The NY Giants have built one of the NFL’s premier secondaries, after adding James Bradberry and Adoree’ Jackson as the team’s top two outside cornerbacks
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — In the span of two offseasons, the NY Giants’ secondary has gone from one of the most porous in the NFL to one of the league’s more feared position groups.
That’s what happens when a front office signs veteran perimeter players as dominant as James Bradberry and Adoree’ Jackson, and invest draft capital in mining talented slot cornerback options such as Darnay Holmes, Aaron Williamson, Julian Love, and Xavier McKinney.
Bradberry has been one of the brightest stars of the NY Giants’ first week of training camp practices, and if Jackson can stay healthy and live up to his billing as a former first-round draft pick, New York’s secondary just might live up to the lofty expectations in front of it.
What’s it like to face NY Giants cornerbacks James Bradberry, Adoree’ Jackson?
Third-year wide receiver Darius Slayton has had the misfortune of lining up against the NY Giants’ dynamic cornerback duo each day during practice.
"“They’ve got a lot of talent,” Slayton said of the NY Giants’ secondary this week. “A lot of good players over there. Obviously, when I’m going against them, I wish they were a little worse, but it will be a lot of fun going to play alongside those guys on Sundays.”"
Bradberry finished as Pro Football Focus’ No. 7 ranked cornerback in the NFL last season, after holding opposing quarterbacks to a meager 70.1 passer rating and receivers to just 10.3 yards per reception.
“ is a little bit bigger , a little heavier,” Slayton said. “I have to kind of be more finesse with him.”
Meanwhile, Jackson at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, looks to return to form from a 2019 season in which he produced a 76.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus before injuries took a toll in 2020.
Slayton says that facing Jackson has made him a better receiver so far in camp.
"“He’s a really athletic, quick, fast guy,” Slayton says. “He falls and he backflips off the ground, stuff like that. He’s a different kind of athlete.”"
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