Giants stack – In MISRYOUM’s NFC East position-by-position grades, the New York Giants earn three points at linebacker, lifting them into a tie with the Commanders at 8 points after cornerback, safety, and linebacker reviews. Dallas and Philadelphia sit close behind at 7 eac
For the New York Giants, the linebacker room has been hard to trust in recent seasons. So when training camp approaches in July, the stakes feel extra sharp: can the unit finally look like it belongs on the field—week after week?
MISRYOUM’s latest position-by-position look across the NFC East focuses on linebackers. using a simple scoring method: the best positional group gets four points and the “worst” gets one. It’s a blunt exercise. complicated by the fact that no team’s linebacker room is clearly dominant—at least on paper. But in the end, New York pulls ahead enough to matter.
Dallas lands at the bottom in this review. The Cowboys receive DeMarvion Overshown “with a year removed from his knee injury.” He returned last year in Week 11. but the expectation here is that a further year of recovery should put him closer to the explosive pursuit level he’s known for. Dallas also adds Dee Winters. signed as a free agent to compete with third-round pick Jaishawn Barham. opposite second-year player Shemar James. Despite the talent, the linebacker group is graded the clear-cut fourth in the division, earning Dallas just one point.
Behind that grade sits a deeper Dallas comparison: Zack Baun might be the best overall linebacker in the division. He has two elite seasons with Vic Fangio, earning two Pro-Bowl bids and a First-Team All-Pro in 2024. Second-year linebacker Jihaad Campbell played well in his rookie season too, giving Philadelphia a steadier base at the top. But the review points to a gap behind Baun and Campbell—solid starters, limited proven depth. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Smael Mondon Jr. are the options set to start if something happens, but the assessment favors New York’s depth. Philadelphia earns two points.
Then comes the key swing for the Giants: three points. The veteran addition of Tremaine Edmunds is matched by the selection of Arvell Reese. plus the decision to play Reese at linebacker. The review frames it as a strong group built for versatility, length, and upside. It’s not just starters, either.
The Giants also bring back Micah McFadden on a one-year prove-it deal. His contract year was cut short after a Week 1 injury. but the belief is that he can serve as a reliable option if something happens to Edmunds or Reese—while Darius Muasau is described as more tied to special teams. The Giants also add sixth-round pick Jack Kelly, who is not ruled out for defensive snaps as the season progresses.
What that adds up to, in this grading exercise, is a linebacker unit that still carries risk—but doesn’t feel thin. In a division where the totals across other position groups are already tight, those three points become the difference between hanging around and separating even slightly.
Washington, though, refuses to let New York run away with it. The Commanders earn four points in the linebacker review. The expectation is that Dan Quinn will use these linebackers aggressively. Washington moved on from veterans like Bobby Wagner and leaned into youth. selecting Sonny Styles in the top 10 and signing the 25-year-old Leo Chenal. Chenal is described as versatile. strong coming forward toward the line of scrimmage. and impactful as a blitzer—similar to Frankie Luvu. who remains on the roster as a third linebacker with edge ability.
Styles, Chenal, and Luvu are treated as a solid trio, with Jordan Magee as a young fourth option. Magee is called quick and undersized. and his production from last season matters in the grading: he recorded 21 STOPs with solid tape. In the end, the Commanders get the full four points—barely edging out both the Giants and Eagles.
The real story becomes clear when the review moves from individual rooms to the scoreboard.
Across cornerback, safety, and linebacker, the Giants and Commanders sit at 8 points each. Dallas and Philadelphia trail at 7 points apiece. The reviewer even frames the upcoming defensive line review as the next true test. with “something” suggesting the Giants will do well on the edge room. though defensive line uncertainty remains.
For now, though, New York has something it hasn’t always had heading into July: a linebacker grade that doesn’t feel like wishful thinking. In an NFC East where totals are essentially dead even, that matters.
NFC East grades New York Giants linebacker depth Tremaine Edmunds Arvell Reese Micah McFadden DeMarvion Overshown Zack Baun Jihaad Campbell Sonny Styles Leo Chenal