While most of the New York Giants' starting lineup has already taken shape, a few position battles remain heading into training camp. Perhaps the most contentious battle left is the race for the second outside starting cornerback spot.
Paulson Adebo will be one of New York's starters, but Greg Newsome II, Colton Hood, and Deonte Banks are expected to compete for the other starting spot on the outside. As training camp draws closer, ESPN's Giants insider Jordan Raanan just added another name to the mix.
Raanan named Art Green as a player to watch in the CB2 position battle. He said, "Even Art Green has an outside shot to earn that starting spot."
Could Green really crash the starting lineup for the Giants? It's not likely, but he's certainly a name worth keeping tabs on in training camp.
Art Green could challenge Greg Newsome II for Giants' CB2 role
To be clear, Newsome is the obvious favorite in this competition. While the veteran is only on a one-year deal with the Giants, he offers more starting experience than the rest of the options combined. In defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson's zone-heavy scheme, he should be set up to have a bounce-back season.
But Newsome hasn't secured the starting job quite yet. Hood and Banks are the most likely options to unseat the veteran, but Green's name getting thrown in the mix should raise some eyebrows.
The former undrafted free agent has played a total of 47 defensive snaps since entering the NFL in 2023. In his three-year professional career, he has only been targeted five times, allowing three catches for 40 yards.
Green has primarily contributed on special teams over the past two years, establishing himself as a reliable member of the Giants' kick and punt coverage and return teams. The G-Men brought him back this offseason on a low-cost deal.
If the former UDFA has shown progress as a cornerback this offseason, he should absolutely get a crack at the CB2 job. But if he becomes a serious contender for the starting role, it will say more about Newsome, Hood, and Banks than it does about Green.
The Giants have invested heavily in the cornerback position in recent years. With three former top-40 draft picks competing for a starting position, New York should be able to enter the season with a reliable option. It's a bad look if a UDFA special teams player beats them all to the top.
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