This is the question I think the FO has to answer in order to decide 1) whether to bring back DT or 2) whether to spend a 1st or 2nd on DL.
Personally, I'd love to bring back DT. If they decide the money doesn't work though, I'd be fine spending a first or second on DL.
I don't think Hill can cut it as a DT replacement.
If they do decide to go the draft route who are realistic targets iyo? Are there first round DL who are worth our 11?
(I'm assuming bringing back LW is a given.)
They also play different positions. Tomlinson lined up over the center, Hill is a DE.
The question the front office needs to answer in deciding Tomlinson's fate is if they believe Dexter Lawrence can play over center.
BJ Hill is key to whether or not DT should be resigned and at what cost.
I really hope we don't go into this draft needing to draft an interior DL. It's a relatively weak class for DT/DL, but a deep and strong one for OL, WR, and CB, with a decent ER here or there, not much to pick from.
From the by now dozens of mocks I have run on PFN's simulator, by FAR the strengths of this draft class - and it's a good one, real pieces right through the 6th round it seems - are WR, CB, and OL.
Keeping the plus DL group intact for a few years is key, but who does "intact" include?
There have been some games where Hill had gotten more snaps than DT. While it didn't show up much in the stats, I think he did a good job and there is a lot of good film on him in that role. Gettleman is also on record a year or two ago that seemed to diminish DT's talent as when DG mentioned that he was the one lineman who really didn't have pass rushing talent.
If we replaced, Hill in the 3 man rotation (again Lawrence moves to the nose) we would lose some in run defense but gain in pass rush. We would however lose Hill as the 4th lineman so overall we would be worse (although I really like Austin Johnson in the role that he had this year).
My hope is that if the Giants decided to move on from DT due to Hill being on the roster, we prioritize extending him.
Good teams extend their younger players early. We've been so bad at drafting as we rarely do this. We did it with Sheppard. I'm actually not sure how that is going to play out. The other recent notable example is Nick Gates which appears to be an absolute home run.
If we can get a solid edge rusher, I can see both Hill's and Lawrence's sack numbers to go up. I really don't have an interest in continuing to replace good players. Extend him early.
They also play different positions. Tomlinson lined up over the center, Hill is a DE.
The question the front office needs to answer in deciding Tomlinson's fate is if they believe Dexter Lawrence can play over center.
All correct which why this is a good question - for next offseason.
They also play different positions. Tomlinson lined up over the center, Hill is a DE.
The question the front office needs to answer in deciding Tomlinson's fate is if they believe Dexter Lawrence can play over center.
I think nose will be Dex's best position. He will be a nightmare there. I also wouldn't be surprised if DL is addressed fairly early in the draft.
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as good as Tomlinson in stopping the run but he may be better at creating a pass rush.
They also play different positions. Tomlinson lined up over the center, Hill is a DE.
The question the front office needs to answer in deciding Tomlinson's fate is if they believe Dexter Lawrence can play over center.
I think nose will be Dex's best position. He will be a nightmare there. I also wouldn't be surprised if DL is addressed fairly early in the draft.
assuming LW is resigned and Dex moves to the nose, then I don't think they should draft a d-lineman before Day 3. Hill/RJ McIntosh can battle for the other starting DE. Finding a backup DE isn't hard there will be plenty of vets willing to sign near the minimum and/or a late round draft pick or UDFA.
Find an outside edge rusher this year, and see what we have in Hill/McIntosh next year and if both of them fail address the position via the draft in 2022.
This assumes Tomlinson isn't resigned.
Both BJ Hill and Dexter Lawrence have slid inside to NT when Tomlinson rests, but at the end of the year in pass rushing situations Hill often played nose.
Aside from that, Hill's contract comes up.aftet next year at the latest.
They well might pay 2 DL serious $$$ but they sure as hell aren't paying 3, and then Dexter Lawrence in two years to boot.
He was a conerstone member of a few very good playoff contending Vikings' defenses, while the Giants chased after DTs every year or two with fairly high to mid level draft picks, and never adequately replaced him until they shelled out huge $$$ for a very good run stopper but bad locker room lawyer type in Snacks Harrison.
The FO is deeply worried history might repeat itself if they let DT walk. Several sources have independently stated this. I guess they might all be hearing it from one source "inside the building" but it seems plausible enough.
I wish they could keep DT and I also think the market could be a bad one for the players with the cap dropping about 12%. Maybe they can get him back relatively "cheap" for this year.
Despite the fact that Hill went to the bench?
You mean Paye? I thought he's an edge player.