- Given the additions of interior defensive players Dalvin Tomlinson and Jarron Jones, PFF’s third highest graded rush defense does not figure to see any drop off in 2017.
- Damon Harrison was 2016’s top ranked run defender at his position, leading the league in run stop percentage (15.8 percent), while primarily playing over the nose.
- Dalvin Tomlinson of Alabama (round 2, 55th overall pick) was one of the premier run defenders available in this year's draft class. Although at his best clogging running lanes, he’s also increasingly shown the ability to provide a pass rush from the inside (40 total QB pressures in 2016), while playing different positions along the defensive line.
- Jarron Jones of Notre Dame (an undrafted free agent signing) is the Giant’s highest PFF graded UDFA thus far. Jones also primarily played nose in college, but possesses the frame to line up at other techniques up front. He too can provide some pass rush to supplement Harrison’s run stopping prowess, as Jones posted his best pass rush grade in 2016 – 82.2.
- Tomlinson and Jones need to prove they can adapt to the NFL game but based on past performance and stylistic fit, the tandem is a capable duo in the effort to replace the departed Johnathan Hankins.
© 2024 PFF - all rights reserved.