The New York Giants have been an embarrassment under second-year head coach Brian Daboll here in 2023, sporting a 2-7 record at the midway point.
Offensively, the Giants are having one of the worst seasons in team history and are on pace to set several unwanted franchise records. On the other side of the ball, Wink Martindale’s crew has been inconsistent at best — dominating one week and then getting walked all over the next.
It’s a far cry from where many expected the Giants to be at this point and it only got worse last week with the loss of starting quarterback Daniel Jones to a torn ACL.
Despite the futility and the top-to-bottom underperformance, one player has continued his ascent and can now stake claim to being the best at his position league-wide.
Dexter Lawrence is in the midst of one of the most dominating season-long performances for a nose tackle in NFL history. And fittingly, that landed him on Pro Football Focus’ Midseason All-Pro Team.
Lawrence sports the second-highest PFF grade among all defensive players this season, proving to be a devastating pass-rusher from the nose tackle position. He has amassed 44 total pressures from 247 pass-rushing snaps on his way to a position-leading 92.2 PFF pass-rushing grade.
Lawrence beat out Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter for the honor.
There’s no overstating just how dominant Sexy Dexy has been this year. At his best, he wins every single snap and humiliates those attempting to block him. At his worst, he’s still among the best players on the field.
Beyond just making PFF’s Midseason All-Pro Team, Lawrence has entered the discussion as one of the most impactful defenders in the league and, most certainly, the top interior defender in the league.
Unsurprisingly, no other Giants made the list.
