We all know that the New York Giants need help in the trenches, but while most think that simply applies to the offensive line or pass rush assistance, they seem to forget another need: the defensive line.
Dexter Lawrence, who has logged a lot of snaps, has been put under a tremendous burden. Since the Giants traded away Leonard Williams, he has been asked to be the sole interior disruptor on the team. He’s been responsible for taking on double teams, making tackles, and putting pressure on the quarterback. There is no argument that he has done the job at a high level, as evidenced by his contract extension before the start of the 2023 season.
Still, last season, depth was a major issue on the defensive line, not just on the edges but also inside. Once Williams was moved, it illuminated the lack of impactful depth at the position.
New York should consider using the draft to build its elite defensive fronts and spending in free agency to acquire Lawrence’s running mate. They should grab someone Lawrence is familiar with.
That would be his former Clemson running mate, Christian Wilkins of the Miami Dolphins. Wilkins is set to hit the free agent market and is sure to be a sought-after commodity.
Let’s get this out the way: Wilkins will come at a premium cost–that is without a doubt. Talented defensive linemen do not often hit the free agent market, so when they do, teams pay, and they have a lot more to pay with the salary cap increase this offseason.
So why would Wilkins be worth the premium dollars the Giants would have to pay to acquire him?
The answer is simple: chemistry and line of scrimmage control. At Clemson, Lawrence and Wilkins formed the most destructive defensive fronts in college football. Over their three seasons, the Clemson defense became increasingly stingy against the run. In 2016, teams averaged 3.7 yards per carry; in 2017, it was 3.1 yards, and in 2018, it was 2.7 yards. The Tigers’ defense has not experienced that level of dominance since.
In the NFL, Lawrence and Wilkins experienced some growing pains early on before settling in and returning to the dominant play they enjoyed in college. Over the last three years, Wilkins has averaged over 80 tackles and has increased his sack production over the past few seasons.
Lawrence has enjoyed the same increases in production over his time in the league and has become one of the best interior linemen in the game. Both players are in their prime and would complement each other perfectly.
Both players utilize their hands extremely well, but in different ways. While Lawrence uses his hands to stun and control offensive linemen, Wilkins uses his hands to get around linemen by swatting away hands and attacking hinge points. They are both explosive for their size, which makes them dynamic on stunts and line movements.
They both possess positional flexibility, which allows them to thrive on multiple fronts. In a perfect world, they would operate as the one and three techs, where they could be at their most dominant.
He utilizes four-man fronts in new Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen’s defense. This would cater perfectly to Lawrence’s and Wilkins’s skill sets. Those two manning the middle would allow the edge rushers to consistently get 1-on-1 opportunities in the pass rush. Equally, as important, it would allow the interior linebackers to run free to the ball carrier. Those two forces inside would make many running backs search for the bounce instead of the cutback.
NFL quarterbacks may need extra time in the ice bath if this pair were ever reunited. Getting Wilkins to pair with Lawrence could also be the key to unlocking their former teammate Isaiah Simmons’ full potential (assuming he re-signs with the Giants).
Yes, Wilkins’s price tag would be high, but sometimes, an offense’s best friend is a defense that gets the ball back quickly. For as much progress as the Giants’ defense made under former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, being unable to stop the run consistently resulted in far more snaps than needed to be successful.
This move could go a long way towards resolving that issue.
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