WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — The New York Giants are conducting extensive evaluations throughout their secondary as training camp gets underway, with several key position battles expected to shape the defensive backfield for the upcoming season.
At a press conference opening camp Wednesday, general manager Joe Schoen highlighted the competition at cornerback, receiver, and safety, signaling an unsettled depth chart across the secondary. “There’s some good options there,” Schoen said of cornerbacks, adding that the team has “depth” at safety and is eager to see how the battles develop during camp.
The unit is composed entirely of players either drafted or signed since Schoen took over the team’s personnel decisions. This group includes high-profile free-agent signings such as safeties Jevon Holland and Paulson Adebo, recent draft picks Tyler Nubin (safety) and Dru Phillips (slot corner), as well as veteran acquisition Greg Newsome. Other contributors include safeties Ardarius Washington and Jason Pinnock, both free-agent additions, and rookie corners Deonte Banks and Colton Hood, all competing for roles.
Holland, despite an underwhelming previous season, is expected to hold a starting position given his grasp of defensive schemes and aggressive approach to reading plays. However, Washington, a veteran brought in from the Baltimore Ravens by head coach John Harbaugh, presents a potentially significant challenge to both Nubin and Phillips. Washington’s experience gives him a strong chance to either take a starting spot, earn a rotational role, or secure playing time off the bench with the possibility of ascending later.
Holland expressed enthusiasm about the competition and the chemistry developing within the safety group. “It’s fun to play with,” he said of his rapport with Adebo and Nubin, highlighting the different strengths and personalities that coaches are pairing to complement each other on the field. Holland also noted the value of continuity, mentioning this is the first time in his career he will enter a second season playing alongside the same safety.
The Giants are particularly invested in Nubin, a former second-round pick whose previous seasons have been marked by inconsistency. The organization is providing him ample opportunity to rebound, though Phillips’s starting role at slot corner faces scrutiny following coverage struggles late last season and a difficult moment early in practice when he was beaten off the line of scrimmage.
At outside cornerback, Adebo’s 2025 season and offseason performance drew criticism, including public comments from Harbaugh regarding his offseason attendance. Meanwhile, Newsome, also a veteran free-agent signing, is still working to secure a regular role. Rookies Hood and Banks are in the mix and stand to benefit if the veterans falter. Hood has received positive notes on his practice attitude, while Banks, a former first-round pick, is given significant developmental resources.
Harbaugh’s emphasis on open competition reflects a broader NFL strategy to strengthen rosters internally and propel player development. Nevertheless, the fact that nearly the entire secondary is undergoing heavy evaluation points to potential volatility in the Giants’ defensive backfield entering the season.