What Can IDL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Bring to Giants Defense?

Let's take a look at what the Giants' newest defensive lineman can potentially offer the team.

The biggest story for the New York Giants on the first day of the legal tampering period was the signing of linebacker Bobby Okereke from the Colts. Still, the first signing that the team made was interior defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches.

While Nunez-Roches wasn’t exactly a splash signing for the Giants, general manager Joe Schoen expressed an interest in improving the depth on the defensive line this offseason, and Nunez-Roches affords him that possibility, as in an ideal world, Nunez-Roches is the first defensive lineman to rotate in should Leonard Williams or Dexter Lawrence come off the field. 

Nunez-Roches has spent most of his career lining up as a three-technique or a one-technique. The three-technique lines up on the outside shoulder of either guard, whereas the one-technique is lined up on the guard's inside shoulder. 

In 2022, Justin Ellis tried to fill both roles for the Giants with little success. Nunez-Roches is expected to take on the role that was the role given to Justin Ellis off the bench to rotate into both of those spots and should be expected for Nunez-Roches.

Skillset-wise, Nunez-Roches has been sound as a run defender on the interior and should help improve a Giants defense that was sixth-worst in rushing yards allowed per game and second-worst in yards per carry allowed.

As a pass-rusher, Nunez-Roches likely won’t bring much to the table, but as a depth player on the interior defensive line, that probably won’t be part of his job description anyway.

Contractually, Nunez-Roches signed a three-year deal worth $12M with $5,465,000 guaranteed. The Giants will have found a steal if Nunez-Roches becomes a starter and exceeds expectations.  

Schoen might not have had this as his splash signing, but it's a low-risk type of move as if Nunez-Roches exceeds expectations, he'd be a great value addition; if he does not, he can be cut with minimal dead money hit.

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