New York Giants: 5 young defensive players to target in free agency

Jordan Whitehead, Safety

PFF Projected Deal: 3 yrs — $6m avg/yr

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead could be an intriguing piece to add to the Giants secondary. With Jabrill Peppers set to depart in free agency, the Giants could look to add another young player to this group.

At the moment the safety position is headlined by Xavier McKinney, Julian Love, and Logan Ryan. The duo of McKinney and Love have looked good when playing together and could very well be the future of the position for this team.

Past these three players, there is a real lack of depth. With the addition of Jordan Whitehead, there would be a great safety blanket for the top of this defense.

Just two weeks away from his 25th birthday, Whitehead is coming off of a season where he played some of the best football of his short career. He was the 27th ranked safety in the NFL according to PFF and finished with a 74.9 overall defensive grade.

Through his first four seasons, Whitehead has appeared in 65 career games. He has recorded 314 total tackles, 24 tackles for loss, two sacks, and five quarterback hits.

In terms of his play in the secondary, he has recorded five interceptions and broken up 26 passes. In 495 coverage snaps this past season, Whitehead recorded a 72.2 grade, the second-highest of his career according to PFF.

Whitehead has already proven himself as a reliable option at safety. While still young, he has gained playoff experience and could play a large role in the future of this defense.