Top 20 most important Giants: Nos. 10-6

We have reached the top 10 of our look at the top 20 most important New York Giants of 2024. Let’s get to it.

No. 10 — Jon Runyan Jr. (G)

Signing Runyan was the Giants’ biggest financial move of the offseason when it came to making much-needed improvements on their offensive line. Will it pay off?

Runyan was never a great player in four seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He was a good, durable one who did not miss games and who showed the ability and willingness to play both guard spots. Runyan’s reputation is that he is a better pass blocker than run blocker. In 2023, Runyan was ranked No. 41 overall out of 54 qualifying guards by Pro Football Focus. Runyan’s 97.9 pass-blocking efficiency score, though, was sixth-best. With the Giants wanting to build a more pass-centric offense, that is critical.

The Giants are stationing Runyan at right guard. They are hoping he will be a stabilizing influence on second-year center John Michael Schmitz and third-year right tackle Evan Neal, both of whom need to play better in 2024.

No. 9 — Kayvon Thibodeaux (Edge)

Thibodeaux had 11.5 sacks and 42 total pass rush pressures a season ago. He was second on the Giants behind Dexter Lawrence with 16 quarterback hits. Not bad, but it feels like Thibodeaux has yet to reach the dominant level of many of the NFL’s best edge defenders, and of what might be hoped for from a player selected No. 5 overall in the draft.

The Giants need Thibodeaux to at least take another step toward reaching that level in 2024. Thibodeaux is one of the players the Giants look at as a potential game-changer, and to have a chance to be relevant they need him to play that way. They hope the addition of two-time Pro Bowl edge defender Brian Burns will help him get there.

No. 8 — Bobby Okereke (ILB)

In episode 1 of ‘Hard Knocks’, we saw new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen tell Giants coaches and staffs how important inside linebacker was to his defense. Fortunately for Bowen, the Giants have Okereke.

After signing a four-year, $40 million free agent contract with the Giants a year ago, Okereke quickly became the on-field brain of Wink Martindale’s defense. He will do the same for Bowen.

Not to mention that he is coming off a fantastic season and, at 28, should have several quality seasons ahead.

No. 7 — Deonte Banks (CB)

The Giants were jubilant when they were able to trade up in Round 1 a year ago to get Banks, expecting that the former Maryland Terrapin would eventually become their No. 1 cornerback.

Ready or not, they are asking the 23-year-old to be that in 2024.

The Giants will play more zone in Bowen’s defense than they did in Martindale’s. That will ease the pressure on cornerbacks to play on an island and have to consistently win one-on-one matchups. When the Giants do play man coverage, though, it will be Banks who most often gets the assignment against the opponent’s best wide receiver.

Whether he is or is not up the challenge will go a long way toward determining the quality of the Giants’ secondary.

No. 6 — Brian Burns (Edge)

GM Joe Schoen took a huge swing at improving the Giants’ defense by trading for Burns. He gave up a second-round pick and a pair of fifth-round picks, plus paid Burns a guaranteed $87.5 million over the next five seasons.

The Giants are banking that the 26-year-old two-time Pro Bowler, coming off an average season, is still an ascending player. They are also banking on the idea that his presence will make Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence better players.

It is important to a defense with questions in the secondary that the Giants are right about Burns.

The full list

No. 1 —
No. 2 —
No. 3 —
No. 4 —
No. 5 —
No. 6 — Brian Burns
No. 7 — Deonte Banks
No. 8 — Bobby Okereke
No. 9 — Kayvon Thibodeaux
No. 10 — Jon Runyan Jr.
No. 11 — John Michael Schmitz
No. 12 — Jermaine Eluemunor
No. 13 — Wan’Dale Robinson
No. 14 — Cor’Dale Flott
No. 15 — Jason Pinnock
No. 16 — Micah McFadden
No. 17 — Tyler Nubin
No. 18 — Graham Gano
No. 19 — Devin Singletary
No. 20 — Isaiah Simmons