Heading into the 2025 season, theGiantsare coming off another incredibly disappointing campaign, which saw them go 3-14 and take another step in the wrong direction, putting GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll firmly on the hot seat. But as the team heads into the 2025 season, there's optimism that New York will be an improved squad.
In this series, we’ll break down the depth chart for every position group. This time, we’ll go in-depth at the safety position...
Projected depth chart
Starters:Jevon Holland,Tyler NubinBackups: Dane Belton, Anthony Johnson Jr., Makari Paige, Raheem Layne
Key Additions/Departures: Signed Holland in free agency, lost Jason Pinnock in free agency
Top Performers in 2024: Nubin, with 98 total tackles, four tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery
2024 ranking via PFF: Nubin ranked 19th out of 71 ranked safeties
What Giants safeties have going for them
Replacing someone like Xavier McKinney is never an easy thing. After all, McKinney had nine interceptions over his four seasons with the Giants before departing for a big-money contract with the Green Bay Packers. McKinney was an All-Pro in 2024, and while seeing him have that kind of success may have been a tough pill to swallow for Giants fans, those fans can rest easy knowing that the team drafted a rising star in Nubin.
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Nubin may not yet be the ballhawk that McKinney is, but he played well above his rookie status last season, starting from Week 1 on and playing in 13 games before a high ankle sprain ended his season. Nubin led all rookies in total tackles and ranked as PFF's second-best rookie safety against the run prior to his injury, proving he can be a playmaker all over the field.
To support Nubin and replace Pinnock, the Giants went out and signed former Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland to a multi-year contract, bringing in a proven veteran who can hold his own in coverage, allowing Nubin to play downhill and cause chaos for opposing offenses.
Nubin and Holland could give the Giants their best one-two punch at safety in quite some time.
Key concern for 2025: Taking the ball away
As a team, the Giants had just five total interceptions during the 2024 season, with Belton's Week 17 pick against the Indianapolis Colts being the only interception by a Giants safety. Being steady in coverage and playing downhill to stop the run are two key elements for NFL safeties, but they also have to be able to make a play on the ball when it's in the air and force turnovers.
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Holland has five interceptions in 60 career games, but like Nubin, he did not have an interception last season. The Giants will need their safeties to start generating some turnovers, or it could be another long year for the defense.
Player who must step up in 2025: Jevon Holland
After a solid start to his career with Miami, Holland inked a three-year, $45.3 million deal with the Giants this offseason. The average annual value of his contract is just over $15 million, which is in the same ballpark as McKinney's $16.75 million per year deal.
While Holland and McKinney are two different kinds of players, Holland has the ability to be a playmaker, as evidenced by his 99-yard "Fail Mary" interception return touchdown against the Jets on Black Friday 2023.
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The Giants are going to need to see some of that big-play ability from their big-money defensive addition.
Biggest camp battle: Belton vs. Johnson
While the starting spots will belong to Nubin and Holland as long as the pair remains healthy, the battle for the third safety spot is one to watch.
Belton, a fourth-round pick of the Giants in 2022, probably has a leg up, as he's been a solid performer when called upon (five interceptions, 11 pass break-ups, one forced fumble, and four fumble recoveries in 49 games as a part-time starter).
Johnson was claimed off waivers from Green Bay last season, and ended up playing nine games, primarily on special teams, in the second half of the year. He's still just 25 years old, and good camp could keep Johnson's spot on the roster.
Overall 2025 outlook
The Giants have to be happy with what they have at safety going into the 2025 season.
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On one side of the field is Nubin, who proved himself as a rookie to be a steal as a second-round pick. Nubin did not allow a touchdown in coverage last season, and he's sure to only get better as he gets more experience under his belt.
On the other side is Holland, who despite having a bit of an off year in 2024, has still been one of PFF's top-graded coverage safeties since he entered the NFL.
Combine that starting duo with Belton, a physical presence who can line up in different spot along the defense, and the Giants have the framework of a formidable safeties room.