A 17-game starter last season and a full-time defender to start the 2022 campaign, Tae Crowder is now on the waiver wire. The Giants cut the third-year linebacker Tuesday.
This continues a quick tumble for the former seventh-round success story. The Giants benched Crowder in Week 10 and, after not using him on a single defensive snap in their Week 13 tie with the Commanders, they made him a healthy scratch Sunday night. Crowder’s through-2023 rookie contract is now available to be claimed.
The previous Giants regime made Crowder the Mr. Irrelevant pick in the 2020 virtual draft and turned to him as a starter during his rookie season. After starting six games as a rookie, the Georgia product secured full-time status as an NFL sophomore. Last season, Crowder led the Giants with 130 tackles, intercepted two passes and defensed another six. While that seemingly positioned the off-ball linebacker to be a key piece for Brian Daboll‘s team, he did not end up fitting in under new DC Don Martindale.
The Giants benched Crowder for Jaylon Smith midway through this season. A fifth-round pick this year, Micah McFadden has also moved into a starting role under Martindale. The team re-signed Smith during the season and also brought back Landon Collins, using the former Pro Bowl safety as a linebacker during his second stint.
Collins played in his third game since rejoining the Giants, and the Jerry Reese-era draft choice played 27 defensive snaps in New York’s win over Washington. The Giants have used gameday elevations to promote Collins this season, but this Crowder cut points to the seventh-year veteran having an avenue toward being signed to the team’s 53-man roster.
Big Blue will move forward with its retooled linebacking corps, while Crowder will attempt to catch on elsewhere. He certainly has his detractors. Pro Football Focus rates the 25-year-old defender as the league’s second-worst linebacker, among those with enough snaps to qualify. The advanced metrics site slotted Crowder 86th out of 86 off-ball regulars last season. Considering Crowder’s experience, he certainly should generate attention on the wire. But this year has brought considerable negative momentum.
Just moving some pieces around. Their defense has been bend-don’t-break all year whether Crowder, Smith, or McFadden are in there. Their run defense has been absolutely brutal recently, though (giving up 181 yards per game on the ground in the last five games). Need Lawrence and Leonard Williams to step up.
A gap runs are gaining more yardage than last year I feel. However I think most of the long runs have been when either the edge gets sealed by a pull blocker or edge collapses too aggressively. Leonard I think has taken a small step back this year, but I think Winks system uses so many side blitzes that teams are checking out of runs to goto fast slants or screens so there are less chances. Curious on the PFF stats available.
A new Mr. Irrelevant for SF’s collection?
♫ He’s leavin’ (leavin’)
On that midnight train to Georgia
Leavin’ on the midnight train
Said he’s goin’ back
Goin’ back to find
To a simpler place in time
Oh yes he is ♫
Maybe the Raiders pick him up. I liked his story and I thought he did a pretty good job running the upfront defense last couple years. Granted Jaylon is a more experienced and I feel he is part of every tackle. That PFF stat is crazy, I never would have thought that watching the games.
Beg to differ….he was TERRIBLE anywhere he was assigned on defense…..bad tackling angles, missed tackles by RB’s, can’t cover the TE…..glad you think he did a pretty good job as its obvious you’ve never seen a Giants game he has played in.
Good job getting players into position. Obviously himself not included and the stats backup your statements. Every game you watch you see missed tackles, I don’t write them down as I’m watching or go back in a film session. But as rockhauler mentioned below he was first in missed tackles so you’re correct.
should replace him with Jae Crowder
Good riddance! Tired of watching Tae “King of the Missed Tackle” Crowder play for the Giants. Can’t cover TE’s, can’t tackle (leads the league in missed tackles this year), often out of position, and has the nerve to complain on Twitter when he was benched! Dude, as PFF said, you were rated 86th out of 86 LB’s, dead last! Fitting since he was the last pick in the draft by Gettleman.
Agree, he was painful to watch….couldn’t believe there weren’t better options at LB than “can’t tackle, can’t cover” Tae!
Last season he was 86 out of 86, and narrowly improved to second to last in the category this year.