Giants would be making a mistake parting ways with DC Wink Martindale

The New York Giants will have to make several changes to their roster and personnel this offseason, but DC Don "Wink" Martindale shouldn't be one of them.

Prior to Sunday's 10-7 win over the New England Patriots, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported that the relationship between Martindale and Giants HC Brian Daboll has fallen into a "bad place” and might be beyond repair.

“These guys are in a bad place – bad place to the point where I don’t see them actually continuing their relationship after this season, maybe not even during this season,” Glazer said on "Fox NFL Sunday." “There could be a mutual parting of ways. When I talk to people inside that organization they’re saying the tension between these two, you can feel it. And it’s just getting worse.”

Although Daboll brushed off the report in his postgame news conference, quipping that "the biggest argument Wink and I have had is who has the last piece of pizza," Glazer isn't one to fabricate stories for headlines. With a 4-8 record and presumably out of the playoff picture, the Giants should retool Daboll's staff, though they'd be foolish to cut ties with Martindale despite his defense ranking 26th in the NFL in points per game allowed (24.3). 

While the Giants have endured several blowout losses since Martindale was hired prior to the 2022 season, his defense is one of the main reasons they aren't vying for the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Through 12 games, New York has allowed the third-fewest yards per game (281.8) and has forced 19 turnovers, including 12 interceptions – already twice as many as it registered last season. Additionally, over their last seven contests, the Giants have held opponents under the league average of 21.7 points per game five times. 

Much of the defense's success has been attributed to GM Joe Schoen's commitment to overhauling the unit to cater to Martindale's system and the growth of the players within it. After the Giants invested two first-round picks on defenders over the past two drafts, along with spending lavishly on multiple key defensive contributors during free agency, it would be a disservice to the players and Martindale to make such a drastic change.

It's also worth noting that New York has seen 2019 first-round DT Dexter Lawrence develop into an All-Pro under Martindale while OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux has emerged as a premier pass-rusher in his sophomore season. Parting ways with Martindale could not only have an adverse effect on the field but may also call the franchise's direction into question, which isn't an ideal situation for the front office of a rebuilding team. 

The Giants have plenty of work to do before they can think about returning to the playoffs, but they should start by upgrading their offensive coaching staff and 32nd-ranked scoring offense.