Can LB Darrian Beavers Pick Up Where He Left Off Prior to His Injury?

Coming off an ACL tear suffered during the preseason, can Darrian Beavers prove to the coaching staff that he deserves a role on defense in 2023?

Author:
Andrew Parsaud
Publish date:
May 18, 2023 12:16 PM EDT

In this story:

New York Giants

Darrian Beavers, Linebacker

Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 256 pounds
2022 stats: N/A.
2021 stats*: GP 14 / GS 14. 98 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles.

*College stats at Cincinnati

Darrian Beavers, a sixth-round draft pick last year out of Cincinnati, rose the depth chart, impressing coaches with his instincts and ability to be versatile. Beavers even earned the chance to take reps with the first-team defense and received the green dot to call plays during the Giants’ preseason game against the Patriots.

That all stopped in the Giants’ Week 2 preseason matchup against the Bengals when Beavers went down with a torn ACL and went on to miss his entire rookie season. The promising start for a young player primed to make an impact in his first season has pretty much made Beavers an afterthought at linebacker.

Best Case Scenario

The Giants made many moves this offseason to improve the roster. One of the earliest was signing former Colts linebacker Bobby Okereke to a four-year deal, cementing him as the top linebacker the Giants have lacked since having a healthy Blake Martinez.

Okereke is a huge boost, but behind him, they’re banking on potential. Aside from Beavers, the Giants have Micah McFadden, Jarrad Davis, Carter Coughlin, Cam Brown, Troy Brown, and Dyontae Johnson.

The best case in this scenario is Beavers picks up right where he left off last summer, running with the first-team defense and showing the coaching staff how athletic he is. He won’t be competing for the top MIKE spot, but he can still earn a job next to Okereke. If healthy, Beavers can control his destiny and prove to everyone that he is capable of such a big role.

Worst Case Scenario

The worst thing that could happen in Beavers’ case is if he’s simply lost a step coming back from an ACL tear and gets beaten out by another player on the roster. McFadden, the other inside linebacker drafted last season, gained valuable game experience in 2022 and could potentially make a leap in year two that surpasses whatever Beavers offers.

What to Expect in 2023

Beavers will be one of the most intriguing names to watch come training camp. He was making noise for himself last summer and likely would’ve been a starter at some point during the season. It all depends on how well he’s healed from the ACL tear. It’s been almost a full year since, so assuming rehab went well, he should be ready.

As for his role, expect Beavers to be in the mix at the second inside linebacker spot, which is one of the hottest training camp battles heading into the summer. The Giants defense as a whole got better this offseason.

The defensive line is one of the best in the league. The addition of rookie cornerback Deonte Banks answers questions in the secondary, and Okereke leading the way in the linebacker room should have fans excited. Adding Beavers to the front seven could be a sneaky good move for the Giants to pair with Okereke moving forward.