Giants’ overlooked draft pick finally breaking out at perfect time

It might not be getting national attention, but Cor’Dale Flott’s breakout is quietly one of the Giants’ biggest wins of 2025. While most of the spotlight’s been on rookie quarterback sensation Jaxson Dart and telephone pole challenger Cam Skattebo, the fourth-year corner is making a serious name for himself.

Related: Jaxson Dart’s rise just forced Vic Fangio to say the quiet part out loud

According to Pro Football Focus, the 2022 81st-overall pick quietly leads all 112 qualified cornerbacks in coverage grade with an impressive 83.8. The G-Men are going to need every bit of that — and then some — against a Philadelphia Eagles team looking to avenge the Week 6 tail-whooping they took at MetLife Stadium on primetime.

Big Blue’s secondary is banged up — cornerback Paulson Adebo has already been ruled out, and safety Jevón Holland is doubtful. If the Giants are going to have a real shot at sweeping the Eagles for the first time since 2007, Flott’s continued breakout might be the deciding factor.

Cor’Dale Flott has perfect shot to lock down Giants’ CB1 job vs. Eagles

Flott ripped the starting job away from Deonte Banks after defensive coordinator Shane Bowen finally came to his senses and scrapped the whole cornerback rotation nightmare. It was painfully overdue, but here we are.

The timing of the former LSU Tiger’s CB1 audition couldn’t be better. With A.J. Brown ruled out due to a hamstring injury, it’s shaping up to be Flott vs. DeVonta Smith at Lincoln Financial Field. Smith is still incredibly talented, but he’s not Brown.

The should-be-extended cover man has been lights out. No defensive back in the league has been targeted more without allowing a touchdown (37 times), and he’s giving up just 5.7 yards per target with a 57.5 passer rating against, per Next Gen Stats. That consistency is going to be tested by Smith, who’s coming off a 183-yard explosion and leads the Eagles with 504 receiving yards.

But you can bet the Birds won’t make anything easy for New York’s defense. Not after the embarrassment under the lights 17 days ago. In that Week 6 matchup, Flott got the better of Hurts, all but sealing the win with a clutch fourth-quarter interception:

Philly was threatening a comeback, marching 51 yards in under 90 seconds. But just in time, the 24-year-old corner stuck to Jahan Dotson in coverage, jumped the route, and returned the interception 68 yards to the Eagles’ 23-yard line — setting up the offense for the game’s final score.

With the secondary this thin and the stakes this high, Flott’s emergence couldn’t come at a better time. But if this level of play holds, it won’t just matter in Week 8 — it’ll change the way the Giants build this defense moving forward.