NFL power rankings: Training camp edition
By Brad Weiss
New York Giants
, NFC East
The New York Giants finally found the answers they were looking for on defense last season, making back to the playoffs for the first time in five years. The 2016 season was the first for head coach Ben McAdoo, who took over for Tom Coughlin, who led the team to two Super Bowl titles during his tenure. With a loaded roster returning in 2017, the Giants should find themselves back in the playoffs, hoping for a better result this time around.
The Giants were beaten in the first round by the Green Bay Packers, as they just could not get much going on offense. This offseason, the Giants brought in wide receiver Brandon Marshall from the crosstown rival Jets, adding another weapon for quarterback Eli Manning. Manning is starting to get up there in age, so the Giants need to do everything they can to take advantage of whatever time he has left.
Odell Beckham Jr. is one of the more polarizing players in the NFL, and he leads an offense that should be improved over last season. While they do not have much in terms of a running game, Paul Perkins should be able to carry the load, with rookie Wayne Gallman from Clemson helping share the duties. The offense was a bit vanilla last season, but McAdoo should have some tricks up his sleeves in his second season at the helm.
Up front on defense, the Giants will really shine, as Snacks Harrison, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Olivier Vernon may be the best unit in the NFC. In the secondary, the Giants may have the best cornerback tandem in the conference in Eli Apple and Janoris Jenkins, with Landon Collins being an elite safety as well. New York is ready to take over in the NFC East, but if the Cowboys super-sophomores take the next step, it will be a dogfight to the finish.