This Giants LB is tabbed for a 'breakout' 2023 season

Darrian Beavers. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

This Giants linebacker is tabbed for a 'breakout' 2023 season

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 8/9/23

New York Giants linebacker Darrian Beavers has yet to play an NFL snap, but many within league circles believe the former Cincinnati standout is in for a big 2023 campaign.

Beavers is among the "breakout" candidates this season, according to a poll of NFL executives, coaches and scouts conducted by Matt Lombardo of fanbuzz.com.

A college scouting director for an AFC squad called Beavers a "big, physical athlete" and lauded him for his versatility.

"You can put him at linebacker or on the outside as a pass-rusher," the scouting director said. "His true value is his ability to line up in multiple spots and create mismatches with his size."

Selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Giants had high hopes for the 6-foot-4, 255-pounder. However, after showing flashes in the training camp, the 24-year-old tore his ACL during the preseason, ending his rookie year before it started.

Great screen recognition & TFL for Darrian Beavers pic.twitter.com/Ud9xUtSATW
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) August 11, 2022

A top candidate to fill one of the starting spots in Wink Martindale's defense, Beavers is also a massive believer in himself. Earlier this year, Beavers posted an intense message via social media, saying he was heading into 2023 with a "chip on his shoulder."

Meanwhile, Beavers told Giants TV that the injury was in the rearview.

"When I'm on the field I don't even think about what happened or anything like that," Beavers said. "I want to be the best I can be on the field — there's so much stuff that I gotta do presnap before a play to even worry about my knee."

In his final season at Cincinnati, Beavers helped lead the program to the College Football Playoff for the first time, posting a career-high 98 tackles, with four sacks and one interception.

Whether or not Beavers' output will translate to the NFL level now that he's fully healthy remains to be seen. However, those in the know think it will if Beavers gets the opportunity.

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