3. Steven Nelson
After tying his career-high of four interceptions and tallying 12 passes defended in the 2023 season with the Houston Texans, Nelson is searching for a new place to call home. He has been linked to a number of teams, but still remains unsigned.
Nelson is a solid veteran presence in the locker room and could sign a short deal with the Giants as he gears for his age-31 season. Although he is aging, the former Kansas City Chief might be coming off his best season yet. He allowed only one touchdown on 68 targets and ranked fourth in the NFL in target separation.
The 10-year defensive back specializes in man coverage and is extremely athletic, albeit undersized at 5-10 and 197 pounds. His 10.4 percent target rate suggests he was a lockdown corner in 2023. We could go on all day about his advanced statistics, but the point is that he is a very good player.
Like Witherspoon, Nelson is a very good player, but projects to receive a hefty contract of around $7 million per year. It remains to be seen whether Schoen is willing to pay that money or if he will target a young defensive back in the draft.