The Giants are the breakout team to many as next season is set to begin under new head coach John Harbaugh along with QB Jaxson Dart heading into year 2 as the starter after a strong rookie season. The offense has the chance to be stout led by Dart along with the additions of Matt Nagy and John Harbaugh to the coaching staff, not to mention the presence of standout players such as Andrew Thomas, Cam Skattebo, and Malik Nabers. However, the Giants’ defense I believe will be their calling card heading into next season as the team has elite front seven personnel and here I will do an analysis of the team’s secondary personnel.
2021 3rd rounder Paulson Adebo is set to start at the first primary cornerback spot and is a talented but inconsistent player who is likely better suited as a reserve. Adebo in four of five seasons in the NFL has graded in the below average to well below average range among players at his position according to Pro Football Focus. However, in the remaining year Pro Football Focus graded him in the borderline elite range among players at his position.
2024 2nd rounder Tyler Nubin is set to start at the strong safety spot for the team. Nubin had a strong rookie season grading above average among players at his position despite being a rookie which is not easy to do. However, Nubin had a sophomore slump type of season grading poorly according to Pro Football Focus in the well below average range among players at his position. Just like Adebo, Nubin has talent but is very inconsistent and the Giants do not know what they can expect to get from him and he is likely better suited as a reserve. However, perhaps Nubin can move past his sophomore slump and breakout in year 3 with the Giants’ new coaching staff.
Jevon Holland is set to start at the free safety spot for the Giants and just like his previous two contemporaries in the back-end defense, he has a ton of talent but is very inconsistent. Holland, a former 2nd rounder, has graded in the top three among all safeties on two occasions thus far in the NFL but has graded below average the remaining three years. An electric ceiling that is marred by drastic inconsistencies, however, just like the previous two players perhaps he can come into his own under the Giants’ new coaching staff.
Unfortunately, the theme of talent but inconsistencies continues to persist with Greg Newsome who is set to start at the other primary cornerback spot for the Giants as a former 2nd rounder. Newsome graded in the above average to well above average range in each of his first three seasons but has graded in the below average to poor range the past few seasons. However, Newsome’s’ struggles as of late are understandable to a certain extent as he was banged up during the past few seasons while being traded midseason during 2025. So perhaps as he acclimates to a new team while remaining healthy, he can play well like he did to start his career.
Rounding out the Giants’ starting secondary lineup is 2024 3rd rounder Dru Phillips who had an elite rookie season grading as one of the best corners in the NFL but regressed in year 2 although still playing at a solid middle of the pack level. Perhaps Phillips could break out in year 3 under John Harbaugh, build off his rookie season, and establish himself as a star.
From a depth standpoint in the back-end defense the Giants have several notable names that could provide the team with strong depth and/or step into the starting lineup, if need be, given some of the question marks the Giants have in their starting secondary lineup. New York drafted cornerback Colton Hood at the top of the 2nd round of the 2026 draft and he received second team All-Sec honors in college which is not easy to do playing in likely the toughest conference in the country. 2023 1st rounder Deonte Banks was drafted very highly and has unfortunately been a bust thus far producing at a well below average rate in each of his first three seasons in the NFL. However, it is not out of the realm of possibility that he gets his act together under John Harbaugh and starts to live up to his potential or at least be much better than he has been thus far. Safety/cornerback Ardarius Washington has shown an elite ceiling in the NFL albeit in limited snaps. While the likes of a few others have also shown some capabilities over the years as well. The Giants have a very talented but very inconsistent secondary and a breakdown of the unit can be found below.
2026 Projected Giants’ Secondary Lineup
LCB – Paulson Adebo – C+, borderline elite ceiling, very inconsistent
SS – Tyler Nubin – 2024 2nd rounder, C+, strong rookie season, sophomore slump
FS – Jevon Holland – B to B+, elite ceiling, very inconsistent
RCB – Greg Newsome – C+ to B-, strong start to career, has tailed off past two seasons perhaps due to injurie(s)/adjusting to new team
NB – Andru Phillips – B+ to A-, elite in rookie season, dropped off in year 2 but was still solid, 2024 3rd rounder
2026 Notable Giants’ Secondary Reserves
CB – Colton Hood – 2026 2nd rounder
S – Jason Pinnock – C+
CB – Deonte Banks – 2023 1st rounder, D+ to C- so far
CB/S – Ardarius Washington – B+ to A-, borderline elite to elite in about a season’s worth of snaps
CB – Jarrick Bernard-Converse – B+ in in about one game worth of snaps
