The New York Giants enter crucial season with a defense that is looking to improve, and linebacker Bobby Okereke is right in the middle of that endeavor.
Coming off a spectacular season in his first campaign with the Giants after signing a four-year deal in free agency, Okereke is entrenched right in the middle of the defense.
In the eyes of Zoltan Buday of Pro Football Focus, Okereke is the most underrated player on the roster.
Okereke was everything and even more that the Giants might have hoped for when they signed him as a free agent in 2023. Not only did he play a career-high snap total, but his 1,128 snaps over the regular season ranked second among all linebackers. In addition, his 78.9 overall grade ranked 12th among linebackers.
An athletic, rangy and lengthy linebacker, Okereke was an active member of the Giants defense both in the passing game and against the run. He allowed an 89.1 passer rating in coverage and 8.6 yards per reception.
The Giants defense struggled massively against the run as a unit, but Okereke was one of the lone bright spots in that area.
Going into his second season with the Giants, the Stanford product will need to continue producing at a high level if they are going to take a step forward.
