The New York Giants had a plethora of secondary issues a season ago, highlighted by injury and inconsistency. However, repairing that unit became a focal point here in 2019, with a hefty amount invested in the fix.
While it remains to be seen what the young unit can pull off, the Giants have no shortage of impressive talent now waiting to erupt — from safety Jabrill Peppers to rookie first-round pick Deandre Baker.
Despite the fresh wave of young talent, Pro Football Focus isn’t banking on the Giants secondary to make substantial waves in 2019, ranking them among the league’s worst.
24. NEW YORK GIANTS
CB Janoris Jenkins
CB Sam Beal
CB DeAndre Baker
S Jabrill Peppers
S Antoine BetheaWe’ll look back on Janoris Jenkins’ 2016 season as a distinct outlier over the course of his career. After never having allowed fewer than 700 yards in a single season before the Giants signed Jenkins, the former Rams corner allowed only 484 yards and a completion percentage against of 50.0. Since then he’s reverted back to the player we saw in Los Angeles and allowed 788 yards last season.
Jenkins, of course, battled injuries for much of last season, and that came on the heels of a complete meltdown in the secondary under Ben McAdoo, in which several players, including Jenkins himself, were suspended for conduct detrimental.
Here in 2019, Jenkins will be task with training the pack of young puppies, while leading the unit on the field. And while his career may be winding down, both general manager Dave Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur believe in him as both a player and a tutor.
At least on paper, the unit appears vastly improved, but there are a lot of new pieces and it’s going to take a little time for everything to fall into place.
