According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, the New York Giants have signed free-agent cornerback D.J. James after a successful workout session.
The Giants are signing CB DJ James, who worked out today, per source. James was a sixth-round pick by the Seahawks out of Auburn in 2024. He has appeared in one game for the Patriots in two seasons. He most recently played in the UFL this spring.
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) August 5, 2026
No word yet on a corresponding…
The move quietly reunites three former Oregon defenders who helped build one of the country’s best defenses back in 2019.
In the fall of 2019, Eugene, Oregon served as the center of college football’s defensive universe. Safety Jevón Holland was entering his sophomore season poised to explode following an impressive freshman campaign that saw him come away with five interceptions.
At the same time, the college football world was anxiously waiting on the arrival of Kayvon Thibodeaux, a consensus five-star recruit whose freshman year arguably stood out as the most highly anticipated debut in Ducks history. His 14 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks as an 18-year-old certainly didn't disappoint.
Cornerback D.J. James -- a three-star recruit -- was part of Thibs' class. He saw action in 13 games, but didn't come close to the impact Holland or KT had that year. Even still, Oregon's defense bullied opponents all season long, winning a Pac-12 Championship and getting a Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin.
Fast forward seven years, and the trio is doing their best New Kids On The Block impression and getting the band back together.
Giants reunite a third member of Oregon’s 2019 defense
Following James's standout spring in the UFL (Go Orlando Storm, am I right?), Giants general manager Joe Schoen signed the cornerback to capture a piece of that 2019 Pacific Northwest magic.
The former Duck has had one hell of a winding journey back to his college teammates.
The 25-year-old transferred to Auburn after three years at Oregon, entered the 2024 NFL draft, and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks with the 192nd pick in the sixth round. He was waived later that summer and picked up by the New England Patriots.
He had been wading through the waters of uncertainty after the Pats cut him last season before finally catching on in the UFL this past spring. James wasted no time in his NFL comeback attempt, intercepting a pass for a touchdown just three days after signing with the league.
And while the signing does open the door a little bit for a comeback, it's hard to see this as anything more than a classic camp-body move.
The corner competition in East Rutherford presents an incredibly difficult roster climb for the 6-foot defensive back. The G-Men already have a crowded room with Paulson Adebo, Deonte Banks, Greg Newsome II, and rookie Colton Hood all fighting for the starting spots. Art Green is looking to shock people, while Dru Phillips looks locked in as the slot.
James heads into the mountain air of West Virginia as a depth piece. He'll have to fight it out with Jarrick Bernard-Converse and Korie Black for that spot.
It'll be nearly impossible for James to steal a roster spot. But for one summer, the Giants have managed to bring three pieces of that memorable 2019 Oregon defense back together, and that’s, at the very least, a fun little subplot to watch at camp.
Add us as a preferred source on Google