The New York Giants’ secondary is a young and inexperienced group. The average age of the Giants’ projected starting defensive backfield comes in at only 22.8 years old. With such minimal experience in the unit, it was important for Big Blue to add some veterans to the secondary in free agency this offseason.
But the Giants did little to add starting talent to their secondary in free agency. The majority of their focus spent on the secondary was given to the NFL Draft where they selected a safety in Round 2 and a cornerback in Round 3.
However, two underrated signings that the Giants made in free agency could wind up bolstering the secondary this season.
The Giants made a pair of underrated cornerback signings
David Long Jr. and Tre Herndon were two lowkey signings that Big Blue made in the secondary this offseason. Long, 26, and Herndon, 28, stand out as two of the longest-tenured NFL players in New York’s defensive backfield.
In the most recent edition of Fact or Fiction on Giants.com, writer and analyst John Schmeelk named the Giants’ signings of Long and Herndon as the team’s most underrated move of the offseason:
“I think the veteran additions of David Long and Tre Herndon could end up being very important in providing a backstop in a secondary that is full of very young players,” Schmeelk wrote. “Both have started games outside and inside in the NFL and should give some level of reliable veteran presence in a group that otherwise has a lot of inexperience.”
David Long is bringing championship pedigree to the Giants’ secondary
Long was a 2019 third-round pick for the Las Angeles Rams. He’s appeared in 66 games over the past five years, making 12 career starts for the Rams, Raiders, Panthers, and Packers. Long has also made six postseason starts and was a member of the Rams team that won Super Bowl LVI back in 2022.
He’s totaled 94 combined tackles, one interception, and eight pass defenses in his regular-season career while also adding 12 combined tackles and one interception in his postseason career. Long has experience playing both on the boundary and inside as a nickel cornerback.
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Tre Herndon has plenty of experience under his belt
Herndon, similarly to Long, has experience playing both inside and outside. He signed with the Giants earlier this offseason after working out for the team during a minicamp tryout. The 28-year-old cornerback was an undrafted free agent, signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars back in 2018.
He played in 83 regular-season matchups, making 34 starts across his six seasons in north Florida. Herndon has totaled 233 combined tackles, three interceptions, and 32 pass defenses in his career. He also has experience playing on special teams, which could become a valuable trait this summer as he competes for one of the Giants’ available roster spots.
The Giants are banking on youth and potential to pan out in the secondary, despite a lack of experience and prove talent in the starting lineup. If the going gets tough for Big Blue’s youngsters, Long and Herndon will serve as solid insurance plans in the secondary.
