The New York Giants cornerback situation is tenuous. They reportedly had intentions of signing former Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers defensive back, Ross Cockrell. Unfortunately, that deal fell through.
Although Giants head coach Joe Judge said it is not a priority to get a veteran corner, it is very suggestive that they pick up an established and solid veteran.
Sam Beal has opted-out of the 2020 season and DeAndre Baker was put on the commissioner’s exempt list because of the charges going against him.
Corey Ballentine still needs to improve and is not the number two cornerback right away. He had his own struggles last season as well as the rest of the core. Julian Love will spend some time at safety, but can additionally play slot and outside cornerback. Darnay Holmes can play slot and nickel but needs time to bloom.
The point is that in order for the defense to improve, the Giants will need to add a veteran cornerback to help this defense improve. Here are some veterans the Giants could be interested in.
Who Can Improve the New York Giants Cornerback Situation?
Dre Kirkpatrick
Dre Kirkpatrick, for the last couple of years, was the number one cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals. He was with the Bengals from 2012-2019.
Over that span, Kirkpatrick has totaled 10 interceptions, 65 pass deflections, and 302 tackles. He started 67 of the 99 games he appeared in. Kirkpatrick allowed also allowed an 82.2 passer rating and a 50 percent completing rating in 2018.
The reason his name comes up a lot is that he has familiarity with Joe Judge at Alabama, in his college years. Judge was a special teams assistant alongside Nick Saban from 2009-2011.
Although familiarity is a good factor, Kirkpatrick is coming out of his prime and only played in six games last season. That was because of a hyperextended knee. In the time he played, he allowed a 63.3 percent completion rating. With that said, he gave up 19 completions and was targeted 30 times.
Kirkpatrick’s best years are behind him, at 30 years old. But if the Giants are willing to come to a cheap agreement with him, the signing would not be a bad idea.
Logan Ryan
Logan Ryan is best known for intercepting Tom Brady‘s last pass in New England in the 2019 Wild Card Game.
Ryan is still a solid cornerback at 29 years old. His role is mostly in the slot, but he has been trying to convince teams he can play safety. Like Kirkpatrick, he does have familiarity with Judge when he was in New England.
The negative is that Ryan gave up the most receptions last season (68) among cornerbacks. He also is commanding a big salary. Not only that, but he will want a long-term deal, knowing he most likely wants to finish his career with the next team that gets him.
If the two can meet halfway at a one-year deal, it would be a solid add for the young secondary.
Tramon Williams
A lot of Giants’ media has not brought this candidate’s name up. Tramon Williams.
Williams is 37 years old. He has been playing since 2006. He does not have familiarity with Patrick Graham because he was not a linebacker, but they were in the same organization in 2018.
Williams has totaled 34 interceptions, 705 tackles and 152 pass deflections in the 199 games (153 started) he has appeared in his 14-year career.
Last year, he earned a 75.1 grade from Pro Football Focus with the Green Bay Packers. He gave up 437 yards on 33 receptions. He was targeted 57 times and allowed a 79.2 passer rating with a 57.9 completion percentage.
Though he is 39, he is still a solid player at his age. He will likely not ask for a long-term contract, knowing he is 39 and at the end of his career. That is a plus on the Giants’ side knowing that they are likely looking for a short-term deal for a decent veteran.
His age may be a factor, but this would be a solid low-risk pickup for Big Blue.
