The New York Giants signed Paulson Adebo to a three-year, $54 million contract, including a $15 million signing bonus with $38.5 million guaranteed. Adebo will secure the number one cornerback spot opposite 2023 first-round pick, Tae Banks, who struggled in his second season.
New York has a young nucleus in their secondary with Adebo, Banks, and last year’s third-round pick Dru Phillips. They’re all joined by newly-signed Jevon Holland and 2024 second-round pick, Tyler Nubin. However, upgrades and depth are necessary across the board in the secondary.
Cor’Dale Flott is set to become a free agent after the season, and there’s no long-term plan outside if Banks continues to spiral downward. At the right value, a cornerback could make sense at some point in the draft.
Additions: Paulson Adebo, Nic Jones
Losses: Adoree’ Jackson
Roster: Starters — Paulson Adebo, Tae Banks, Dru Phillips (nickel); Reserves — Cor’Dale Flott, Tre Hawkins III, Nic Jones, Dee Williams, Art Green
Draft need: High upside depth on the outside; depth at nickel/sub-package (Day 2 or Day 3)
Day 2 options
Shavon Revel Jr., ECU
Revel Jr. also played in a quarters-based scheme in college where he forced 17 passes defended with three interceptions over 15 starts. Revel Jr. is quick, explosive, and physical, with press-man skills and a ball-hawking mentality. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL and partially tore his meniscus last September and he’ll be 24 years old soon. There’s reasons to be concerned about Revel Jr., but he’s a very talented athlete with a high ceiling despite the drawbacks.
Like many of the cornerbacks on Day 2 in this article, it’s presumably unlikely for the Giants to pursue the position with the 34th or 65th overall pick in the draft — possibly the 99th; still, if quality value falls for one reason or another, the Giants should entertain it for immediate depth and the future.
Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State
Azareye’h Thomas is a quality press man outside cornerback with good feet, a hard jam, and the necessary man coverage athletic traits to be successful at the NFL level. His size/length + his athletic ability give him a high ceiling, albeit his COD, agility, and deep speed fall short of elite. Thomas handled several responsibilities as the field and boundary CB at Florida State; his press-bail, press-trail, press-midpoint, and press-man were all above average from a technical standpoint, and his harassing nature was evident up and through receiver’s stems.
Thomas timed up his disruptiveness well at the catch point, playing through receiver’s hands with authority and earning his excellent catch prevention percentage. He’s a willing participant in run support but needs refinement as a run defender. Overall, Thomas has the upside to be a CB1, even though he’s not a perfect prospect. He can execute man or zone assignments and has the temperament and traits to be successful at the next level.
Nohl Williams, Cal
Nohl Williams is a competitor with excellent press-man upside, good overall man coverage skills, and the spatial awareness, eyes, and reactive ability to thrive as a zone defender. He understands leverage and positions himself well when mid-pointing – he does not panic and his confidence is evident beyond his constant jawing. Williams’ ball skills and ability to attack the football are sensational.
Williams has solid hit-stick strength when coming downhill in the flat – he fires out of a cannon – and he was able to be more accurate with his tackle aiming points in space, which was a big problem in 2023. He must be more disciplined with his hands; Williams can get grabby and overly physical, but I prefer that to a pusillanimous defender. Williams is not backing down from anything and he has the upside to be a lockdown press-man cornerback.
Day 3 options
Upton Stout, Western Kentucky
I love Upton Stout’s game. He’s a smaller cornerback with a huge aura due to his relentless nature and his harassing – annoying – coverage skills. He’s incredibly strong and a hard hitter, but his hits can draw laundry in today’s NFL. He’s a force in the slot with impressive outside cornerback skill from earlier in his collegiate career. He can play man or zone and possesses the ability to drop from the line of scrimmage into deep half responsibilities. Coaches trusted him with more complex responsibilities and he possesses high processing skills.
He’s an excellent run defender from the nickel spot. Teams around the league are looking for players like Stout who can sure-up sub-package run defense. His ability to tightly turn the corner and locate the ball carrier in the backfield reminded me of Dru Phillips at Kentucky. He may be undersized, but coaches are going to love his play style and heart. Will be a locker room favorite and an early impact player. His size could make him slide in the draft; if that’s the case, a team will come away with a late steal.
Cobee Bryant, Kansas
Cobee Bryant can handle multiple different coverages/responsibilities on the outside and offers excellent spatial awareness and processing to the position. He’s sufficient as a man coverage defender, and has great eyes/reactive quickness for zone, while having excellent ball skills to be disruptive and force takeaways. When he exercises discipline and doesn’t take the bait he’s harassing as a man coverage defender. However, if he takes a false step or underestimates a WR’s speed, getting himself out of position, then he panics and lacks the burst and fluidity to get back into phase without grabbing.
His recovery speed is adequate but he lacks true difference making athletic traits to overcome bad false-steps or hip declarations that put him out of position. He’s willing in run support and plays with a lot of competitiveness, but he’s just 171 pounds and has a very thin frame; this could work against him at the next level. Overall, there is a lot to like about Bryant’s upside, but he must prove strong enough to function in the NFL.
Korie Black, Oklahoma State
The Giants had Black in for a Top-30 visit. Black started 38 of 50 career games for the Cowboys. He started 13 games in 2024 but missed the bowl game due to an injury. Oklahoma State’s defense was abysmal in 2024, surrendering 500+ yards per game, but Black’s individual numbers were respectable. He allowed a low 55.4% catch rate in 2024 with nine passes defensed and three interceptions. Through his career, he allowed just a 53% catch rate with 19 passes defended and four interceptions. He also allowed 11 touchdowns and missed 12 tackles (11.2%).
Korie Black has good length for the position with solid eyes from depth and adequate processing to click & close on underneath routes or toward the line of scrimmage. He’s a solid overall athlete but not a difference making one at cornerback, but he understands leverage and does a solid overall job harassing and being disruptive at the catch point. He flashes high level plays from zone coverage that showcase eye-discipline but he takes risks that put him out of position, and savvy route runners can entice Black toward risky behavior. Black will start as a special teams asset with upside.
