Free agency is set to begin soon and the NY Giants need to fill some major holes. With the salary cap set at a higher number than expected, skyrocketing to $255.4 million, the Giants are going to have more money to work with. This is obviously great news, as they'll now have the opportunity to make a splash at a true position of need if they want to.
One of those positions is at cornerback. Adoree' Jackson is set to be a free agent and likely won't be returning to the team. That leaves Deonte Banks, last year's first-round pick, Aaron Robinson, Tre Hawkins and Cor'Dale Flott as the only rostered cornerbacks currently. Banks had a solid rookie season, but with the anticipated departure of Jackson, the Giants need to pivot and find a suitable replacement on the outside to pair with the former Maryland prospect.
The secondary in general is very young and mostly inexperienced. At safety, it's currently Jason Pinnock and Dane Belton. Xavier McKinney should be prioritized, but that's a whole other story. If the Giants defense wants to hit the ground running under new coordinator Shane Bowen, they'll need a solid veteran presence at cornerback. Here are three targets:
3. Kendall Fuller
This wouldn't be a splash move by any means, as Kendall Fuller had a rough 2023 season in Washington. However, he would be a realistic option if the Giants aren't looking to completely break the bank for a cornerback this offseason. Fuller's a more than capable veteran cornerback with experience playing both man and zone. Last season, he had 79 tackles, nine pass breakups and two interceptions. However, he was horrible in coverage, allowing nine touchdowns and a 120.9 quarterback rating when targeted.
So, why would the Giants pursue Fuller after a down year? Despite the not-so-good numbers in coverage, Fuller can seamlessly come in and help the younger players develop. Another intriguing aspect about potentially signing Fuller is his availability, as he's missed just five games over the last four seasons. Since signing with the Commanders in 2020, Fuller's grabbed 10 interceptions and 49 pass breakups. It certainly wouldn't hurt taking a look at Fuller, who's expected to have multiple suitors.
Spotrac currently has Fuller's value set at approximately $14.1 million per year. Would that be too rich for the Giants' taste? Time will tell.