After the Giants signed Jevon Holland to a lucrative three-year deal this past March, the defensive back hierarchy seemed set in stone. Many expected it would be Holland and second-year star Tyler Nubin manning the back-end for Shane Bowen’s defense in a revamped secondary. Pretty straightforward, right?
Apparently not.
Fourth-year safety Dane Belton was expected to become an afterthought on the rotation, and potentially a summer cut candidate. But a strong showing at minicamp has flipped the script on his time with Big Blue. Now, he could become the third safety in the rotation alongside Holland and Nubin.
But ESPN's NFL Nation called Belton the biggest offseason surprise for New York.
Dane Belton is turning heads and it isn’t even training camp
"He has been really good for us here early. Like he's had a really good spring," Bowen told ESPN’s Jordan Ranaan. "[We're] finding ways to get him on the field, what he can do for us to help us."
Bowen’s words speak volumes. Belton knows how to make plays, so he isn’t just hanging on — he’s forcing his way into the conversation.
The 2022 fourth-rounder amassed three interceptions in five practices during OTAs and minicamp, flashing the same ball-hawking instincts and range that once had the Giants high on his upside.
One of the Iowa product’s biggest assets is his durability. While he has only made 13 career starts, he has only missed two games across his three NFL seasons.
The Giants' secondary may be deeper than it’s been in years, but that’s no problem for the Tampa native. If Belton keeps trending upward, it’ll be his job to provide Bowen flexibility, keep the defense fresh, and add insurance in case of injury.
There’s even a world where Belton sees situational snaps alongside Holland and Nubin in three-safety looks, or rotates with Nubin to spell the second-year defensive back.
Entering a contract year, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Belton could play his way into a second contract — whether in New York or elsewhere.
Training camp will be the true test, though. If he can carry his momentum into full pads and preseason action, he’ll be a near lock not just to crack the roster, but play meaningful snaps in the nation’s capital in Week 1.