Considering that they’re still technically rebuilding, the New York Giants’ relative lack of position battles is fascinating.
Such is the case when you have a franchise quarterback, return four of your offensive line starters, and previously addressed holes with veteran free agents.
Cornerback is one of the few spots that, at least entering OTAs, still appeared to be open.
Whether or not that’ll be the case when training camp opens later this month remains to be seen, especially if veteran cornerback Greg Newsome II has his say.
What do Giants fans need to know about Greg Newsome II?
Newsome repeatedly drew praise throughout OTAs, and ESPN projected that he’ll start alongside Paulson Adebo and Dru Phillips at corner.
If Newsome maintains his current pace, he’ll beat out rookie Colton Hood and 2023 first-round pick Deonte Banks. There is no indication that the team intends to part ways with Banks, who is entering his final year of team control after the Giants declined his fifth-year option.
Newsome, the No. 26 pick of the Browns in 2021, split last season between Cleveland and Jacksonville. He broke up six passes and snagged an interception after joining the Jaguars in an October trade.
The Giants signed Newsome, who turned 26 in May, to a one-year, $8 million contract early in free agency. He received $3 million in guaranteed money and can earn another $2 million in incentives.
Newsome also brings extensive starting experience, having started 58 of his 71 games since entering the league.
Knowing that Newsome is one of their three starting cornerbacks could certainly make life easier for John Harbaugh and the Giants, especially given the growing concerns at wide receiver.
However, Pro Football Focus — which, as we’ve pointed out, deserves criticism for its inexact science and inconsistent grading — ranked Newsome No. 85 among 114 qualified cornerbacks last year. It’s not like the Giants landed a perennial All-Pro cornerback for pennies on the dollar.
The bottom line is that Harbaugh and Joe Schoen saw enough in Newsome to give him a relatively harmless prove-it deal. The Giants can afford to accept a player not panning out after only guaranteeing him $3 million.
But for their sake, Newsome turning out to be even an average starter would mark a considerable success. The NFC East feels winnable, and their chances of capturing their first division title since 2008 only grow with stronger play from the secondary.
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