Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus ranked two New York Giants edge defenders in his annual Top-32 edge defenders article ahead of the 2024 NFL season. New giant Brian Burns was ranked 21st on the list and Kayvon Thibodeaux was ranked 29th.
Here is Sikkema on the burns:
Burns has yet to take the next true step toward near-elite status as his talent suggests he can, but 2023 marked the second-best pass rush grade of his career (75.2) and the highest run defense grade of his career. race (62.7). Perhaps the key to unlocking his true talents was moving from Carolina to New York this offseason.
Burns recorded 40 pressures on 379 pressure snaps last season with eight sacks. He had a career-high 68 pressures in 2022 with 12.5 sacks in 525 pass-rushing snaps. His athletic traits favor production. His burst and curvature allow him to flatten out at the top of the pass rusher’s arc better than most pass rushers, and he has more strength on contact than his frame would suggest.
Shane Bowen uses Wide-9 defenders in obvious passing situations. These angles are advantageous for edge rushers, like Burns, who possess the combination of traits listed above. If the Giants’ offense can keep games competitive and allow pass rushers to, you know, rush the passer in the fourth quarter, Burns could easily set career highs in both sacks and pressures alongside Dexter Lawrence and Thibodeaux.
Speaking of the former fifth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Here’s Sikkema on Thibodeaux:
Thibodeaux’s grades took a step back across the board from 2022 to 2023. And while he recorded 11.5 sacks, his pass rush win rate fell from 9.5% in 2022 to 6.4% in 2023, and only produced three more pressures despite playing 111 more. pin pressure clicks.
Thibodeaux is still a very talented player, but he needs a bounce-back season in 2024.
This is fair enough. Thibodeaux’s jump in sacks suggests he took a big step forward, which isn’t necessarily the case. Thibodeaux improved on the corners and maintained his balance at the top of the pressure arc, but consistency is still something he can achieve. That being said, Thibodeaux is primed for a third-year jump.
The top five NFL pass rushers on the list were Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns, Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys, Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers, TJ Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raideres.
Keynote USA
For the Latest Sports News, Follow Keynote USA Sports on Twitter.