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New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen has used the NFL draft the past few seasons to reform his defensive backfield.
He’s used high draft picks to bring in fresh talents such as cornerbacks Deonte Banks, Andru Phillips, and Cor’Dale Flott and safety Tyler Nubin.
Schoen will likely continue to focus on the secondary in future drafts but will at some point have to supplement and/or augment the units with veteran free agents.
Mason Cameron of Pro Football Focus believes that two impending San Francisco 49ers free agents could be on the Giants’ radar this March — cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Talanoa Hufanga.
The Giants could use a talented vet to pair with the inconsistent Banks. Ward appears to be a fit.
Ward’s overall body of work speaks for itself, as he has posted strong 80.0-plus grades in both 2022 and 2023, showcasing his reliability as a top-tier cornerback.
The Giants’ secondary desperately needs reinforcements after finishing 26th in team coverage grade last season. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen’s heavy use of Cover-3 (35.6%, eighth-highest in 2024) aligns well with Ward’s strengths. Over his career, he’s allowed just 0.83 yards per coverage snap in Cover-3, making him an ideal candidate to help revitalize New York’s defensive backfield.
The Giants aren’t sold on Banks, either. They could be looking for more than one potential starting corner this offseason.
With Jason Pinnock set for free agency, the Giants are seeking safety help as well to match with Nubin. Hufanga could be that player.
After battling injuries over the past two seasons, Hufanga’s performances have dipped, culminating in a career-low 57.8 overall grade in 2024. At just 26 years old, however, the safety still has time to regain his form and showcase his playmaking ability.
The Giants, looking to stabilize their secondary, recently hired former Jets safeties coach Marquand Manuel. Manuel has had success with single-high defensive schemes, something the Giants may hope to emulate with Hufanga.
The Giants could very well retain Pinnock and they still have Dane Belton under contract, so the addition of Hufanga would help solidify the unit.