The New York Giants, for the most part, crushed it as a whole once the tampering window opened up for free agency on Monday. If there is one area where they took a massive hit, it was on the cornerback market. The Giants seemingly felt they had a solid chance to re-sign Cor'Dale Flott, only to see former head coach Brian Daboll steal him away to Tennessee to sign a three-year deal with the Titans.
It was the first major strikeout for the Giants, as their secondary was already a massive weakness, but Flott was one of their top players overall. Finding a replacement was going to be tough, given the state of the market. But the Giants have found a cornerback.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that the Giants have agreed to terms with former Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback on a one-year contract. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reports that the contract is worth up to $10 million.
BREAKING: The #Giants are expected to sign former #Jaguars CB Greg Newsome II to a 1-year deal, per multiple sources.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 10, 2026
The former 1st-round pick, still just 25 years old, had 1 INT and 9 PBUs last season. A strong addition. pic.twitter.com/XJCiXHzppj
Giants agree to terms with former Jaguars, Browns CB Greg Newsome II
Newsome was the first-round selection of the Browns back in 2021 as a former Northwestern cornerback. Newsome made a name for himself as one of the top cornerbacks in the Big Ten conference, earning First team All-Big 10. The hop was that Newsome would make an impact in Cleveland, considering they did go on a playoff run the prior season.
Newsome had a strong rookie season, allowing 37 receptions for 416 yards and two touchdowns on 58 targets, while also recording eight pass breakups, earning him PFWA All-Rookie Team honors. But since then, his numbers dropped.
In 2024, his last full season with the Browns, Newsome allowed 31 receptions for 470 yards and four touchdowns on 46 targets while committing three penalties. At the midway point last season, the Browns traded Newsome to the Jaguars in exchange for Tyson Campbell. Splitting time between both Cleveland and Jacksonville, Newsome allowed 48 receptions for 582 yards and five touchdowns, while committing five penalties.
While the numbers aren't the greatest, especially the last two years, there is still upside to Newsome's game. John Harbaugh has shown that he can get the most out of his players during his near two decade stint with the Baltimore Ravens. It's possible that he and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson can do the same for Newsome.
It's a low-risk signing for Newsome, as only $3 million of his salary is guaranteed. Plus, he slots in as their No. 2 cornerback at most. We'll see if the Giants have any other additions to make to their cornerback depth chart.