The New York Giants have a proud linebacker lineage - names like Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks, and Harry Carson still echo through the halls of franchise history. Antonio Pierce deserves his flowers in that conversation, too.
But in recent years, that tradition has faded. The Giants have struggled to find consistent, high-impact play at the second level of their defense, and 2025 was no different.
Despite some solid individual efforts, the linebacker unit lacked the kind of dynamic presence that can change a game - or even just hold the line.
Let’s start with the bottom line: Pro Football Focus graded the Giants’ run defense as the worst in the NFL last season, tied with the 49ers. That’s not a typo.
And while the issues go beyond just one position group, the linebackers were right at the heart of the problem. Injuries didn’t help, but even when healthy, the unit struggled to diagnose plays, maintain gap integrity, and clean up on the back side.
A Season Undone by Injuries and Inconsistency
The Giants entered 2025 with a plan: Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden as the starting linebackers. It was a pairing that had promise - Okereke, a veteran leader, and McFadden, a developing talent who had taken strides since his rookie year.
But that plan unraveled almost immediately. McFadden went down with a right foot injury in the first half of Week 1, underwent surgery, and missed the rest of the season.
That left Okereke to lead a patchwork group that included second-year sixth-rounder Darius Muasau, special teams mainstays Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and Chris Board, and a rotating cast of depth players like Zaire Barnes, Neville Hewitt, and Swayze Bozeman.
Muasau was the first man up, and while he had moments that hinted at upside, his play was marred by inconsistency. His 453 defensive snaps yielded 41 tackles (with a 12.8% missed tackle rate), 16 STOPs, seven pressures, and a sack.
But the biggest issue? Gap discipline.
He struggled to stay in position, especially on the back side of runs - a recurring theme in this defense. An ankle injury landed him on injured reserve after Week 9, though he did return in Week 15.
Flannigan-Fowles logged 225 snaps next to Okereke and brought a physical edge, but he was often out of position in coverage. He finished with 25 tackles (four missed) and nine STOPs, but like Muasau, he didn’t inspire much confidence as a long-term solution.
Injuries continued to pile up. Chris Board played just 14 snaps before a chest injury ended his season. The Giants had to lean on Barnes, Hewitt, and Bozeman to fill in where they could, but none made a significant impact.
Okereke: Durable, But Stretched Thin
Through it all, Bobby Okereke was the constant. He played 1,104 defensive snaps - the most on the team - and led the way with 140 total tackles, 47 of which were STOPs.
He also added two interceptions. But while the production was solid, the tape told a more nuanced story.
Okereke missed 21 tackles (13%) and at times looked like he’d lost a step. Some of that was physical, but a lot of it was mental - the result of having to overcompensate for the inexperience and inconsistency around him.
He was asked to do too much, and it showed. That said, his durability and leadership were critical in keeping the defense from completely collapsing.
Looking Ahead to 2026: Time for a Reset?
The Giants have some big decisions to make at linebacker this offseason. First, Micah McFadden is an unrestricted free agent.
He’s only 25, and before the injury, the team was high on his development. If the Giants believe in his work ethic and fit with the incoming defensive coordinator, locking him up on a short-term deal could be a smart play - potentially ahead of the market.
Then there’s Okereke. He’s entering the final year of his contract, carrying a $14.4 million cap hit - 4.74% of the team’s total cap.
The Giants could save $9 million by releasing him, though they’d take on $5.5 million in dead money. Given the current state of the linebacker room, that might not be the wisest move, but it’s a financial lever they could pull if they need flexibility elsewhere.
As it stands, New York has just $5.23 million in cap space heading into the offseason. That number could grow with restructures or cuts, especially now that they have a quarterback on a rookie deal. But they’ll need to be strategic.
Draft or Free Agency? Both Are on the Table
The Giants could look to the draft for help, and they should. They only hold seven picks, with just two in the top 100, but linebacker is a position that could be addressed early. Names like Ohio State’s Arvell Reese or Sonny Styles could be in play on Day 1, while Cincinnati’s Jake Golday or Georgia’s CJ Allen might be targets on Day 2.
Still, given the scarcity of early picks and the number of needs across the roster, free agency might be the more immediate path to improvement. One name to watch: Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd.
Spotrac projects his market value at $20.1 million per year - second only to Fred Warner among linebackers. That’s a hefty price tag, but Lloyd would bring the kind of sideline-to-sideline impact the Giants have sorely lacked.
If Lloyd proves too expensive, there are other options. Nakobe Dean (Eagles), Quay Walker (Packers), Leo Chenal (Chiefs), and Quincy Williams (Jets) could all offer upside at a lower cost. Veterans like Matt Milano, Devin Bush, Bobby Wagner, or Demario Davis could also be stopgap solutions while the Giants groom a younger player.
The team already signed Swaze Bozeman and EDGE/OLB Trace Ford to reserve/future contracts, but those are depth plays. What the Giants need is a true difference-maker - someone who can anchor the middle of the defense and elevate the entire unit.
The Bottom Line
The Giants’ linebacker situation has been a revolving door of injuries, inconsistency, and unmet potential. Bobby Okereke has been a steady presence, but he can’t do it alone - and he may not be part of the long-term plan. Micah McFadden’s future is uncertain, and the rest of the depth chart remains a question mark.
Whether through the draft, free agency, or both, the Giants need to invest in the heart of their defense. Because if they want to stop the bleeding against the run - and build a defense that can compete in the NFC - it starts with fixing the spine. And that means finally getting linebacker right.