Bobby Okereke shares surprising take about Giants' leadership

During a Wednesday appearance on the "Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams," veteran New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke shared a surprising take about who could emerge as an outspoken leader now that running back and former New York captain Saquon Barkley is a member of the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles.

"It might be me," Okereke explained, as shared by Nick Shook of the NFL's website. "I feel like I'm stepping into that role a little bit. We've got great leaders on this team. (Left tackle) Andrew Thomas, he's a mountain of a man. He leads by example. (Defensive tackle) Dexter Lawrence, I mean his play speaks for itself. And (placekicker) Graham Gano, one of the wisest guys, been here for a long time, had a lot of success in this league. That's our leadership core. We have guys that are growing. We're a young team, but we've got to lead from the front."

Shook noted that "including a kicker as a candidate for team leader is admittedly strange," but it may also say plenty about certain questions hovering over the Giants this summer. Specifically, some remain convinced that general manager Joe Schoen and/or head coach Brian Daboll wanted to find a long-term replacement for starting quarterback Daniel Jones this offseason.

It's too early to say what Jones will and won't be coming off the torn ACL in his right knee he suffered on Nov. 5. The Giants can escape his contract next offseason, and it's possible that Jones, Schoen and Daboll could all be elsewhere come March 2025.

As for New York's defense, Schoen and Daboll hope the offseason acquisition of star pass-rusher Brian Burns will bolster a unit that may have to carry the Giants to some victories this fall.

"This guy's electric," Okereke said about Burns. "This guy is a game changer. I can't wait until he puts on the jersey for game one and gets to play. He's a prolific player."

Much has been made about how behind-the-scenes issues involving Daboll and his staff impacted the 2023 Giants. Would-be leaders such as Okereke will need to ensure others inside the locker room tune out such noise if Big Blue is to compete for anything of note this coming season.