

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OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

RB Devin Singletary (26)

CB Dee Williams (33) and CB Korie Black (25)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13) and WR Malik Nabers (1)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

DL Chauncey Golston (57)

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DL Chauncey Golston (57)

OLB Abdul Carter (51)

RB Eric Gray (20)

WR Juice Wells Jr. (2)

OLB Abdul Carter (51)

WR Juice Wells Jr. (2)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

CB Dru Phillips (22), CB Deonte Banks (2) and CB Paulson Adebo (21)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

QB Jaxson Dart (6)

CB Tre Hawkins III (37)

CB Deonte Banks (2) and CB Paulson Adebo (21)

OLB Abdul Carter (51)

CB Tre Hawkins III (37)

CB Paulson Adebo (21)


CB Tre Hawkins III (37)

CB Paulson Adebo (21)

QB Jaxson Dart (6)

CB Paulson Adebo (21)

OLB Brian Burns (0)

QB Jaxson Dart (6)

CB Paulson Adebo (21)

CB Paulson Adebo (21)

CB Paulson Adebo (21)

CB Paulson Adebo (21)

WR Darius Slayton (18)

QB Jameis Winston (19)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

CB Paulson Adebo (21)

C Jimmy Morrissey (67)

CB Paulson Adebo (21)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)

CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)

CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

RB Eric Gray (20)

RB Dante Miller (25)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

WR Zach Pascal (83)


ILB Ty Summers (47)


QB Tommy DeVito (15)

WR Darius Slayton (18)

QB Jaxson Dart (6)

Special teams

WR Dalen Cambre (5)

CB Paulson Adebo (21)

WR Da'Quan Felton (9)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

P Jamie Gillan (6)

WR Darius Slayton (18)

CB Paulson Adebo (21)

P Jamie Gillan (6)

LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (44)

T Evan Neal (73)

CB Paulson Adebo (21)

QB Jameis Winston (19)

CB Paulson Adebo (21)

K Graham Gano (9)

CB Tre Hawkins III (37), interception

TE Theo Johnson (84)

OLB Brian Burns (0)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

RB Devin Singletary (26)

TE Theo Johnson (84),RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29), RB Rushawn Baker (36)

OLB Brian Burns (0)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

OLB Brian Burns (0)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

OLB Brian Burns (0)

OLB Brian Burns (0)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

ILB Darius Muasau (53) linebacker huddle

QB Tommy DeVito (15) and WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)

Shane Bowen


RB Cam Skattebo (44)

CB Dru Phillips (22),CB Deonte Banks (2) WR Juice Wells Jr. (2),CB Paulson Adebo (21)

LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (44)

CB Dru Phillips (22),CB Deonte Banks (2) WR Juice Wells Jr. (2),CB Paulson Adebo (21)

RB Cam Skattebo (44)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)

OLB Brian Burns (0)

WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)

RB Eric Gray (20)

OLB Brian Burns (0)

RB Cam Skattebo (44)

QB Russell Wilson (3), Brian Daboll

WR Darius Slayton (18),TE Daniel Bellinger (82)

OLB Brian Burns (0)

OLB Brian Burns (0)

TE Greg Dulcich (89)

OLB Brian Burns (0)

DL Chauncey Golston (57)

OLB Trace Ford (46)

OLB Tomon Fox (45)

OLB Tomon Fox (45)

WR Darius Slayton (18)
WR Jalin Hyatt has made the biggest jump at OTAs so far.
John Schmeelk: Fact – Jalin Hyatt has been granted something all young players need: opportunity. With Malik Nabers still trying to return from his toe injury, Hyatt has had a chance to be on the field with the first group and has taken advantage of it. He has probably caught more passes than any other receiver, including some deep ones down the field, and has found early chemistry with Russell Wilson. I've also been impressed with how much the Giants have moved Hyatt, Darius Slayton, and Wan'Dale Robinson to different spots, giving each an opportunity to play every position. I think it has helped all three perform well on the field.
Dan Salomone: Fact – It has become a fun game to see how many players Russell Wilson names during his media sessions, but Hyatt is always prominent. "He's a guy that I really believe in," Wilson reiterated on Thursday. That must be a big boost coming from a 10-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion quarterback.
"When you see what Russ has done since he's got here, within the first two weeks he's bringing Jalin Hyatt out to L.A. and they're working out privately," assistant general manager Brandon Brown said. "He's getting all the skill guys together down in Atlanta. Earlier this week, scheduling a dinner with the O-Line and running backs. That type of leadership component, remember, our nucleus has been really young throughout our time here. Him having that veteran leadership on the offensive side as well as having the ability to complement what Dabs (Brian Daboll) wants to get done from the quarterback position, we thought it was a really good fit."
Matt Citak: Fact – We're still in OTAs where obviously contact is not allowed, so take everything with a grain of salt, but Jalin Hyatt has easily made the biggest jump thus far this spring. Hyatt has made some nice grabs all over the field, not just on deep passes, and looks like he added some bulk to his frame this offseason. The third-year receiver is developing nice chemistry with Russell Wilson, who has spoken glowingly about the wideout since his introductory press conference. The veteran quarterback seems to look in Hyatt's direction often during team drills, which hopefully is a sign for what is to come this season.
The biggest non-quarterback storyline is how the Giants will deploy their three edge rushers.
John Schmeelk: Fiction – A lot of times storylines are focused around things that people are concerned about, but they do not have to be. There is nothing to be worried about when it comes to how the Giants are going to deploy their three edge rushers. That's the fun stuff. All three guys are going to be on the field and given an opportunity to get after the quarterback. That's why I don't think it is the biggest storyline. I still go back to the offensive line and whether they run back the five guys that started the season last year, which would be fine given their level of play until the Andrew Thomas injury, or if a young player can work his way up the depth chart. In order for the offense to be successful this year, the line has to play well.
Dan Salomone: Fact – It's the most exciting one, too. The Giants have been at their best when they can send wave after wave of pass rushers. They certainly have that now. The versatility of Brian Burns and Abdul Carter will only make it tougher on offenses.
Matt Citak: Fact – Based on what Shane Bowen said to the media Thursday, along with what we've seen during 11-on-11 reps, I have no doubt that all three edge rushers will be on the field a lot this season. The Giants will get their best 11 defensive players out there as often as possible, and it'll be up to Bowen to figure out the best way to creatively deploy all of them around Dexter Lawrence. But don't take it from me, here's Brian Burns on the matter.
"It's going to challenge offenses to figure out what we're doing. And if you can put us in different spots doing the same thing, it'll be confusing at a certain point…" Burns told the media Thursday. "Our third down could be a little more exotic with the addition of (Abdul) Carter. It's kind of like pick your poison. And then we have a Dex, so..."
See who led the Giants in sacks each season since it became an official statistic in 1982.


1982 Lawrence Taylor - 7.5 sacks

1983 (tied) Lawrence Taylor/George Martin - 9 sacks

1983 (tied) Lawrence Taylor/George Martin - 9 sacks

1984 Lawrence Taylor - 11.5 sacks

1985 Leonard Marshall - 15.5 sacks

1986 Lawrence Taylor - 20.5 sacks

1987 Lawrence Taylor - 12 sacks

1988 Lawrence Taylor - 15.5 sacks

1989 Lawrence Taylor - 15 sacks

1990 Lawrence Taylor - 10.5 sacks

1991 Leonard Marshall - 11 sacks

1992 Lawrence Taylor - 5 sacks

1993 Keith Hamilton - 11.5 sacks

1994 (tied) Erik Howard/Keith Hamilton - 6.5 sacks

1995 Michael Strahan - 7.5 sacks

1996 (tied) Chad Bratzke/Michael Strahan - 5 sacks

1996 (tied) Chad Bratzke/Michael Strahan - 5 sacks

1997 Michael Strahan - 14 sacks

1998 Michael Strahan - 15 sacks

1999 Jessie Armstead - 9 sacks

2000 Keith Hamilton - 10 sacks

2001 Michael Strahan - 22.5 sacks

2002 Michael Strahan - 11 sacks

2003 Michael Strahan - 18.5 sacks

2004 Osi Umenyiora - 7 sacks

2005 Osi Umenyiora - 14.5 sacks

2006 Osi Umenyiora - 6 sacks

2007 Osi Umenyiora - 13 sacks

2008 Justin Tuck - 12 sacks

2009 Osi Umenyiora - 7 sacks

2010 (tied) Justin Tuck/Osi Umenyiora - 11.5 sacks

2011 Jason Pierre-Paul - 16.5 sacks

2012 Jason Pierre-Paul - 6.5 sacks

2013 Justin Tuck - 11 sacks

2014 Jason Pierre-Paul - 12.5 sacks

2015 Robert Ayers Jr. - 9.5 sacks

2016 Olivier Vernon - 8.5 sacks

2017 Jason Pierre-Paul - 8.5 sacks

2018 Olivier Vernon - 7 sacks

2019 Markus Golden - 10 sacks

2020 Leonard Williams- 11.5 sacks

2021 Azeez Ojulari - 8 sacks

2022 Dexter Lawrence - 7.5 sacks

2023 Kayvon Thibodeaux - 11.5 sacks

2024 Dexter Lawrence - 9 sacks
