New York Giants cornerback Cor’Dale Flott has switched agencies and is now represented by Athletes First, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic.
The first page of Athletes First’s website tells you why this is a big deal as Flott approaches free agency. That page casually boasts that the nine highest-paid players in NFL history have been represented by Athletes First. Giants fans might remember that Daniel Jones was represented by Athletes First when he got his mega-deal from New York.
The message is clear: Flott, coming off his best season and entering free agency while still just 24 years old, is intending to get PAID.
Check the Athletes First Instagram page if you want to see some of the agencies high-profile clients, one of whom is Brian Burns of the Giants.
Spotrac estimates Flott’s market value at four years, $38 million, $9.5 million per year. Pro Football Focus ranks Flott No. 242 on its list of the top 250 free agents heading to the open market in April. There is not yet an assigned market value.
If Spotrac’s estimate is in the ballpark, should the Giants pay that?
Reasons to pay Flott
The former third-round pick in GM Joe Schoen’s first draft in 2022, Flott has developed into a good player. He took a starting job away from first-round pick Deonte Banks in 2025, and had a career-best season.
Flott had career bests in completion percentage allowe (52.2), yards per target (6.9), passer rating against (73.3), passes defensed (11), and snaps played (797).
The Giants have let a number of good, home grown players leave in recent years. Some, like Julian Love and Saquon Barkley, are now Super Bowl champs. Others, like Jones and Xavier McKinney, have played exceptionally well in new locations.
Reasons to let him go
There are 31 NFL cornerbacks making at least $10 million annually. Does Flott deserve to join them, or come close to joining them? That depends on what you are looking for from your cornerbacks.
At 6-foot-2, 175 pounds Flott is still rail thin. I asked him one time, it might have been during 2025 training camp, if he had been able to put on any weight since the Giants drafted him in 2022. He admitted to having been able to add a grand total of 3 pounds in roughly three years. So, physically, he is what he is.
Will a player at that size who historically struggles to set the edge or defend the run be a guy head coach John Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson want to commit a gob of money to? Only once in four seasons has Flott scored at least in the 50s in Pro Football Focus’s run defense grading. In each of the last three seasons, he has missed more than 15% of his tackle attempts.
Perhaps Harbaugh and Wilson will want bigger, more physical players at cornerback.
There is also the reality that in a salary cap league, choices must be made. If the Giants decide offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor and wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson are higher priorities, they may not have the resources to sign Flott and fill other needs.
Verdict
Let him go.
My gut instinct tells me Flott might be Harbaugh’s cup of tea at cornerback. I also believe Eluemunor and Robinson might be higher priorities.
I don’t like the idea of letting Flott go because I think he is still an ascending player. I just believe that might be the reality of the situation.
