The New York Giants have finally made a move in free agency, securing 14-year veteran and now former Arizona Cardinal Antoine Bethea.
The 34-year-old has had an illustrious career as a safety and defensive back, moving around the field to play coverage and box. The deal between the Giants and Bethea is expected to be a two-year deal for minimum money. General manager Dave Gettleman has kept quiet in the first two days of free agency, choosing to pass on the big-name free agents in favor of second-tier options that cost less.
How did Antoine Bethea perform in 2018?
The Cardinals strong safety finished 2018 with a 64.6 grade, according to PFF. His 121 combined tackles and four passes defended were impressive, and he will likely play more of a free safety role at this point in his career. I expect him to take over for Curtis Riley, as it’s possible the Giants keep him as a reserve option in case of injury.
In 2017, Bethea played free safety under DC James Bettcher, finishing as a top 10 safety in the league. It was certainly a resurgence for the veteran, and hopefully, the Giants can extract any remaining value.