It took until their final pick of the draft, but the New York Giants finally addressed one of their presumed thinnest position groups. After watching Joe Schoen hammer away at other needs across the board, the Giants used their 246th overall selection on Oklahoma State cornerback Korie Black.
Black, a five-year contributor and three-year starter at OSU, brings size, speed, and ball skills to a Giants secondary that needed a fresh injection of depth. His 4.35-second 40-yard dash and 39-inch vertical at his pro day only confirmed the athletic traits that showed up on tape throughout his college career.
This was a long wait for a team that could absolutely use more help at cornerback. But better late than never—and with Black’s tools, there’s at least some upside to bet on here.
Korie Black brings speed, experience, and ball skills to Giants’ secondary
On paper, Black checks a lot of the right boxes for a late-round swing. At 6-foot-0 and 192 pounds, he’s a physical, savvy cover man who started 38 games at Oklahoma State. Over the course of his career, he logged 12 pass breakups, eight turnovers (five interceptions, three fumble recoveries), and showed enough flexibility to handle both man and zone responsibilities.
What makes Black intriguing for the Giants isn’t just the production—it’s the profile. His speed is real. His physicality shows up against the run. He’s a willing tackler and a former team captain, which fits the mold of the players Schoen and Brian Daboll love to bring into the building.
Still, there’s work to be done. Black struggles with elite route-runners and doesn’t always recover cleanly when he’s beaten early in the stem. His ball skills are good but not great, and he’ll need to tighten up his technique if he wants to stick long-term.
The Giants already have Paulson Adebo, Deonte Banks, Dru Phillips, and Cor’Dale Flott penciled into prominent roles, but there’s room for a player like Black to fight his way into the mix. If nothing else, he’ll get a shot to carve out a role on special teams while Defensive Backs Coach Marquand Manuel and Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen work on refining his coverage skills.
It’s not a flashy pick. But considering the state of the Giants’ secondary depth, it’s a necessary one—and exactly the kind of athletic, upside-based dart worth throwing this late in the draft.