New York Giants sign LB Darrian Beavers to rookie contract

The New York Giants have signed sixth-round draft pick, linebacker Darrian Beavers, to a four-year deal.

Beavers, a linebacker from the College Football Playoffs Cincinnati team, signed a four-year deal worth $3.866 million including a $206,536 signing bonus.

The Giants believe that they got an absolute steal in Beavers in the sixth round. For many, Beavers was a top-10 linebacker in the draft and a top-120 prospect but the Giants were able to get him with the 186th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

Beavers had a phenomenal collegiate career totaling 230 tackles (27.5 for a loss), 13.5 sacks, and three interceptions over five seasons. Most recently, in 2021, he recorded 98 tackles (11 for a loss), 4.0 sacks, and one interception while helping to lead Cincinnati to a top-10 defense in college football and to a College Football Playoff matchup with Alabama.

More than his elite college production, Beavers poises as a perfect scheme fit for the Giants. With new defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale, New York will be wanting to blitz their linebackers often and will need big strong guys to man the center of their defense. Beavers stands at 6-foot-4, 237 pounds, and is a nightmare blitzing the quarterback as can be seen from his 13.5 career sacks.

Overall, the Giants were in desperate need of some linebacker depth outside of Blake Martinez, and now with the signing of Beavers and drafting Micah McFadden, they should be able to have a nice rotation of guys at that position.