New York Giants' Daniel Jones (8) runs away from Philadelphia Eagles' Alex Singleton for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Giants Third Round Pick Called the NYG Offseason’s “Biggest Loser”
Every offseason, an NFL team sends a message to some players—good or bad—through its choices in the draft and free agency, and the New York Giants in 2024 were no exception.
For instance, according to The Athletic’s Dan Duggan, a seasoned Giants media member, one of the primary “losers” of the NYG offseason was 2023 starting nickelback and former third-round pick Cor’Dale Flott. According to Duggan, “the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Flott might be the biggest loser with the defensive coordinator change.” “[Shane] Bowen prefers sturdy corners who are strong tacklers, whereas former DC Wink Martindale emphasized man coverage skills at corner.”
The beat writer said, “That’s not Flott’s strength, which is probably why the Giants selected Andru Phillips to play slot corner in the third round.”
“The Phillips selection should push Flott out of the starting slot job and into a competition at the outside corner spot opposite Deonte Banks,” Duggan wrote in his conclusion. Additionally, the third-year prospect may fail as a result of that shift.
As a rookie, Flott had trouble on the outside, giving up a passer rating of 102.4 when he was targeted, according to Pro Football Focus. The true problem for the soon-to-be 23-year-old, though, has been his run defense and tackling, as he has only made 17 crucial defensive stops and missed 11 tackles in his first two NFL seasons
.Nick McCloud of the Giants is in a “prime position” to unseat Cor’Dale Flott as starting cornerback.
There is just one first-team spot available in the secondary for a guy like Flott, and he will face stiff competition given that Banks will be holding the CB1 position, Phillips will probably take over the slot, and there are a few starting contenders at safety. It seems that veteran staff favorite Nick McCloud is Duggan’s sleeper choice.Duggan praised McCloud as one of his five NYG winners of the 2024 offseason and said, “Surprisingly, the Giants haven’t added any notable outside cornerbacks this offseason, especially with Adoree’ Jackson and the 792 snaps he played last season departing.”
The Big Blue reporter contended, “McCloud is in prime position to claim Jackson’s starting spot after returning to the Giants as a restricted free agent.” Reasoning: “McCloud’s early-career effectiveness as a super sub has similarities to that of former Giant Julian Love.” The Giants are hoping McCloud takes advantage of a starting position as Love did in 2022.
Along with Flott, David Long Jr., a veteran signing, Tre Hawkins III, a 2020 draft pick, and McCloud are McCloud’s rivals at CB2. The injured 2021 draft selection Darnay HolmesCan CBs Develop With Shane Bowen & The New-Look Giants Pass Rush?
Though Bowen’s defensive style may affect Flott, according to Duggan, it’s also feasible that the LSU product, along with other recent draft picks like Hawkins and Holmes, perform much better in a scheme that is more conducive to the cornerback position.
Martindale has a reputation for abandoning his defensive backs, and the Giants’ young players have mostly failed to live up to expectations over the last two seasons. Bowen is anticipated to approach things differently, utilizing a 3-4 system and more of a conventional five-man pass rush.
