When it comes to the New York Giants, most of the attention this offseason has gone where you’d expect: the quarterback battle between Russell Wilson and Jaxson Dart, a potential sophomore surge for Malik Nabers, and a defensive line that many expect to be among the league’s most dominant.
While headlines have focused on the flashier storylines, Big Blue’s secondary finished eighth in pass defense in 2024. And this is a back-end that made major investments, signing both Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland to lucrative contracts to bolster the unit. Despite that, the defensive backs have been largely lost in the noise — and that’s exactly how second-year safety Tyler Nubin likes it.
"We cool man, we know what we got so we don't need too many people talking about us,” Nubin told SNY…. “I see a bunch of guys that are hungry, and guys that want it.”
The Giants secondary is flying heavily under the radar — and the silence could become their secret weapon in 2025.
The fact that people aren’t talking about this group means they have plenty of bulletin board material heading into 2025.
In 13 starts as a rookie, the Minnesota product amassed 98 total tackles, four TFLs, and showed the poise and field awareness that made him one of the most NFL-ready safeties in his draft class. According to Pro Football Focus, his 76.0 run defense grade placed 29th out of 171 qualified safeties.
The 24-year-old came was selected to replace the departed Xavier McKinney, who finished second in football with eight interceptions in Green Bay. Nubin, a second-round pick in 2024, is poised to take a big leap in Year 2, and he’s surrounded by talent and experience across the board.
Holland was signed to join Nubin in forming one of the league’s best safety tandems as he hopes to return to form outside of Miami. And with ball hawk Dane Belton– who will have a meaningful role for Shane Bowen’s defense– also present, the safety room is stacked.
2024 third-rounder Andru Phillips’ 78.5 PFF grade ranked 13th among all qualified cornerbacks, and looks poised to be the Giants’ nickel corner of the foreseeable future. Then there’s Deonte Banks, who suffered a statistical regression in 2024, but the former first-rounder has all of the talent to warrant a bounce-back campaign.
Add in Adebo, who like Holland, was spectacular in 2023 but appeared in just seven games last year due to a broken femur, and the secondary is loaded with both upside and depth.
Put it all together, and New York’s secondary could be the best the team has had in years– most likely since Antrel Rolle, Corey Webster, and Kenny Phillips helped deliver a Lombardi Trophy to East Rutherford back in 2011.
Giants fans may soon have a new reason to believe their defense can rise to elite status once again, and Nubin is only adding fuel to the fire.