Giants Regular Season Awards

Don’t get me wrong, New York Giants fans are plenty used to watching meaningless late-season games. After all, Big Blue has usually been well out of the playoff picture come December over the last half-dozen years. But this season’s meaninglessness feels different, and a whole lot better.

By thrashing the Indianapolis Colts 38-10 last week, the Giants have clinched their first playoff berth since 2016. Not only that, but they’ve also locked down the sixth seed in the NFC, rendering this Sunday’s regular-season finale against the division rival Philadelphia Eagles inconsequential.

To Rest or Not to Rest

It’s common practice for teams in the Giants’ position to rest starters to ensure maximum health for the playoffs. While arguments based on “morale” and “momentum” for the Giants playing their starters exist, it sure seems that head coach Brian Daboll is leaning towards giving some of his prime players the week off. “We’ll do what we think is best for the team and sit down and have conversations,” Daboll told reporters on Monday. That doesn’t sound like a coach who’s gung-ho about sending out his best on Sunday.

So, in lieu of a standard game preview this week, which seems unbefitting of a matchup in which one team won’t be trying, let’s hand out some awards for the Giants’ first winning season since 2016.

The Victor Cruz Award for Most Pleasant Surprise: WR Isaiah Hodgins

When the Giants claimed Hodgins off waivers from the Buffalo Bills back on November 2nd, he was seen as just another replacement-level receiver (see: David Sills, Marcus Johnson) that Big Blue was cycling through in a desperate attempt to field something resembling a professional receiving corps. But while the 2020 sixth-round pick didn’t hit the ground running, he steadily increased his playing time and production. He’s caught a touchdown in four of the past five games, and has arguably become quarterback Daniel Jones‘ most reliable target. It’s fair to say the Giants would not be where they are today without Hodgins’ contributions.

The Golden Tate Award for Least Likeable Player: WR Kenny Golladay

Nothing quite draws a fanbase’s ire like making a bunch of money and doing little or nothing to earn it. This season, Golladay took that formula to the extreme. The former Detroit Lion has the highest salary-cap hit on the team at over $21 million. Yet entering this final week, he has shockingly low production. Golladay has just four receptions for 51 yards and no touchdowns on the season, which would be a disappointing single-game stat line for a player of his pay grade. Whatever the reason for Golladay’s marginalization, he will go down as the worst free-agency signing in Giants history.

The Corey Webster Award for Most Underrated Player: S Julian Love

A frequent criticism of former general manager Dave Gettleman has been that he failed to hit on late-round draft picks. It’s taken until the final year of his rookie contract, but Love has proven to be a clear exception. The 2019 fourth-round pick finally entered this season as a starter after spending his first three years as a utility depth player in the secondary. As an every-down safety, Love has racked up 124 tackles and given up less than a 70% completion percentage. He embodies the “smart, tough, dependable” motto emphasized by Big Blue’s new regime.

The Amani Toomer Award for Most Reliable Player: OT Andrew Thomas

It’s hard to imagine Thomas having a better season than he did this year. He’s started and played all 16 games so far, committing just two penalties and allowing just three sacks per Pro Football Focus. The 2020 fourth-overall pick has been rock solid, holding down Jones’ blind side and giving Big Blue’s offense one if it’s few consistent aspects.

The Michael Strahan Award for Defensive Player of the Year: DT Dexter Lawrence

What a year it’s been for the Giants’ 2019 draft class. Later-round picks like Darius Slayton and Oshane Ximines exceeded expectations, Jones proved he belonged as New York’s starting quarterback, and Lawrence may have been Big Blue’s best overall player, regardless of position. The big man has racked up 7.5 sacks, 28 quarterback hits, and 68 total tackles en route to his first Pro Bowl selection. Any short list of the best nose tackles in football must include Lawrence’s name. Oh, and that picture from last week of him sacking Sam Ehlinger with one arm while holding off All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson with the other will become of the indelible images from this Giants season.

The Tiki Barber Award for Offensive Player of the Year: RB Saquon Barkley

This is Barkley’s first Pro Bowl season since his rookie campaign in 2018, and he earned it. The former second-overall pick sits fourth in the NFL in rushing yards and sixth in total yards from scrimmage. His 10 rushing touchdowns puts him ninth in the NFL. New York especially relied on him early, as Barkley surpassed 100 scrimmage yards in six of the first seven weeks. After being set back by multiple injuries over the past few years, it’s been refreshing to see Barkley look like his old explosive, dynamic self again.

The Lawrence Taylor Award for Most Valuable Player: QB Daniel Jones

Many deemed this to be a “make-or-break season” for Jones. Well, entering the final week with a playoff spot sewn up, it’s safe to put Jones squarely in the “make” category. The 2019 sixth-overall pick’s raw stats won’t blow you away (15 touchdowns and 3205 yards passing, seven touchdowns and 708 yards rushing). But they’re a clear step up from his production the last couple years, and his efficiency has improved dramatically. Jones ranks eighth in the league in completion percentage, and first with a miniscule 1.1% interception rate. The Duke product’s brand of clutch, low-turnover, dual-threat football is exactly what the Giants’ offense needed this year. Considering the objectively subpar talent around him, Jones’ quality season is even more impressive.

– Ryan Cuneo is the Managing Editor of Full Press Giants. He covers the New York Giants. Like and follow on Follow @ryan_cuneo Follow @FullPressGiants and Facebook.