As the New York Giants gear up for their crucial matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, one of their most pressing issues is their cornerback situation. While Deonte Banks has firmly established himself as the team’s number one cornerback (CB1) and is expected to build on a promising rookie year with a strong 2024 season, the depth behind him remains a significant concern.
Heading into the preseason, Cor’Dale Flott was anticipated to secure the CB2 position. However, a quad injury sidelined him for a period, disrupting his readiness for the upcoming season. In his absence, Nick McCloud has stepped up to fill the role, but his performance has been marked by inconsistency. Tre Hawkins is also in the mix, but his play has been similarly unreliable. Given these issues, the Giants find themselves in desperate need of a solution to strengthen their cornerback depth.
In a potentially fortuitous turn of events, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have recently released second-year cornerback Keenan Isaac. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 190 pounds, Isaac may not be a Pro Bowl-level player, but he has shown promise, particularly in recent games. Although he isn’t a household name, Isaac demonstrated considerable potential during the Buccaneers’ preseason games, where he impressed with his performance, including an interception in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Despite having appeared in only two games for Tampa Bay last season, Isaac’s preseason performance earned him a notable 91.2 grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF), reflecting his strong showing. While preseason performance doesn’t always translate to regular-season success, it highlights Isaac’s potential and his capability to contribute positively to a secondary in need of reinforcements.
With the Buccaneers’ decision to part ways with Isaac, he becomes available on the waiver wire. For the Giants, this could be an opportunity to address their cornerback depth issues. General Manager Joe Schoen needs to act swiftly to claim Isaac off waivers before other teams have a chance to do so. The process isn’t as straightforward as simply offering Isaac a contract; the Giants must navigate the waiver system, which involves competing with other teams that may also be interested in acquiring him.
The Giants have struggled to secure veteran talent to bolster their cornerback lineup, making the addition of a young, promising player like Isaac a potentially valuable move. While bringing in players who have been released by other teams is not the ideal solution, it represents a pragmatic approach given the Giants’ current situation. Isaac’s potential to enhance the Giants’ secondary and provide much-needed depth could make him an appealing option for Schoen.
In summary, the Giants’ cornerback situation is far from ideal, with only Deonte Banks providing a sense of reliability. The inconsistent performances of Cor’Dale Flott, Nick McCloud, and Tre Hawkins highlight the need for additional help in this area. The release of Keenan Isaac by the Buccaneers presents an opportunity for the Giants to improve their cornerback depth by potentially adding a player who has shown considerable promise during the preseason. If Joe Schoen can successfully navigate the waiver process and bring Isaac to New York, it could be a crucial step toward shoring up the Giants’ secondary for the upcoming season.
