Giants 2025 Position Breakdown: Micah McFadden primed for breakout season

Heading into the 2025 season, theGiantsare coming off another incredibly disappointing campaign, which saw them go 3-14 and take another step in the wrong direction, putting GMJoe Schoenand head coachBrian Dabollfirmly on the hot seat. But as the team heads into 2025, there's optimism that the Giants will be an improved squad.

In this series, we'll break down the depth chart for every position group. This time, we'll go in-depth at the linebacker position...

(NOTE: This article highlights the Giants' off-the-ball linebackers. Outside linebackers were included in the edge rushers breakdown)

Projected depth chart

Starters: Bobby Okereke, Micah McFadden
Backups: Darius Muasau, Dyontae Johnson, Chris Board, Ty Summers, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
Key additions/losses: Isaiah Simmons signed with Packers in free agency
Top Performers in 2024: McFadden, with 107 combined tackles, 3.0 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, eight tackles for loss
2024 ranking via PFF: Okereke ranked 29th out of 189 linebackers

What Giants linebackers have going for them

While the Giants have some questions to answer with their secondary and their defensive line, their starting linebacker duo may be one of the better tandems in the NFL.

Okereke has been exactly what the Giants were hoping he'd be when they signed him to a four-year, $40 million contract prior to the 2023 season: a veteran leader who provides a steady presence in the middle of the defense.

But the rising star here is McFadden, who has quietly become one of the Giants' best players since he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. McFadden has eclipsed the 100-tackle mark in each of his two seasons as a full-time starter, and he's also proven himself as a playmaker behind the line of scrimmage, totaling 6.0 sacks and 26 tackles for loss as a pro.

McFadden and Okereke, if healthy, should continue to be one of the better linebacker duos in the NFL.

Key concern for 2025: Keeping Okereke on the field

After playing all 17 games in his first year as a Giant in 2023, Okereke missed the final five games of the 2024 season due to a herniated disk in his back.

The good news for Giants fans is that 2024 may have been an anomaly for Okereke, as he'd never played less than 14 games in a prior season.

McFadden is more than capable of wearing the green dot and communicating the defensive play calls, but the Giants are better when they have Okereke on the field.

Player who must step up in 2025: McFadden

It sounds strange to say that one of the Giants' best players needs to step up, but McFadden is in a contract year, and if he plays well, he could be in for a massive payday.

The Giants could look to lock McFadden up with a long-term extension sooner rather than later, and it wouldn't be very surprising to see a deal get done during training camp. But if the linebacker is still playing for his next contract throughout the season, he could be in for a big year.

Biggest camp battle: Muasau vs. the starters

With both Okereke and McFadden missing time last season, Muasau ended up making seven starts. He piled up 55 tackles and one interception, and while there's plenty of room for improvement, the former sixth-round pick could push for playing time with a good preseason.

Overall 2025 outlook

As is the case for many positions on the Giants' roster, depth at linebacker will be a question mark. Behind the two starters are Muasau and then some intriguing names in Johnson, Board, Summers, and Flannigan-Fowles, players who have some NFL experience but not much time as starters, should they be called upon to move up the depth chart.

But the Giants will go as the combo of Okereke and McFadden go, and this could be McFadden's year to step up and become a household name around the league. If he does that, he'd likely lock in a big contract with the Giants, and could be a cornerstone of their defense for years to come.