Giants’ LB Bobby Okereke has been worth the money

The big contract Okereke signed before the 2023 season doesn’t look like a mistake now

Bobby Okereke received a four-year, $40 million contract from the New York Giants a year ago, with the $21.8 million in guaranteed money being the fourth-most given to a linebacker.

Overpay? Some thought so. Okereke, though, had a tremendous 2023 season with the Giants, quickly becoming a core player and leader, and showing he was deserving of the contract GM Joe Schoen gave him.

How will Okereke, who loved playing for former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, handle the transition to new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen’s defense? Let’s discuss as we continue player-by-player profiles of the Giants’ 90-man roster.

The skinny

Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 235
Opening day age: 28
Position: Inside linebacker
Experience: 5
Contract: Year 2 of four-year, $40 million deal | 2024 cap hit: $11.205 million | Guaranteed in 2024: $7.9 million

Career to date

Okereke was a third-round selection by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2019 NFL Draft. He did not become a full-time starter until 2021, his third season. He had 132 tackles (89 solo) in 2021 and 151 (99 solo) in 2022.

In need of a leader in the middle of their defense, the Giants made a big financial commitment to Okereke in free agency before the 2023 season.

He did nothing to make that look like a mistake.

Okereke quickly became the quarterback of Wink Martindale’s defense. He played every defensive snap. He finished with career highs in tackles (151), quarterback hits (6), pressures (9), tackles for loss (11), forced fumbles (4), sacks (2.5) and tied his career high with two interceptions.

Okereke’s 78.9 Pro Football Focus grade was a career-best, highlighted by an 82.5 pass coverage grade, also a career-best. Okereke missed a career-low 7.7% of his tackle attempts.

2024 outlook

Okereke was a vocal supporter of Martindale a season ago, but change comes quickly in the NFL and Okereke is adapting.

“It’s the NFL so there are player changes, coaching changes every year,” Okereke said at the beginning of the offseason program. “I loved Wink, loved playing for him, but very excited to be a part of (Defensive Coordinator) Shane’s (Bowen) defense.”

Bowen’s scheme will be less blitz-reliant than Martindale’s.

“Coming from Wink’s (Martindale) system where we’re blitzing 40-50% of [the] time and playing zero coverage, a little less aggressive from that standpoint. From a run point we’ll be aggressive, and obviously based on the down and distance situation, we’ll play aggressive, too,” Okereke said during mandatory minicamp.

“Wink kind of wanted you to play hard and fast. You know, just play physical, downhill, figure it out. Here it’s a process of elimination. If this guy goes vertical, you check two; if two does this, you check three. You kind of put it in buckets, and that’s the process of decision-making I was talking about.”

Okereke, now in his sixth season, has learned several defensive systems during his career.

“I think I’m just adding tools to my tool belt,” Okereke said. “The Wink Martindale style of defense, I have that in my tool belt; the Eberflus style of defense, I have that in my tool belt; the Gus Bradley style of defense, I got that in me tool belt, and now I’m learning Shane’s. I think it’s just making me that much better of a football player.

“When we blitz, there will be a lot of teachings from Wink I’ll take and carry over. When we play cover three, there will be a lot of stuff from Gus Bradley I’ll take over, quarters with Flus. That’s my skill set.”

Okereke will be important to Bowen’s defense, as evidenced here:

Okereke will be earning his money again in 2024.