With Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen fired, let’s take a look at the biggest issues his replacement must address in 2026, when the Giants surely will have a new head coach and a new defensive coordinator.
• Finishing games: Well, yeah. The Giants’ inability to do this (especially on defense) is the main reason Bowen got canned at 2-10. The Giants have blown a fourth-quarter lead in half of their losses. Yes, they need a head coach who can teach them how to win. They also need a defensive coordinator who can oversee a unit that doesn’t wilt down the stretch.
• Stopping the run: Bowen’s defense was absolutely atrocious against the run, as the Giants went 3-14 last season, before this year’s 2-10 debacle. They currently are last in Pro Football Focus’ run defense ratings, after finishing 22nd in 2024. It’s impossible to win like that.
• Getting more from Abdul Carter: Yes, the Giants are 12th in PFF’s pass rush ratings. But Carter, this year’s third overall draft pick, has not cashed in often enough. The Giants need to find a defensive coordinator who can unleash him.
Brian Burns leads the Giants with 39 pressures (one more than Carter). The two edge rushers actually have comparable PFF grades (74.2 for Burns and 75.0 for Carter). But Carter has just half a sack, compared to 13 for Burns.
Carter clearly is better than Kayvon Thibodeaux (58.0 grade, 32 pressures, 2.5 sacks). But half a sack in 12 games isn’t good enough.
• Major problems in secondary: Paulson Adebo has underwhelmed in his debut season as the Giants’ No. 1 corner — 51.1 coverage grade and five missed games. But his contract means he’ll be back in 2026, when it’s entirely possible the Giants will draft a corner high.
Deonte Banks is a lost cause. That is obvious. But are the Giants ready to give up on Cor’Dale Flott? He’s had a pretty good year (73.3 grade) and has performed much better than Adebo (low bar there).
Bottom line: Even after spending big on Adebo and safety Jevon Holland (52.8 coverage grade) this past offseason, the Giants’ secondary remains a mess. They are 24th in PFF’s coverage ratings, just three spots better than last year.
In addition to Adebo and Holland underwhelming, the Giants aren’t getting enough from two second-year premium picks (both starters) in their secondary. Slot corner Dru Phillips has a 57.6 coverage grade, while safety Tyler Nubin checks in at 59.1. Can these young players be fixed?
• What to do with Bobby Okereke? The Giants’ middle linebacker will be 30 when next season opens. It’s the final year of his contract. Will the Giants bring him back? They would free up $9 million in salary cap space by cutting him, with $5.4 million in dead money attached.
He has not played well this season. His PFF grades are down across the board. Last season, he graded 74.9 overall. This year, he’s at 55.2. In run defense, he has dipped from 71.8 to 49.8. In coverage, 68.2 to 59.1.
He is healthy this season, after playing 12 games last year. But he’s not thriving. It might be time to say goodbye, with a new coordinator arriving.