One of the key battles this training camp for the New York Giants is at cornerback, a position they haven’t gotten right for a long while. They’ve recently been trying every avenue available to find solutions — free agency, the draft — but have yet to find the right combination.
This summer, they are going with Paulson Adebo, last year’s big-ticket free agent, and Greg Newsome, whom they signed to a one-year, $8 million look-see contract this past March, as the exterior corners.
From Dan Duggan of The Athletic:
Adebo is in the second year of the three-year, $54 million contract he signed last offseason. That investment was made before Harbaugh arrived, and Adebo likely didn’t endear himself to the football-obsessed coach by skipping the start of the voluntary offseason program. Adebo’s shaky start to camp could open the door for a surprise shakeup to the lineup.
The Giants gave Newsome, a 2021 first-round pick by the Browns, a one-year, $8 million contract to fill the void created by Cor’Dale Flott’s free-agent departure. Newsome has split time between the slot and the perimeter throughout his career, and he has mixed into the slot occasionally early in camp.
Both players have a lot to prove. Adebo was still feeling the effects of a knee injury he suffered in 2024, and Newsome was dealt from Cleveland, the team that took him in the first round several years ago, to Jacksonville, which did not retain him after last year.
Thus far, the jury is still out. It’s all new with a new coaching staff and a new scheme. Neither player can safely say they’ll be locks to start right now.
Behind Adebo and Newsome are two recent high draft picks: 2023’s No. 1 overall pick, Deonte Banks, and this year’s second-round pick, Colton Hood.
Banks is in the final year of his rookie contract. He is one of the players that new head coach John Harbaugh is giving a “clean slate” to this summer. Banks’ Giants career has been a rocky one thus far. He’s always had the talent and tools, but has yet to put it all together. The word is, he’s close, but now there’s much more competition in front of him.
Hood has shown great athleticism thus far in camp. He also has the chance to be on the field a lot this year. In fact, the Giants are hoping that happens.
Slot corner gives the Giants a bunch of choices, and most of them are good. Dru Phillips, the starter the past two seasons, is back, and he’s being put in a better position to make plays under coordinator Dennard Wilson’s scheme.
Free-agent Ar’Darius Washington may have something to say about Phillips’ and others’ snap counts this season. The former Baltimore Raven can play multiple roles, including safety, is familiar with Wilson and Harbaugh’s ways, and has taken on a leadership role right away.
“AD’s great, bro. He’s just like a real cool, low-key, just knows what to do, knows his game, plays fast, covers ground,” free safety Jevon Holland said last week at camp.
“He’s fun to play with,” Holland added. “Me, him, and Nub (strong safety Tyler Nubin) out there all together, it’s fun to play with. J-Pinn (Jason Pinnock), too. All the safeties. Everybody has their own personality, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and I think the coaches do a great job of pairing us together to complement each other’s style, no matter who’s on the field. So, yeah, it’s fun playing with all of them.”
This week, the Giants will be in full pads, and more contact will be permitted. We shall see how physical Wilson’s scheme will allow this group to be. Either way, it should be a refreshing change from the passive approach under Shane Bowen the past few seasons.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Cornerback spots still up for grabs as New York Giants’ camp enters Week 2
Reporting by John Fennelly, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
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By John Fennelly, Giants Wire | USA TODAY Network
