NY Giants completed rebuild of what is now roster’s biggest strength
This season, the NY Giants’ secondary has the potential to be among the NFL’s best, after being among the league’s most vulnerable in recent years
Football teams are rarely finished products, and it’s easy to point that out for a team like the NY Giants that hasn’t made the NFL Playoffs since 2016 and just once in the last decade, but one position appears to be locked and loaded for 2021 and beyond.
One year removed from signing free agent James Bradberry, who subsequently made his first career Pro Bowl appearance in his first season in East Rutherford, general Manager Dave Gettleman and the NY Giants have assembled what has the potential to be one of the NFL’s most well-rounded secondaries.
Free agent newcomer Adoree’ Jackson provides lockdown potential on the opposite perimeter from Bradberry, while Darnay Holmes and Xavier McKinney both have the potential to contribute starter-quality snaps in their second NFL seasons.
According to Pro Football Focus, the NY Giants’ secondary is the strength of the roster, even over positions such as running back — that boast possible All-Pro Saquon Barkley, and wide receiver, which saw a significant upgrade with the additions of free agent prize Kenny Golladay and first-round rookie Kadarius Toney:
"The Giants have thrown resources at their secondary over the past several seasons. They’ve added James Bradberry, Adoree’ Jackson and Logan Ryan via free agency. Xavier McKinney, Julian Love and Darnay Holmes have been drafted to their ranks. Jabrill Peppers was included in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade two offseasons ago. The result is a unit that has an opportunity to be a top-five secondary in the league this season. New York’s newest addition, Jackson, earned a career-high 82.5 coverage grade in 2019 before missing much of last season with injury."
The NY Giants’ defense made significant strides in Patrick Graham’s first season as coordinator, and given the infusion of young talent and returning veterans, could take another major step forward in 2021.
Must Read. Here is the Giants' ideal starting secondary in 2021. light
Matt Lombardo is FanSided’s National NFL Insider and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday. Email Matt: Matt.Lombardo@FanSided.com, Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL