New York Giants use free agency to fill major needs

James Bradberry

As noted earlier, the New York Giants defense was atrocious last season. The secondary was one of the worst in the entire league in 2019, ranking 28th in completion percentage (66.4 percent) by opposing quarterbacks and passing yards against per game (264.06) while surrendering the fourth-most passing yards per attempt (7.6).

All blame shouldn’t be placed on the secondary though. Their pass rush was virtually non-existent last year. It seemed like the Giants were out-schemed in every fashion in almost every game. Hence all the changes made across the board with the exception of Gettleman.

Week in and week out the Giants deployed a very inexperienced and overmatched secondary unit. Six of the nine defensive backs that took the field for the Giants last year were 24-years-old or younger, five of them played cornerback. After severing ties with Janoris Jenkins in December. the Giants headed into free agency with three cornerbacks coming off of their rookie year.

Big Blue was in dire need of a veteran presence in the film room and on the field with this young squad. The addition of Bradberry could prove to be the answer we needed. Though he’s only 26 years old, Bradberry has four years of NFL experience, three more than any cornerback expected to make the team next year.

Drafted 62nd overall in 2016, Bradberry has lined up as the number one corner in Carolina the last few seasons. The NFC South is one of the toughest divisions for a cornerback in the entire league. Week in and week out, Bradberry had to cover the likes of Mike Evans, Julio Jones, Michael Thomas, and Chris Godwin. He excelled in the role.

The Pleasant Grove, Alabama native doesn’t make many interceptions but he breaks up plenty of passes. Bradberry is also adept in press coverage. He makes it very difficult for his man to fire off the line of scrimmage. His veteran presence should help with the development of Deandre Baker, Corey Ballentine, and Sam Beal.