What do we see with them?
They're projected to be our starting OLBs for next year and we've been waiting for one or both to break out, but both have injury concerns with Carter rupturing his Achilles tendon and Ximines sustaining a shoulder injury.
Do Judge and Graham have faith in these guys? They would certainly have more than I do, particularly with Carter, who started a full season in 2019 and didn't break out as hoped (45 tackles, 4.5 sacks).
I'm hoping carter makes a full recovery, but I think he's a backup/spot starter type of guy.
I just don't see it with the X-man. Rotational guy at best. We need at least ONE legit (and healthy) guy in one of their roles.
It used to be a career death sentence but there are many recent examples of athletes returning from this injury.
I do not think Ximines is a good player.
Ximenes is a situational pass rush guy at best. He has skills, but is simply rather limited athletically. He is really, really slow.
Odell, Aaron Ross, Will Beaty...
I don’t think Ximines will be more than a decent backup. He didn’t take a step forward last season when he was on the field. He still needs to get stronger so that he can contribute versus the run. He might find himself behind Cam Brown and Carter Coughlin if he doesn’t stay healthy and show steady improvement.
The Giants will bring in at least one edge rusher this offseason. Ximines will be competing for a roster spot.
Given how the coaching staff was able to maximize value out of Fackrell, Sheard, Coughlin, Brown and Lalos, I have to think that both would have made progress if they played last year.
But they have to recover from their injuries.
IF as many have speculated, Graham's defense is about pressure up the middle and the "edge guys" are more for "contain than pressure", then maybe the Giants are looking at different skill sets / body types for edge / OLB going forward.
Same with Ximines, unless they see him having special teams value. He will have to show something in training camp and preseason.
Our last decade or so of third round picks has been pretty brutal. The jury is still out on Peart, and BJ Hill, Carter, and Ximines are still in the mix for now, but the last “good” third round pick we made was Manningham in 2008. That’s pretty sad when you consider 1.) Even if you pick in the bottom of the third it is still a top 100 college player in that respective draft and 2.) We have picked near the top of the third round almost every year for the last decade and have still come up empty.
IF as many have speculated, Graham's defense is about pressure up the middle and the "edge guys" are more for "contain than pressure", then maybe the Giants are looking at different skill sets / body types for edge / OLB going forward.
Right you are and unless Carter makes a complete recovery, I think it is more likely that he will have to move inside rather than try to become a reliable Edge player.