The New York Giants are prioritizing an upgrade at quarterback this offseason, but that’s not their only major area of concern.
While the quarterback position will naturally dominate discussions in the coming months, the Giants also need to bolster their cornerback depth and talent. Deonte Banks hasn’t developed into the No. 1 cornerback the team expected when they drafted him in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, while Andru Phillips made a strong impression as a rookie in the slot.
In ESPN’s latest free agency predictions, the Giants made a significant move to strengthen their secondary by signing star cornerback D.J. Reed from the New York Jets to a four-year deal worth $72 million, with $40 million guaranteed.
“The Giants need a No. 1 cornerback in the worst way, and Reed is the best option on the free agent market. He can cover and tackle, and he has already proved capable of handling the New York market. Reed might not be your prototypical shutdown corner, but the Giants will pay him as such to move across town. Last season, they gave up 7.7 yards per pass attempt (29th) and had only five interceptions (31st),” ESPN’s Jordan Raanan wrote.
That’s a significant contract for a 28-year-old cornerback with only six career interceptions, and it’s even higher than Spotrac’s projection for Reed, which estimates a four-year, $58 million deal. However, Reed would be a valuable addition to Shane Bowen’s secondary, both for his skill and leadership.
Despite the modest interception numbers, Reed has been outstanding in coverage. Over the past five seasons and 70 games, he’s allowed a passer rating of 78.4 and just 6.2 yards per target against him, according to Pro Football Reference.
While revamping the quarterback position is the top priority, adding a talent like Reed to strengthen the secondary would be a significant move in the right direction.
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