The New York Giants enter free agency with plenty of needs throughout their roster. One area that could use an upgrade is cornerback. GM Joe Schoen traded up in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft to select Deonte Banks, who struggled mightily in his second season after a promising first year.
Schoen did select Dru Phillips in the third round of last year’s draft, and the early returns have been glowing for the slot cornerback. However, Cor’Dale Flott is entering the final year of his rookie contract and has shown little development. Tre Hawkins III, Art Green, and Dee Williams are the other three cornerbacks on the roster. Adoree’ Jackson and Greg Stroman are both set to be free agents.
The Giants are projected to have $32.1 million in effective cap space, so they may make a small splash in free agency. Schoen may invest in the corner position, and there are a few players who would immediately upgrade the room, as well as others who would provide valuable depth. Here are five names that fit at least one of these categories.
Carlton Davis III, DET
The Buccaneers traded Davis to the Lions for a third-round pick ahead of the 2024 season. Davis played well opposite rookie first-round selection Terrion Arnold. Davis surrendered a catch on 59.7% of his targets for 583 yards with three touchdowns but intercepted two passes and batted another six away. He was, however, quite grabby, which has been consistent throughout his career — he’s been penalized 56 times.
Davis can play both man and zone coverage. The 28-year-old is 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, and is a solid contributor in run support. He plays with a desired temperament and could assume cornerback one duties if Banks fails to mature. Spotrac has Davis’ market value at three-years, $41.3 million ($13.8 million average annual value).
Davis’ agent is David Mulugheta of Athletes First — the same agent as Jermaine Eluemunor. I’m uncertain if that means anything, but the Giants signed Eluemunor to a fair deal just last off-season. The Giants may be able to find a better deal than the one Davis III lands, but the veteran would likely be the Giants’ number one cornerback if Schoen makes him a target, which is not a great endorsement of the Giants’ current cornerback room.
D.J. Reed, NYJ
Reed is a tenacious undersized outside cornerback who is just 5-9, 188 pounds, but he still manages to be a success for every team he’s played for. Reed spent the last three seasons with the New York Jets as a cornerback, and his safeties coach was Marquand Manuel, the Giants’ current secondary coach; that, and the location, are two connections that Reed could have with the Giants. Reed is also represented by Athletes First, David Mulugheta.
Reed allowed just a 58.3% catch rate last season and has a career 59.6% catch rate. The 28-year-old has 22 passes defended and two picks in the previous three seasons with the Jets; he also surrendered six touchdowns over that span. Reed played opposite Sauce Gardner, and he was not a reprieve for quarterbacks to target. However, Reed was prone to penalties over the last two seasons (19 in that timespan).
Spotrac has Reed’s market value slightly higher than Davis’ price at $14.7 million AAV on a four-year, $58.6 million contract. With the other holes on the roster, New York may not be able to invest that much — and that long — into a cornerback who will be 29 years old in the middle of the season. Still, he’s a talented player worth investigating.
Asante Samuel Jr., LAC
The former second-round pick in 2021 is a free agent — I loved him at Florida State, so I may be biased with this analysis. Samuel Jr. missed all but four games of the 2024 season with a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery. Before 2024, in Brandon Staley’s system, Samuel had 29 passes defended and nine interceptions through his first three seasons while surrendering a catch on 62% of his targets.
He allowed 14 touchdowns during that time in Staley’s system and mostly played outside while missing 36 tackles (16.7% missed tackle rate). Has he lived up to his potential? I would argue no, but he’s still shown respectable and competent play at a challenging position over his rookie contract.
Samuel Jr. is only 5-10, 180 pounds, but he’s just 25 years old, and Spotrac has his market value at $11.5 million over four years ($45.9 million). Samuel Jr. has played both man and zone well and operated in a two-high quarters type of system with Staley for three seasons. He would fit in nicely with the Giants and still has a high ceiling; his market may be depressed due to the shoulder injury, but he’s worth the risk if he checks out medically.
Kristian Fulton, LAC
Fulton played extensive snaps for the Chargers’ defense on his one-year, $3.1 million contract. Prior to Los Angeles, Fulton played four seasons with the Tennessee Titans under Shane Bowen. He has surrendered a career 62.3% catch rate with 20 passes defended, five interceptions, and 17 touchdowns surrendered.
The 26-year-old is a solid run support asset with a physical temperament in an average 5’11, 197-pound build. His experience with Bowen could provide the Giants the comfort they desire in another cornerback. Bowen has praised Fulton in the past. Spotrac has Fulton’s AAV at just $3.4 million over two years, which would be a wise investment if the Giants want to add a competent young body to their cornerback room.
Eric Stokes, GB
The previously mentioned corners — other than Fulton — may cost the Giants more than $10 million AAV, which may be out of the Giants’ price range. Stokes, though, could be a cheap young option with a lot of pedigree. He was selected in the first round by the Green Bay Packers in 2021 and had an excellent first season before experiencing no ball production and turbulence over the last three seasons.
Various lower body injuries plagued Stokes’ 2022 and 2023 seasons. The 25-year-old missed 22 of 34 contests over those two seasons due to ankle, knee, foot, and hamstring issues. He played 588 defensive snaps in 2024 but only started eight games; he was healthy for most of the 2024 season.
Stokes is likely looking for a one-year “prove it” deal as an unrestricted free agent. It will likely be a cheap deal, and he has upside:
The Giants could use young competition at the cornerback position, and Stokes offers that on the outside. At best, he could be a starting outside cornerback, and at worst, he could be an inexpensive third option behind Banks and whoever else the Giants locate to play opposite of him.
