Against all odds, the Giants are sitting alone at the top of the division for the first time since 2020, and the secondary is a huge reason why. Jevón Holland grabbed September’s NFC Defensive Player of the Month honors, but Greg Newsome II has been making his own noise.
That was on full display in New York’s 36-24 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Newsome was around the ball all afternoon, piling up seven tackles, two pass deflections and an interception in traffic. He nearly had a second pick late in the fourth quarter - the kind that would have closed the door for good - before Deonte Banks delivered the dagger instead.
For a one-year “prove it” deal, Newsome has already looked like a sharp bet. The Giants gave him a shot in free agency this offseason, and at a maximum value of $8 million, he’s been delivering like a bargain. His performance against Arizona only strengthened that case.
When he first landed in New York, it wasn’t obvious how big a role he’d end up playing in 2026. The 2021 first-round pick arrived in a crowded cornerback room after losing favor with the Cleveland Browns and getting traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars. His expiring salary made it seem like the Giants might not be planning around him for the long haul.
Instead, they’ve had to lean on him. Newsome has become an every-down option, and the Giants have needed every bit of it with Paulson Adebo on injured reserve because of a nagging knee issue and rookie Colton Hood still working through a steep learning curve.
The result is that Newsome is positioning himself for a much bigger payday in 2027, whether that’s in New York or somewhere else. He’s taking full advantage of the change of scenery, and he’s turning what looked like a short-term flyer into a decision the front office will have to make sooner rather than later.
That’s not a bad place to be for the Giants, especially with the rest of the cornerback group looking unsettled beyond Hood. They can save $14 million in cap space while carrying about $6.3 million in dead money if they move on from Adebo after the season. Banks is in the final year of his rookie deal, and slot corner Dru Phillips has regressed.
So why couldn’t Newsome, 26, stay in the mix beyond 2026? He’s got 62 career starts and counting, the draft pedigree to match, and his age fits right alongside Big Blue’s timeline.
In Other News...
Giants Add A Receiver With Ties Fans Definitely Did Not Expect
The Giants are adding another wide receiver to the mix, signing Dontae Fleming to the practice squad after bringing him in for a visit. Fleming has spent time with the Vikings, and his path to New York comes with some unusual familiar faces, including ties to Giants players Dalen Cambre and J.J. McCarthy.
The move also adds another layer to a transaction cycle that has linked the two teams in recent days, with Minnesota signing recently released Giants player Odell Beckham Jr. to its practice squad. For New York, Fleming is a low-risk depth addition, but the connections around him make this a little more interesting than your typical roster shuffle. [Read more 🡒]
Odell Beckham Jr. Just Landed Another NFL Chance After Giants Exit
The Vikings are taking a low-risk look at Odell Beckham Jr., signing the veteran receiver to their practice squad as they try to patch together depth at a position that has been hit hard by injuries, including the absence of Justin Jefferson. Beckhams latest NFL opportunity comes not long after his release from the Giants, giving him a chance to quickly move from a familiar stop back into another contenders orbit.
What happens next is still up in the air, including whether Beckham will be available for the upcoming game against the New Orleans Saints. For a player trying to re-establish himself after leaving New York, Minnesota offers a path back into the conversation, but first he has to get through the week and show he can be more than a short-term depth answer. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Keep Sending The Same Frustrating Message About Jalin Hyatt
Braxton Berrios landing on injured reserve after the foot injury he suffered in Week 4 changes the Giants special teams picture in a hurry, with Charlie Jones expected to step in as the teams primary punt and kick returner. It is another one of those early-season roster shifts that usually creates an opening somewhere else, especially for a receiver trying to climb into the mix.
Jalin Hyatt, though, still does not appear close to being that guy. Even with Berrios out and Odell Beckham Jr. gone, the Giants remain reluctant to promote Hyatt to the active roster, a sign that his limited production since entering the league is still weighing on his standing. For a team that could use more juice on offense, the message has been frustratingly consistent. [Read more 🡒]