Can Micah McFadden Earn a Starting Role on Giants Defense?

New York Giants inside linebacker Micah McFadden is looking to earn the ILB2 role net to Bobby Okereke.

New York Giants linebacker Micah McFadden was thrown into the deep end of the starters pool last season and asked to start seven games when the Giants began to have trouble finding a solid inside linebacker combination.

But the team's 2022 fifth-round draft pick told Giants Country that he was unfazed when he got the nod.

“As a rookie, you always want to start, so that expectation is in your mind already,” McFadden said. “You want to be a guy they can rely on and be somebody they can throw in there when needed. At the beginning of the season, I wasn’t expecting to start, but as the season got going and I started playing more, I knew it was a possibility. I was glad to get opportunities like that.”

Giants head coach Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale turned to the Day 3 draft pick numerous times throughout the season. Interestingly, McFadden was the only Giants' rookie draft class member last year to not have to deal with injuries that cost him game snaps.

“Being part of the pros is taking care of your body and being able to recover quickly to get ready for the week by making a plan," McFadden said. "I think I found my routine pretty early, and I stuck to it by trusting the process. Once it comes to game time, anything could happen like that, and nobody hopes for those things to happen. But you just keep playing hard and fast and hope everything works out.”

In 17 games, McFadden totaled 59 tackles, including six for loss, two sacks, and a forced fumble. His solid numbers may give him a shot at this season’s second starting inside linebacker spot next to Bobby Okereke.

However, that spot is still up for grabs as fellow 2022 Day 3 draft pick Darrian Beavers is also competing for the spot. Beavers impressed throughout last year’s training camp but missed his entire rookie campaign due to an ACL tear suffered during the preseason.

Now that Beavers is healthy, he and McFadden have emerged as the primary candidates for the role next to Okereke.

McFadden has been focused on improving every area of his game, particularly one that he had some inconsistency with.

“I’ve been working on my pass drops and covering people,” McFadden said. “Not specifically man coverage, but getting my eyes around and keeping my feet underneath me when I’m working backward instead of attacking the line of scrimmage.”

McFadden focused on pass coverage this offseason because Martindale and Daboll plan to deploy their inside linebackers in coverage more this year.

“The coaches emphasize putting players in those positions to cover all pass catchers,” McFadden said. “Depending on the type of coverage, you could be put in man situations as well, but yeah, I definitely expect to drop back.”

McFadden played on the first team during Thursday’s practice and held his own during the pass coverage drills against running backs, receivers, and tight ends. If he shows a real difference in pass coverage by the end of training camp, the 17-game deep end may feel slightly more shallow in year two.

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