Giants draft preview: Linebackers who could interest New York

The New York Giants are set for 2025 starters at the linebacker position with Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden. However, every linebacker other than Okereke, Chris Board, and Darius Muasau will be a free agent after the 2025 season. Okereke could be released after this season, saving $9 million in cap space with just a $5 million dead cap.

Suffice it to say, the Giants could use a long-term starter at linebacker, albeit it’s not nearly a primary need for the roster. GM Joe Schoen signed two quality additions in the offseason, but they’ve still shown interest in a few linebackers during the pre-draft process. Let’s go through a few Day 2 and Day 3 options who may interest New York.

Additions: Chris Board, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
Losses: Isaiah Simmons
Roster: Starters — Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden; Reserves — Darius Muasau, Chris Board, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Dyontae Johnson, Ty Summers
Draft need: Potential long-term starter and depth

Day 2 options

Carson Schwesinger, UCLA: The Giants were one of five teams to send their linebacker coach to UCLA’s pro day to work out the 2024 phenom. John Egorugwu was in attendance and held a private meeting with Schwesinger, who weighed in at 238 pounds on his 6-foot-2½-inch frame. He did not run the 40-yard dash, but posted a 7.05 in the three-cone drill, 4.25 in the short shuttle, and jumped 10’7” in the broad jump. Add that to the impressive 39.5-inch vertical jump Schwesinger achieved.

Carson Schwesinger is a rare find. A walk-on prospect with just one year of true playing experience, he processes and plays like a four-year starter, and he has elite athletic traits to maximize what’s between his ears. He’s slippery when penetrating, with an ability to coordinate his feet/hands/and shoulders—while square—to dip underneath blocks and present his numbers to a target.

Schwesinger has true sideline-to-sideline range and a motor that rarely needs fuel. He only had one year of production and can be overly aggressive at times, but he’s an ideal 4-3 WILL linebacker with upside to play other positions at the second level. His ability to fluidly cover ground with quickness in any direction while staying disciplined with his eyes are traits that will lead to an immediate impact at the next level. He’s an enjoyable player to watch.

Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma: Stutsman is a true MIKE linebacker who finished top-10 all-time in Sooners history with 377 total tackles. Stutsman understands run fits and where to be; he combines elite football intelligence with violence and sufficient athletic ability. Questions about his coverage ability are fair, due to some hip tightness, but his trigger downhill and ability to flow, fit, fill, and strike are elite.

Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina: A starter for one year at South Carolina as a MIKE and sub-package asset with a ton of special-teams ability. Knight Jr. wore the green dot and has an elite trigger and burst moving forward, while possessing excellent pursuit. Knight Jr. is a three-down asset with an elite 81⅜-inch wingspan, which is important to this Giants’ regime. He’s been praised as a leader and a “weight room addict,” so he fits the Giants’ mold of DAWG! Like Schwesinger, Knight Jr.’s tape is a joy to watch, and he would immediately add juice to the Giants’ linebacker room.

Day 3 options

Kain Medrano, UCLA: Another UCLA linebacker — the third discussed in this article! Kain Medrano is an explosive – VERY undersized – linebacker who may eventually offer upside as a DIME/BIG-NICKEL in sub-packages at the next level. He’s fluid like a defensive back and does well to identify his run-fit, while triggering quickly downhill to penetrate. He’s a smart overall player with an adequate feel in zone coverage and he offers upside as a man coverage defender on TEs/RBs. Medrano has light feet and good lower-body flexion to avoid climbing offensive linemen in the run game. However, his inability to effectively secure tackles, coupled with his poor linebacker frame and marginal overall strength to stack and shed offensive linemen at the POA, make Medrano more of a developmental player who will initially earn time on special teams. A position change to safety is also possible.

Jack Kiser, Notre Dame: I liked what I saw from Kiser, who thrived as the MIKE in Al Golden’s defense. Kiser was a team captain who won with excellent reaction timing and knowledge of the game. He’s praised for his character and work ethic, and he was very productive through his six seasons in South Bend. However, he’s not the most physically gifted player, nor is he young (he’ll be 25 as a rookie). Still, he quickly identifies the play and is a gap-sound player who tackles well. Linebacker is a position dictated by intelligence and Kiser possesses plenty of that trait.

Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota: Lindenberg is a cerebrally gifted linebacker with solid overall athletic ability and play speed. He does well keeping his chest clean while staying square in the box before locating the running back. He is an asset as a run defender who understands how to win the cat-and-mouse game of forcing a running back to commit to a path. He’s patient yet knows when to take his shot. I wish he were more secure as a tackler. His 17.2% missed tackle rate is a bit high; many missed tackles are outside the hashes in pursuit. Although he’s solid as a pursuit defender, quicker backs can beat him to the edge and give him a disadvantageous tackling attempt. Lindenberg wasn’t lost in coverage, but he’s not necessarily an asset. He needs to work as a man covering defender. He’ll make a quality depth asset with a possible starting upside, especially if he improves his coverage.

Jay Higgins, Iowa: Jay Higgins is a hustle-based linebacker who can get outside the numbers to make tackles but lacks the difference-making physical traits to consistently threaten offenses sideline-to-sideline. He’s not overly fluid in space, nor is he the best at changing direction, but he’s an incredibly smart and focused linebacker who does well to position himself to leverage his run fit. He possesses excellent eyes and a good ability to use his hands to avoid contact, especially when he’s square to the line of scrimmage.Higgins does well to stay square to his target – maneuvering well through trash – and finding the ball carrier before delivering a heavy hit. His quick trigger and anticipatory skills challenge the running back and cause indecision near the LOS. He had a knack for finding the football in shallow zones and displayed good overall spatial awareness, yet his athletic struggles could hinder his ability in man coverage and that could pose a problem at the next level depending on his landing spot. Overall, Higgins has the floor of a special teams asset with elite intangibles, but his ceiling is capped due to a lack of elite athletic ability. His play style is infectious, as he runs around the field like the Energizer Bunny. He could still find his way into a starting lineup in the right system.