New York Giants Offseason: Reviewing the Defensive End Position
By Sean Dyer
Who’s In, Who’s Out?
In: Olivier Vernon, Jason Pierre-Paul, Avery Moss, Romeo Okwara
Out: Kerry Wynn
Predicting who stays and who goes in 2018 will be tough when it comes to defensive end, defensive tackle, and linebacker because of the change from Steve Spagnuolo’s 4-3 scheme to James Bettcher’s 3-4 scheme.
Olivier Vernon will certainly be on the roster, but he’s expected to line up more in a two-point stance as an outside linebacker. He succeeded in that role while for Miami in 2015, according to Pro Football Focus.
Olivier Vernon 2015
— Ryan Smith (@PFF_Smith) January 24, 2018
3-pt stance:
239 pass rushes, 28 pressures
2-pt stance
301 pass rushes, 53 pressures
Edge defender pass rush grades:
1. Von Miller (93.1)
T-2. Olivier Vernon/Khalil Mack (92.8) https://t.co/NqiM1vk2dA
Jason Pierre-Paul will also definitely be back but where he lines up is more up in the air. JPP could line up as a 5-technique defensive end with his hand in the dirt or he could be a stand-up edge rusher like Vernon.
Bettcher and Bruce Arians actually tried to sign JPP back in 2015 to make him a 3-4 outside linebacker. When Pierre-Paul decided to return to New York, Arizona traded for Chandler Jones to fill the role. Jones had 11 sacks in 2016 and 17 sacks in 2017 playing in Bettcher’s scheme.
Whoever fills Chandler Jones’s role, whether it’s Vernon, Pierre-Paul, or both, they should be in position to put up big sack numbers in 2018.
With NFL defenses playing a majority of the game in nickel formations, Vernon and Pierre-Paul will both spend plenty of time with their hands in the dirt, regardless of their listed position.
Avery Moss could also play defensive end or outside linebacker. He’ll look to take a step forward in his second NFL season and take advantage of playing for Bettcher, who loves to blitz.
Romeo Okwara has the size and length to transition to a 5-technique defensive end. He’ll have to stay healthy and regain some of the momentum he had in 2016.
I just don’t see Kerry Wynn re-signing with Big Blue. He had a good run but with a new regime in charge, they’ll likely look elsewhere for reserve defensive ends. Wynn’s best shot at staying with the Giants is if Vernon and Pierre-Paul both transition to outside linebackers.