Michael Strahan, who revealed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that his No. 92 was to be retired by the Giants, knows what his former team needs if they want to get back to the playoffs.

"Can't have a bunch of nice guys and win. It doesn't work. We need to find some dogs," Strahan told The New York Times' David Marchese in a Q&A.

Being a dog on the field was a great way to describe Strahan's nature -- someone who was feared by the entire league on the defensive line. The gold jacket he received in 2014 as a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee is a pretty good indication of that.

But the stats don't tell the whole story about Strahan. He was a leader on and off the field, and that's someone he doesn't feel the Giants possess right now on the defensive side of the ball -- an area that needs a lot of work.

"Defense is where I struggle, because there are times I'm watching, and I'm going, 'Wow, this is pretty bad. We don't have a playmaker, per se, on defense,' and that's been a little disheartening," he said. "Where's the guy who inspires everybody to play better?"

With a good amount of cap space to work with and the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL Draft, GM Dave Gettleman has ample resources to find that player. Someone like Clemson's Isaiah Simmons or free agents Jadeveon Clowney and Shaq Barrett could be acquired by Big Blue to fill that role as a constant disrupter on defense.

Is that the plan? Gettleman obviously won't tell, but Strahan is a little wary of the front office's intentions at the moment. That's due to the past moves they've made over the last two seasons since Gettleman took over.

"Front-office wise, I don't know what their plan is," he said. "I mean, we got rid of Jackrabbit [Janoris Jenkins], trade [Damon] Snacks [Harrison], got rid of Odell Beckham Jr. We got rid of a lot of guys who were opinionated, but you've got to have a soul to your team."

It's not all that bad, though. Strahan likes what he sees on the offensive side of the ball, and that includes the team's new franchise quarterback in Daniel Jones. Strahan was there to watch his former teammate Eli Manning officially call it quits last Friday in East Rutherford.

"All right, the things I like: Daniel Jones," Strahan began. "Excited about Saquon Barkley. If we can get Evan Engram to stay healthy, he is a dynamic tight end. We need some work on the offensive line, and we need a big-play receiver, but offensively I feel good about the team."

As long as they stay healthy, Barkley and Engram will help out Jones tremendously over the next few seasons. Engram, especially, has struggled these past two seasons to stay on the field, while Barkley suffered his first NFL injury with a high ankle sprain last year.

When it comes to receivers, the Giants could add playmakers like Strahan suggests, but Darius Slayton's emergence in his rookie season was very promising. Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate complementing each other -- again, if healthy -- could give Big Blue two very reliable options for Jones as well.

The offensive line is the biggest issue here, and Gettleman must address that somewhere in his offseason plans. Drafting a new left tackle is also in the cards at No. 4 overall, and there are some pretty good prospects to choose from in this year's class.

Strahan, like most Giants fans, just wants to see the team get back to playing competitive football that leads to contending for a playoff spot. There are holes to fill on the roster, not to mention many questions about new head coach Joe Judge in his first ever season leading a team.

So, like everyone else, Strahan will just have to wait and see what the Giants will do heading into the new season.

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