The New York Giants made it a priority to bolster the secondary this off-season, with several additions that should help improve the unit’s efficiency. Last season, the secondary was littered with young talent that had little to no experience at the NFL level. Players like Julian Love, DeAndre Baker, Corey Ballentine, and Sam Beal all started fresh in the NFL.
The secondary was always going to experience hiccups along the way, as the Giants allowed 30 passing touchdowns against, which rank 26 in the NFL, and had a -16 turnover differential. The Giants only had 16 takeaways in 2019, which ranked third-worst in the NFL. They also allowed 377 yards per game, ranking 25th in the NFL. Across the board, the Giants were at the bottom of the barrel in terms of defensive efficiency, and improving the secondary is a major factor in their future success.
Here is a look at who the New York Giants added to the unit to reinforce it moving forward:
James Bradberry:
The Giants added Bradberry, formally of the Carolina Panthers this off-season to a three-year, $45 million deal. Bradberry is a solid No. 1 corner who can travel into the slot position and mirror opposing wide receivers.
In 2019, Bradberry posted a 59.8% completion rate against and allowed one touchdown. His 12.2% missed tackle rate was a bit worrisome, but it was a major increase from his 5.4% in 2018, indicating it could be an outlier. The decrease in TDs allowed is a significant point to mention, as he limited some of the best wideouts in the game to minimal production.
While losing Janoris Jenkins hurts the defense, replacing him with a younger and more physical Bradberry should be an improvement.
Darnay Holmes:
Holmes is an exciting young prospect coming out of UCLA. He projected as a nickel corner at the NFL level entering the draft, despite never playing any reps at the position. His only action was at the Senior Bowl, where he locked down opposing receivers and really solidified himself as a nickel option. The Giants have had a tough time cementing the position with a talented player, as Grant Haley has struggled in coverage, and Julian Love fits more of a safety mold.
Holmes has great physical traits and speed to match up with interior receivers. His physicality and leadership qualities make him a fantastic addition to the secondary, and he could be a starter as soon as week one of the 2020 regular season.
Xavier McKinney:
McKinney is one of the more exciting players the Giants landed in the NFL draft. Projected as the best safety in the class, the Giants landed him in the second round. Not only are they getting a dominant tackler from an NFL style defense in Alabama, but they are also adding a true battle hawk to the deep half of the field.
McKinney showed off his ability to create turnovers last season, recording three interceptions and four forced fumbles. He can also line up close to the line of scrimmage and rush the passer. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham loves to utilize safeties in his blitzing scheme, which is where he can thrive and hopefully dominate. The unpredictability and versatility he brings to the game will likely transform how the Giants utilize the free safety position.
Chris Williamson:
Williamson is an enticing young player who the Giants landed in the seventh round out of Minnesota. Williamson is a poor tackler but has the tangible traits to develop into a solid corner.
His speed and physicality suggest he can develop into a depth piece, and he could project as a nickel corner as well. However, he has a similar frame to Sam Beal, which means he could be fighting for a back-end roster spot this off-season. The Giants had four seventh-round picks, and adding competition is essential to rounding out positions of weakness.
I don’t imagine all of them will make the active roster, but Williamson has a great opportunity to impress coaches with his aggressive mentality. If he can develop his tackling technique and fundamentals, he could be a contributor down the line.