New York Giants most important defensive player is… – EWB Roundtable

Ed Stein, Co-Site Expert, Empire Writes Back

This one is a hard question and I’m the one who thought it up. Looking over the current roster, I am conflicted. In my opinion, it’s quite possible that the most important player on the defense might get cut and on the other hand, he might not be on the team yet.

We start with who is here. Middle linebacker Alec Ogletree is the key man on this defensive unit. Unfortunately, for the majority of last season, he was far from it. As a matter of fact, Pro Football Focus had him graded as the worst defensive player on the team.

I was pumped when the Giants got Ogletree from Los Angeles in March of 2018. He was exactly what they needed, a 100+ tackle, leader in the middle of the defense. After the season, I was wondering if the Rams knew something the New York Giants didn’t.

For him to have the opportunity to put his signature on the D in 2019, Ogletree needs to play as he did in December. After all, middle linebacker is the heart of any defense.

Working against him is the possibility that he may be a salary cap casualty. The G-Men can save $4M if Ogletree is released after June 1.

To me, the other part of this equation will be determined in the draft. With the sixth overall pick, New York has a chance to select an impact player for the defense. Someone such as Montez Sweat, or Rashan Gary may wind up being the Giants most important defensive player.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments section or on social media.