Giants stand alone in latest Pro Football Focus position rankings

The New York Giants have one of the best defensive lines in the NFC. In particular, their interior is one of the strongest units in the NFL. Both proven talents, Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams headlined the group.  Lawrence is a top three IDL in the entire league, while Williams probably sits around the end […]

Adam Holt NFL News Writer
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The New York Giants have one of the best defensive lines in the NFC. In particular, their interior is one of the strongest units in the NFL. Both proven talents, Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams headlined the group. 

Lawrence is a top three IDL in the entire league, while Williams probably sits around the end of the top ten. Overall, they are just, plain stout. 

Pro Football Focus believes that the Giants are the only team with two top-12 interior defensive linemen in the NFL. 

3. DEXTER LAWRENCE, NEW YORK GIANTS

Lawrence experienced a breakout 2022 season, earning a career-best 91.6 PFF grade. And at just 25 years old, he still has room to grow and could threaten Donald and Jones with another big season. Including the playoffs, he produced 70 pressures on 577 pass-rushing snaps, proving to be a disruptive force for opposing offenses all year long. — PFF

12. LEONARD WILLIAMS, NEW YORK GIANTS

The sixth overall pick in 2015, Williams has been a high-floor player since arriving in the NFL. Throughout his eight-year career, he has never earned a PFF grade lower than 70.5. He’s solid both as a run defender and as a pass rusher and doesn’t really have a weakness to his game. — PFF

Lawrence ranks just behind Aaron Donald and Chris Jones. Lawrence truly rounded into form last season and got rewarded with a massive extension this offseason. He inked a deal for $90 million over four years. It sounds like PFF thinks that that was a very smart decision by the Giants. 

As for Williams, he is a veteran that dominates in the run game for New York. His career has been a model of consistency. Beside Lawrence and the edge rushers, Williams can play his game. There isn't pressure for him to be a game-wrecker, but he can take over at times. 

The duo will be vital for the Giants on defense going forward. 

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