A top-tier cornerback and safety help that fits Shane Bowen’s scheme is on the wish list
The biggest change the New York Giants have made so far this offseason is replacing defensive backs coaches Jerome Henderson and Mike Treier with Marquand Manuel.
Manuel’s most important job is probably trying to get the career of 2023 first-round pick Deonte Banks back on track. Job No. 2? Getting more on-ball production out of a secondary that got only four interceptions in 2024, and did not have a single player with more than one.
The Giants can, of course, help Manuel and defensive coordinator Shane Bowen with some personnel changes. If it’s me, I am making a big swing to bolster the secondary, particularly at cornerback.
Let’s examine some possibilities.
Current roster
(2025 cap hit in parenthesis)
Cornerback
Deonte Banks ($3.703M)
Cor’Dale Flott ($3.573M)
Art Green ($960,000)
Dru Phillips ($1.362M)
Dee Williams ($960,000)
Tre Hawkins ($1.067M)
Pending free agents
Adoree’ Jackson (UFA)
Greg Stroman (UFA)
Divaad Wilson (ERFA)
Safety
Tyler Nubin ($1.858M)
Dane Belton ($1.296M)
Anthony Johnson ($1.030M)
Raheem Layne ($1.1M)
Pending free agents
Jason Pinnock (UFA) | Should Pinnock stay or go?
Elijah Riley (UFA)
Pro Football Focus thinks Jackson is the free agent the Giants can least afford to lose. I disagree. He was the Giants fourth cornerback in 2024, and really shouldn’t be any more than that. I would prefer to see the Giants move on from Jackson and use that money on a more impactful player.
I think the Giants might be well-served to move on from Pinnock, as well. Pinnock is a good young player who will be just 26 next season, but I detailed a couple of weeks ago how Pinnock’s production fell in Bowen’s defensive scheme.
Seeking a player who is a better fit for what Bowen needs at safety seems like a good idea.
Potential free agent targets
Cornerback
SB Nation free agent cornerback rankings:
7. Byron Murphy
6. Carlton Davis
5. Rasul Douglas
4. Asante Samuel Jr.
3. Paulson Adebo
2. Charvarius Ward
1. D.J. Reed
Pro Football Focus free agent cornerback rankings:
D.J. Reed (No. 6 overall)
Charvarius Ward (No. 13)
Rasul Douglas (No. 15)
Carlton Davis (No. 21)
Asante Samuel Jr. (No. 26)
Byron Murphy Jr. (No. 33)
Mike Hilton (No. 35)
Stephon Gilmore (No. 67)
Jonathan Jones (No. 74)
Nate Hobbs (No. 86)
Paulson Adebo (No. 87)
D.J. Reed and Charvarius Ward are clearly the top two cornerbacks in this free agent class. Both are pricey, of course. PFF assigns Reed, a 28-year-old seven-year veteran who spent the last three seasons with the New York Jets a three-year, $42 million market value, with $27.5 million guaranteed. Ward’s estimated market value is three years, $43.5 million with $25 million guaranteed.
Considering the need for a No. 1 cornerback and someone to help mentor Banks, I think you have to find out if either player would be interested in the Giants. PFF thinks the Giants would be Ward’s best landing spot:
The Giants’ secondary desperately needs reinforcements after finishing 26th in team coverage grade last season. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen’s heavy use of Cover-3 (35.6%, eighth-highest in 2024) aligns well with Ward’s strengths. Over his career, he’s allowed just 0.83 yards per coverage snap in Cover-3, making him an ideal candidate to help revitalize New York’s defensive backfield.
I am also curious about the upside of Paulson Adebo, who was getting his first opportunity to be a CB1 last season with the New Orleans Saints before landing on IR with a broken femur. Adebo will be 26 next season. Adebo had three interceptions and a passer rating against of just 71.9 before being injured last season. PFF estimates a three-year, $40 million deal with $25 million guaranteed for Adebo.
Safety
SB Nation free agent safety rankings:
10. Jason Pinnock
9. Jordan Poyer
8. Jeremy Chinn
7. Julian Blackmon
6. Justin Simmons
5. Talanoa Hufanga
4. Justin Reid
3. Trevon Moehrig
2. Camryn Bynum
1. Jevon Holland
Pro Football Focus free agent safety rankings:
Jevon Holland (No. 3 overall)
Talanoa Hufanga (No. 23)
Camryn Bynum (No. 31)
Justin Reid (No. 50)
Harrison Smith (No. 54)
Tre’Von Moerhig (No. 56)
Justin Simmons (No. 69)
Jeremy Chinn (No. 79)
Elijah Molden (No. 80)
Andre Cisco (No. 88)
Julian Blackmon (No. 92)
PFF thinks the Giants are Hufanga’s best landing spot:
After battling injuries over the past two seasons, Hufanga’s performances have dipped, culminating in a career-low 57.8 overall grade in 2024. At just 26 years old, however, the safety still has time to regain his form and showcase his playmaking ability.
The Giants, looking to stabilize their secondary, recently hired former Jets safeties coach Marquand Manuel. Manuel has had success with single-high defensive schemes, something the Giants may hope to emulate with Hufanga.
PFF estimates Hufanga’s market value at two years, $25 million with $16 million guaranteed. That is pretty close to what the Giants reportedly offered Julian Love back in 2022.
For a low-cost option, I am curious about Molden. Having played for the Tennessee Titans from 2021-2023, he and Bowen are familiar with each other. Molden, 25, began his career as a cornerback and was a full-time free safety for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024.
Bowen might appreciate adding the versatility and familiarity to his defense. At a cost of an estimated $4.5 million ($3 million guaranteed) for one year, I am interested in making that happen. Molden did break his leg in Week 17, so the progress of his recovery needs to be vetted.
Potential 2025 draft targets
Here are the cornerbacks currently listed in the top 100 of the NFL Mock Draft Database:
Travis Hunter, Colorado (No. 3 overall)
Will Johnson, Michigan (No. 6)
Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame (No. 22)
Shavon Revel, East Carolina (No. 25) | Prospect profile
Jahdae Barron, Texas (No. 30)
Trey Amos, Ole Miss (No. 47)
Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State (No. 59)
Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky (No. 61)
Darien Porter, Iowa State (No. 68)
Denzel Burke, Ohio State (No. 84)
Zy Alexander, LSU (No. 90)
Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech (No. 91)
Daylen Everette, Georgia (No. 94)
Maybe the Giants make spending big money at cornerback unnecessary by drafting Travis Hunter at No. 3. That’s not Plan A, obviously, but it’s not a bad fallback plan if the quarterback of Brian Daboll’s dreams is not available to them.
If that doesn’t happen, I think the Giants have to continue adding cornerback depth at some point in the draft.
Here are the safeties currently listed in the top 100 of the NFL Mock Draft Database:
Malaki Starks, Georgia (No. 12)
Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina (No. 40)
Xavier Watts, Notre Dame (No. 50)
Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State (No. 81)
Andrew Mukaba, Texas (No. 87)
Lathan Ransom, Ohio State (No. 95)
Starks is unlikely to be available to the Giants. I like Watts, but haven’t fully studied the safety class yet. Whether it is in the draft or free agency, the Giants need safeties who are comfortable in zone coverage and can make plays on the ball.
The overall plan
- Let Jackson go. Take a swing at Reed or Ward. Adebo is a good Plan B.
- Let Pinnock go. Find safety help in free agency or the draft, maybe both, with a player or players who are better fits for what Shane Bowen does schematically.
- Hope that Manuel has a positive effect on Banks.
