Giants news, 7/2: Hard Knocks begins, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari, more headlines
Giants news, 7/2: Hard Knocks begins, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari, more headlines
Good morning, New York Giants fans!
From Big Blue View
Other Giant observations
Mailbag: Dark Horses to Make a Super Bowl Run | SI.com
SI.com’s Albert Breer definitely going against the national media grain by picking Big Blue:
In the NFC, I think I’d give you the New York Giants, if you want a true dark horse. They need development from 2022 first-rounder Kayvon Thibodeaux. They need to figure it out at quarterback, whether it’s Daniel Jones or, if things break wrong for him, Drew Lock. But their rookie class looked dynamite in the spring, I think Brian Burns might be the best acquisition of the offseason, and they were really good two years ago.
Brian Burns at Sack Summit
Kayvon Thibodeaux: Brian Burns has been giving me a lot of gems | Pro Football Talk
“It’s exciting, man,” Thibodeaux said on NFL Network. “It’s exciting. Me and Brian, we have a similar body type. We have a similar style of play. But he’s a little bit different. He’s faster, he’s quicker. He’s obviously farther in his career than I am, so there’s a lot of gems he’s been giving me. And he’s been able to help up my game a little bit, and I’ve been competing with him, giving him a few things I know, and it’s been great so far. I’m excited to see what’s all to come from that.”
Giants’ Top Trade Candidates Ahead of 2024 Training Camp | Bleacher Report
The Giants could save $1.6 million by trading fourth-year linebacker Azeez Ojulari. More importantly, they could probably get a decent value back in a deal.
With Thibodeaux, Burns and Dexter Lawrence II likely to form the foundation of New York’s pass rush for the foreseeable future, Ojulari may not be viewed as a long-term piece of the puzzle. He’s entering the final year of his rookie contract and could be valued more by a franchise that lacks entrenched edge-rushing stars. Instead of keeping Ojulari as a role player and then losing him for nothing in 2025 free agency, New York could consider trading him now.
Kayvon Thibodeaux defends Joe Schoen
Giants on ‘Hard Knocks’: 6 reasons to watch, including Saquon Barkley’s final days in NY | The Athletic
Will we learn anything new about what they offered New England? Did Schoen and company think they were ever close? And after Maye went off the board, were they interested in any of the remaining quarterbacks? Three more QBs were drafted in the six picks after the Giants took Nabers; how did the Giants brass view those players?
Even before draft night, we’ll learn a lot about the Giants’ hunt for a QB and scouting process as NFL Films traveled with Schoen to a handful of college pro days — including LSU’s where we’ll see Nabers.
2024 NFL offensive line rankings: Lions take top spot, led by Penei Sewell and Frank Ragnow | PFF
29. The Giants' offensive line was among the NFL's worst in 2023, partially due to injuries. While they brought in a couple of new players in Jermaine Eluemunor and Jon Runyan to start at guard, they need their returners to improve drastically.
Center John Michael Schmitz Jr., a second-round pick in 2023, and right tackle Evan Neal, a top-10 pick in 2022, have been disappointing so far. Even left tackle Andrew Thomas staying healthy and getting back to his 2022 form wouldn't make up for poor performances from the other young players on the line in 2024.
CeeDee Lamb, Ja’Marr Chase and one player contract worth watching for every NFL team | The Athletic
With tight end Darren Waller retiring and wide receiver Darius Slayton reporting for the offseason program after getting a slightly revised deal, there aren’t any pressing contract decisions for the Giants. This shifts the focus to Daniel Jones, who is entering the second year of a four-year, $160 million contract. Jones’ play this season will determine if the Giants keep him for the third year of his contract, which carries a $41.6 million cap hit. The Giants could cut Jones after the season to recoup $19.4 million in cap savings while eating $22.2 million in dead money in 2025.
Ranking top 20 offensive tackles for 2024 | CBSSports.com
8. Andrew Thomas. Injuries to Thomas affected his status amongst the elite left tackles in the game, even though he's one of the best when he's healthy. Hamstring and knee injuries hampered Thomas in 2023, causing him to miss seven games.
Regardless, Thomas allowed four sacks and 16 pressures in 363 pass-blocking snaps leading a putrid Giants offensive line (pressure rate allowed per dropback at 4.4%). His run blocking was average, but that could also be a project of the talent around him. Thomas is a franchise left tackle, and should be in store for a bounce back year in 2024.
Giants’ Dexter Lawrence, Jack Stoll each get married over weekend | USAToday.com
It was a wedding weekend for New York Giants NT Dexter Lawrence and TE Jack Stoll, who each married their fiancés in lavish ceremonies. The 26-year-old Lawrence was married on June 27 in North Carolina according to social media posts with several teammates and ex-teammate Leonard Williams in attendance.
Stoll married his college sweetheart Carolyn Thayer in front of 200 guests at a Colorado Springs resort, according to wedding details provided by People magazine.
Around the league
How Eagles’ Saquon Barkley deals with this ‘sad’ thing from a few irate Giants fans | NJ.com
Report: CeeDee Lamb is not expected at training camp without new deal | Pro Football Talk
Cowboys’ Malik Hooker Voices Opinion of Micah Parsons’ Podcast Career - “What Are You Really Caring About?” | ProFootballNetwork.com
Cowboys' Micah Parsons rebuts Malik Hooker's critique of his podcasting habits | NFL.com
Is Micah Parsons-Malik Hooker drama sign of looming issues for Cowboys? | The Athletic
Brandon Aiyuk 'for sure' wants to stay with 49ers despite stalemate | ESPN.com
Broncos' Courtland Sutton doesn't rule out a training camp holdout amid stalled contract talks, per report | CBSSports.com
Justin Herbert: Ladd McConkey picked up the offense so easily | Pro Football Talk
Simone Biles: Bears granting husband Jonathan Owens time off from training camp to see Olympic | NFL.coms
Kyle Shanahan on McCaffrey's usage in 49ers offense: 'We have to protect Christian from himself' | NFL.com
Jets RB Breece Hall ready to prove he's an elite talent | ESPN.com
Antonio Cromartie returns to Jets as Bill Walsh coaching fellow | Pro Football Talk
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