The New York Giants are hosting free-agent cornerback Nazeeh Johnson for a visit to East Rutherford. This news comes straight from NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, signaling that general manager Joe Schoen is actively hunting for secondary reinforcements ahead of summer workouts.
The 27-year-old defensive back is fresh off a May-the-Fourth-be-with-you visit with the Philadelphia Eagles. He left Philly without a contract, allowing the G-Men to swoop in immediately to gauge his fit for the 2026 season.
Harbaugh loves himself a low-risk, high-reward flyer (especially for special teams), and this visit looks to be exactly that. Bringing a two-time Super Bowl champion into the facility shows a clear desire to elevate the competitive floor of the locker room.
Nazeeh Johnson fits exactly what John Harbaugh's Giants are trying to build right now
The strategy behind targeting the former Marshall standout centers heavily on special teams usage and, to a lesser extent, defensive-back versatility. Standing 5-foot-10 and 199 pounds, Johnson gives them another option to play multiple roles in the secondary if needed.
While he has some experience as a boundary corner, his blend of lateral quickness and background as a safety in college allows him to slide inside seamlessly to provide slot corner depth.
Third-year corner Dru Phillips is listed as the starter, but that status has never looked more up in the air than following up his encouraging rookie season with a Year 2 step back.
Beyond defensive depth, Johnson provides impressive special-teams ability. He was a premier weapon for Kansas City STC Dave Toub, which is where he’ll make his money in NY. His willingness to become a high-level third-phase contributor could instantly upgrade the bottom of the Giants’ roster.
Harbaugh has built a Hall of Fame résumé off of being a special teams guy, so it’s only fitting he at least takes a look at the 2022 seventh-rounder.
Big Blue has made the third phase of the game a priority this offseason. Between adding Cam Jones, Elijah Campbell, and Ar’Darius Washington, along with bringing back Art Green and Gunner Olszewski, special teams will no longer be an afterthought. Heck, even the entire kicker room was completely revamped.
Ultimately, kicking the tires on a player like Johnson is a textbook smart roster-building move for a staff determined to overhaul the margins of this team. He represents the exact type of low-cost, high-upside insurance policy necessary to help the secondary while instantly raising the floor of a newly prioritized special teams unit. Snatching a two-time champion away from the Eagles’ grasp would just be the icing on the cake.
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