New York Giants’ Young Safeties Poised To Take Next Step
In 2015, Landon Collins became the first rookie safety in franchise history to start 16 games. The struggles were evident, but coming into this year, the New York Giants again have a crop of young, unproven safeties ready to take the free safety spot beside him. Leading this group is 3rd round pick Darian Thompson, who could become the 2nd rookie safety to start in as many seasons.
One of the most exciting position battles to watch heading into the 2016 training camp is the competition for free safety. The New York Giants have faced incredible struggles in the back end of their defense ever since the over priced Antrel Rolle left the team following the 2014 season. Since then, the likes of Stevie Brown, Cooper Taylor, Brandon Meriweather and Craig Dahl have handled safety duties with varying degrees of incompetence. Stevie Brown had an 8 interception season but subsequently found his way onto IR the next season, and Taylor, Meriweather and Dahl are more likely to play their ways onto a practice squad as opposed to the playing field.
The Giants continue to be vigilant in their search of a productive safety who can actually stay on the field. In the past three drafts, numerous picks have been used on safeties, and the 2016 draft was no different. Following the somewhat surprising first round selection of cornerback Eli Apple, the Giants spent another relatively high pick on a defensive back. In the third round, Darian Thompson, a Boise State Bronco, became the sixth safety taken by the Giants since the 2013 draft. Obviously, this safety void has yet to be filled, and whether due to injury, poor play, or lack of ability, the five other safeties taken in these drafts have yet to pan out, and now find themselves in serious competition for not only a starting role but a roster spot come September.
As of right now, it would appear that Darian Thompson, the Mountain West conference all time interceptions leader, has the inside track to the starting free safety job, but until the pads come on and summer competition heats up, this is no more than idle observation. There are plenty of other young athletes that the Giants have invested draft resources on who have as much to prove this summer as Thompson; the silver lining of all this is that regardless of who ultimately gets the starting job, the Giants are extremely young and extremely confident in the players they currently have on their roster.
Other than Janoris Jenkins, the Giants did not sign or actively pursue any other defensive backs. They have a Pro Bowl cornerback in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to lead a young crop of defensive backs, and with an influx of youth and talent, the most moribund part of the roster certainly looks more promising than in past years. The following is a list of those draft picks since 2013 who will be in the running for the starting safety role alongside presumed starter Landon Collins.
Next: Cooper Taylor, 2013; R5 P#152