The New York Giants’ cornerback room was a disaster last season, and general manager Joe Schoen finally addressed it. After watching Deonte Banks struggle in year two and dealing with a revolving door of depth options, the Giants needed change.
The G-Men let veteran Adoree’ Jackson walk, letting him land a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. In his place, they’re going all-in on youth—betting that Paulson Adebo, fresh off signing a three-year, $54 million deal, can be a legitimate CB1, that Banks can shake off his sophomore struggles, and that Dru Phillips can continue to build off his rookie season.
Depth is still a question mark, but at least the Giants have a legitimate foundation. If Adebo lives up to his contract and Banks takes a step forward, this secondary could quietly turn into a strength in 2025.
With Adebo locked in as the new CB1, let’s take a look at how the rest of the depth chart is shaping up.
Giants updated cornerback depth chart
- CB (left) - Paulson Adebo | Art Green* | Tre Hawkins III*
- CB (right) - Deonte Banks | Cor'Dale Flott | Nic Jones*
- CB (slot) - Dru Phillips | Dee Williams*
Art Green: Green struggled in his first season in the NFL. He was called up from the practice squad ahead of their Week 3 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. He played in nine games, but he'll need a bit more seasoning before becoming a regular contributor. Per PFF, he posted a 48.1 overall grade, ranking 193rd out of 222 eligible corners.
Tre Hawkins III: The former 2023 sixth-round pick is a bigger-bodied corner. Listed at 6-foot-3, weighing 195 pounds, Hawkins has the size to be a legitimate difference maker. He only appeared in three games last year, but he did end the Giants' 11-game streak of not getting an interception. He ended the season on injured reserve, so maybe he can have a strong third season and become a depth piece.
Nic Jones: Jones will be heading into his third year after spending his first two with the Kansas City Chiefs. The G-Men were trying to steal some Super Bowl magic by signing the young corner, but he figures to fight for a roster spot. He spent all of last season on the Chiefs' practice squad before being signed by New York in mid-February.
Dee Williams: Williams was claimed off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks in December after struggling with ball security in the Pacific Northwest. Big Blue had troubles with their own return game, so they took a flier on the 25-year-old. He'll likely start his 2025 season on the practice squad.
The Giants are finally investing in their secondary, and it shows. Adebo’s arrival gives them a real outside presence, and if Banks can finally develop into the player they drafted him to be, this unit could hold its own.
The depth pieces still need to prove themselves, but the draft presents another opportunity to add talent. After years of patchwork fixes, the Giants finally have a cornerback room with real potential—it’s just a matter of whether it holds up when the season starts.