Is Carter Coughlin's Giants Roster Spot in Jeopardy?
Carter Coughlin, Inside Linebacker
Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 236 pounds
2022 Stats: GP 17 / GS 0, 9 tackles (7 solo), 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
While he has no familial connection to the franchise’s former, two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach, Carter Coughlin is one of the most notable players on the fringe of the New York Giants roster after a more than mediocre 2022 season.
The inside linebacker joined New York from the University of Minnesota when he was drafted in the seventh round of the 2020 draft. He played four years for the Golden Gophers and tallied two second-team All-Big Ten honors in his junior and senior seasons, but the success hasn’t translated as much to the NFL level.
His rookie campaign numbers weren’t terrible, as he garnered 193 total snaps, including 99 in pass rush reps, and made 17 total tackles and one sack. Since then, the fourth-year player has only touched 15 tackles and one forced fumble with recovery.
Beyond the tackling woes, Coughlin has also struggled to be a presence in the backfield over the past two years. He showed some pressure ability with 11 pressures in 2020, but the next two stints saw all of his defensive grades drop to career lows, and his poor coverage skills led to feasts for opposing receivers.
Having these issues last fall more prominently, Coughlin finds himself within a linebackers group that is no longer a dire need as it was two months ago. Like other players, he’ll have to work extremely hard in training camp to show the coaching staff he still has a role within the Giants before he has none at summer’s end.
Best Case Scenario
Coughlin could remain with the Giants for the start of the 2023 season by building on his niche on the special teams unit.
Since his rookie debut, the 25-year-old has played in 701 snaps for Thomas McGaughey’s crew, mostly coming from kickoff returns and coverage. He’s also done some field goal defense work, and it’s helped him receive 14 total tackles and respectable special teams grades from PFF.
Despite his increased work on special teams, Coughlin still has missed some tackles attempting to make a play on the returner. This could be the most critical component to fix if he wants to help improve the unit’s performance but also shows the Giants he can be on the field for defense again this season.
The best possible gateway for Coughlin to see the defensive interior is protecting the endzone on special teams, and that starts this summer. He could also return to the fold if the injury bug rears its head early on, but that’s not a situation Big Blue wants to happen again.
Worst Case Scenario
After general manager Joe Schoen did his thing in free agency and the draft, the Giants’ linebacker room is stacked with impressive resumes. Several names are returning after solid efforts in 2022, and a few others will battle to earn their spot following injuries or signing with the organization.
Coughlin’s stats and intangibles don’t warrant him protection from the front office’s gavel, so it’s possible that if he doesn't ramp up his production, he could find himself on the outside looking in.
What to Expect in 2023?
Barring any substantial injuries to the position before the regular season arrives, it seems likely that Coughlin will be searching for a new destination to play in 2023. Outside of special teams, he hasn’t lived up to the defensive prowess that intrigued the Giants to snag him from Minnesota three years ago.
Even then, Coughlin needs to work on the basics of his game before he can truly thrive on any NFL roster going forward. He wasn’t an ineffective player at the college level, but the professional realm requires more attention to detail, given the competition knows how to gain the upper hand.
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