There’s no shortage of buzz around the New York Giants’ defense heading into 2025. Between free agent splashes of Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland, second-year standout Tyler Nubin, and the addition of coach Marquand Manuel to guide the secondary, there are plenty of reasons to believe this group can be a massive difference-maker.
The team has quietly rebuilt the back end of its defense with quality players who will look to establish itself as one of the best groups (albeit underrated) in the league.
But through six OTA practices, it’s not Holland or Nubin making headlines. It’s fourth-year safety Dane Belton. The former fourth-round pick is in a contract year and playing like it. Belton has recorded three interceptions in six practices—including a pick-six—putting together one of the most productive springs of any Giants defender.
Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen is already taking notice: "Dane's been really good for us here early... like, he's had a really good spring. So finding ways to get him on the field — what he can do for us, to help us — but really encouraged about that group [secondary]."
That kind of momentum could force the G-Men into a rotation that wasn’t exactly expected. Belton has always been a capable playmaker with versatility and speed, but now he’s making the case for a much bigger role. With a unit that struggled mightily to generate takeaways last season, he’s offering something the staff has made clear it desperately wants.
Dane Belton is making a name for himself at Giants' OTAs
Over the last two years, Belton has developed into one of the most opportunistic defenders on the roster. His ability to force turnovers—four interceptions and three fumble recoveries in limited starts—hasn’t gone unnoticed, especially on a defense that ranked near the bottom of the league in takeaways last season.
Big Blue recorded an embarrassing five interceptions in 2024. Belton, despite limited snaps, still accounted for one of them.
This spring, his ball-hawking instincts are flashing early and often. His three picks in six OTA practices are a really encouraging sign of something bigger. He’s also shown comfort in both safety spots and subpackage alignments, which opens the door for defensive flexibility that the team lacked last year. It's great news since the league loves it some versatility.
Belton has always profiled as a smart, versatile player with range and toughness. He’s earned praise in the past for his football IQ and zone coverage anticipation. But heading into Year 4, the stakes are different.
This is a contract year. The roster is deeper. And competition is real. With veterans like Holland expected to be the leader and Nubin pushing for a breakout, Belton needed a spring like this to etch his name into the pecking order. So far, he’s doing exactly that.
The Giants aren’t handing out anything to anyone based on spring performance alone, but Belton’s early impact is really hard to ignore. For a team looking to change its identity on defense and reverse its turnover drought, he’s giving them exactly the kind of jolt they’ve been missing.