Ducks Fly Together: Kayvon Praises Giants' Chemistry

The New York Giants failed to live up to its presumed pass-rush synergy in 2024, dealing with injuries and struggles on the back end to create an underwhelming unit. Blame defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, the offense putting them behind the eight ball, or a talent level that didn’t quite meet the hype, but New York was worse than the sum of its parts a season ago.

General manager Joe Schoen ensured that wouldn’t be the case in 2025. In free agency, he immediately injected athleticism and ball skills into a unit that desperately needed it, signing corner Paulson Adebo and safety Jevon Holland. In the NFL Draft, New York found the class’ best edge rusher, Abdul Carter, and promising defensive tackle Darius Alexander.

This defense is filled to the brim with talent, but less tangible factors could make a similar impact.

Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux rekindles his Oregon connection with Holland and spoke about the team’s chemistry at minicamp.

“Man, I love him having safety Jevón,” Thibodeaux said. “I played with Jevón back in college and he's always been a field general. Paulson's great. He's been doing his thing. He's a leader. But I think just having that, those extra pieces definitely does add to the nucleus of the defense.”

Holland hasn’t racked up accolades just yet, but he’s widely viewed as a Pro Bowl-level talent. He had a lackluster season in terms of ball production in 2024, but there’s reason to believe he can find the football, especially in a defense that’s going to get after the quarterback. Across his first four seasons, Holland has generated five interceptions, five forced fumbles, and 25 passes defended.

“Yeah, he got a nose for the ball ever since college, he's been getting that ball out whether it's interceptions or punch outs and things like that,” Thibodeaux said. “But he's definitely, he makes his teammates better and he knows everything that's going on, so I think that's definitely going to help some of the younger guys step up and then also help the defense as a whole.”

Holland signed a three-year, $45.3 million deal, rather similar to Adebo’s three-year, $54 million contract. The two, with similar skill sets and Pac-12 pedigree, will hope to change the fortunes of New York’s defense.

“I think it's kind of interesting how Joe went and got a Stanford guy for (linebacker) Bobby (Okereke), an Oregon guy for me, and we got a couple Oregon guys on the team, but bringing in guys that know each other that can play well together, that can do what needs to get done.”