Giants now have a young, talented secondary
The addition of safety Jevon Holland to the New York Giants secondary has drawn an ‘A’ grade from voters in our poll.
Sixty-three percent (1,838) of 2,923 voters graded the move as an ‘A’. Thirty-three percent (963 voters) gave the mark a ‘B’.
The addition of Holland gives the Giants a young, talented starting secondary. Here are the ages of the projected starters:
Holland (25)
CB Paulson Adebo (25)
CB Deonte Banks (24)
CB Dru Phillips (23)
S Tyler Nubin (23)
Cor’Dale Flott, now likely the primary backup both outside and in the slot, will be just 24 this season.
There have been some questions as to why the Giants would spend on Holland (three years, $45.3 million, with $30.3 million guaranteed) when they did not spend big money to keep safety Xavier McKinney from joining the Green Bay Packers a season ago.
The New York Post reported that the Giants made McKinney an offer similar to the one Holland accepted. McKinney said no, and ultimately signed a four-year, $68 million deal with Green Bay.
Here is who some other outlets graded the Holland signing:
Grade: A
The deal makes Holland one of the league’s highest-paid safeties and gives the Giants a much-needed playmaker in the secondary.
On top of getting a marquee player, the acquisition of Holland generated some much-needed positivity for a team and fan base that is surely in need of some.
Grade: Average
The Giants can now pair Holland with Tyler Nubin, their second-round pick from last year. While Holland didn’t enter free agency on a high note, finishing with a 63.0 overall grade in 2024, he posted elite coverage grades in 2021 and 2023. The Giants are betting on him returning to that form within their young secondary.
Grade: A+
This is a very good value for New York who has missed a different type of safety, Xavier McKinney. Holland is a big upgrade for upfield play at the position vs. run and pass.
Grade: B-
Holland gives the Giants a big safety (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) with playmaking ability. But he’s wildly inconsistent. Some of that might be because he played under three different defensive coordinators in his four NFL seasons. But the Giants are hoping the three-year deal can offer Holland some stability and fuel another leap forward in his development.
Grade: A
It’s clear that the New York Giants wanted to invest heavily in their secondary this offseason, and now they’re coming away with one of the top cornerbacks and safeties on the open market.
Jevon Holland signed a three-year, $45 million deal to head to New York. He’s still just 25 years old and is an immensely valuable safety who can play multiple roles as a reliable tackler and effective coverage playmaker.
Safeties aren’t valued like they used to be, but this is a great fit to pair with Paulson Adebo, along with a young and hungry secondary.
