Giants Who Could Win Postseason Awards

Newsweek

2 days ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Several years ago, it became painfully apparent that the general public had been misled by coach and player speak. Typically when things were said like, 'This is just another game' by the New York Giants organization, everyone just believed what they were being told. Year after year, however, something became obvious.
The G-Men always seemed to circle their games vs. the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles and play a little harder when their arch rivals are on the other sideline. Everyone realizes that, right? Ladies and gentlemen, all games aren't created equally in the minds of NFL stars.
Abdul Carter #51, New York Giants
Abdul Carter #51, New York Giants
Photo by/Newsweek/Getty Images
Listing the misguided truths that we have been fed for decades would take another story and several hundred more words. That being said, let's discuss the reason for today's gathering: individual achievements in football.
Several Giants Have Realistic Chance at Winning NFL Honor
'He'd trade every individual honor for team success.' Most have heard that stated before, right? Yep... That's another misguided theory. While it's true that most NFL stars care about their team and want to win, others want to get paid.
As a matter of fact, all of them want to get paid. Make no mistake about it. There's nothing wrong with that. Football careers can end suddenly. Guys are trying to make their money and set their families up for life.
Sure, there are players who would trade most of what they have for that elusive Super Bowl ring. There are also players who'd trade that Super Bowl for a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame if only one goal was achievable.
Neither guy is wrong. What's the point? Thanks for asking the question. Much of that has been said to state the following. When contracts are hammered out at the negotiating table, guys talk about their resumes.
When asking for the extension, it's always great to have some postseason accolades and a few feathers in the cap, and even though it's probably much too early to discuss this, several Giants have realistic chances of winning some of their own.
Abdul Carter - Defensive Rookie of the Year
The best pass rusher in the 2025 NFL Draft has made his home in the Big Apple. Much like Jared Verse a season ago, Abdul Carter is fully capable of taking the league by storm and making an instant impact.
Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns (more on him in a second) are going to command much of the opposing offense's attention. That means Carter has a great opportunity to carve out some big moments and huge plays.
Keep an eye on this rookie. He's going to be fun to watch for a very long time.
Cam Skattebo - Offensive Rookie of the Year
Came Skattebo entered the Giants offseason as, at best, the third running back on their depth chart. Trust this next statement. Cam Skattebo isn't going to be in that position long. He's going to climb the ranks.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary are officially on notice. Cam can ball, and a memorable first run in the nation's biggest media market could lead to instant stardom and a lot of attention.
Russell Wilson and/or Jameis Winston - Comeback Player of the Year
Russell Wilson will probably win the starting job, but at this point in his career, there's no guarantee he's better than Jameis Winston. There's also no guarantee that Jameis is better than 'Dangeruss' either. Both are on the downward turn. Injuries can occur. So can poor performance. Who knows who will be starting by the midpoint of the season.
The Giants are going to be on the wrong side of a few scoreboards, and that will force a desperate Brian Daboll to air it out often. If the ball bounces Big Blue's way a few times and New York can win a few games, one of these guys might gain some recognition.
Heck, it happened for Geno Smith. Why can't it happen for either of these two?
Brian Burns - NFL Defensive Player of the Year
Micah McFadden checks all of the boxes for a Defensive MVP candidate, but for some reason, he often flies under the radar nationally. That seems impossible in a city like New York, but it is what it is. That's another story for another day.
That being said, place an asterisk beside Brian Burns' name. He's the bigger draw, and these postseason awards shows can be popularity contests. He notched 8.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 2024, and this could be a bigger year.
If he cracks double-digit sacks and shows up in some big moments, New York's media engine could help spearhead a DPOY push. Don't count him out. This is why he was brought here, to be mentioned among the elite annually.