The New York Giants’ offseason has earned a lot of hype throughout NFL circles. The talking heads are praising the job Joe Schoen and Co. have done so far, and even the fans are starting to see a glimmer of hope. And really, who can blame them?
The quarterback room has been completely revamped with the free agent signings of Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. They drafted well, bringing in Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart among others, and the offense added depth everywhere they could. But the biggest move of the Giants’ offseason might have been one of the first ones they made.
Early in the offseason, the G-Men signed free agent safety Jevon Holland from the Miami Dolphins. Holland’s signing was about as big of a need as you can get, with Jason Pinnock headed to San Francisco. With all the craziness that’s happened with Big Blue since, some fans may have even forgotten it happened.
Jevon Holland is New York's biggest X factor heading into 2025
New York brought in a proven player and a more-than-worthy replacement for Pinnock. His game should complement Tyler Nubin’s extremely well, as both of these guys seemingly have a nose for the football no matter where it is on the field.
Holland will be a key piece for this defense and was recently named the Giants' biggest X factor heading into 2025 by Pro Football Focus' Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman:
"The Giants added multiple veterans to their secondary in free agency, and ex-Dolphin Jevon Holland was the headliner," they wrote. "A return to that form would give the Giants the free safety they were lacking last season after losing Xavier McKinney in free agency."
In just four seasons, Holland has amassed five interceptions, 25 passes defended, more than 300 total tackles, and five sacks—all while just turning 25 years old. He’s a complete safety with all the potential in the world to build on an already impressive resume. He was named to the All-Rookie Team in 2021, and though he hasn’t been officially recognized as an All-Pro, PFF named Holland to their 2023 All-Pro team.
A lot of the focus this offseason for the Giants has been on the defensive side of the ball—particularly the edge rushers. However, the biggest impact could end up being felt on the back end of the defense.