‘Five-Tool Star Could Be the Missing Piece to Finally Fix the Giants’ Biggest Mistake and Transform Their Future’

Of all the moves the New York Giants made this offseason, one new arrival can correct a huge mistake from last year. He’s a “five-tool player” who will allow Big Blue to finally replace one of 2024’s key departures who immediately became one of the most dominant in the NFL in new surroundings.

Letting Xavier McKinney walk in free agency didn’t grab the same headlines as the decision to part ways with Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley, but it was arguably just as damaging for the Giants.

McKinney’s an ultra-versatile safety whose ball-hawking skills helped him snatch eight interceptions for the Green Bay Packers last season. Meanwhile, the Giants got their hands on a mere five picks, the second-fewest in the league.

Making more big plays in coverage will now be the responsibility of Jevon Holland. The former Miami Dolphins standout is qualified for the job thanks to the ability to thrive “from the slot, two-deep, single-high, and even cornerback,” according to Doug Farrar of Athlon Sports.

As Farrar put it, “when they call him a ‘five-tool player,’ this is part of what they mean. The @giants desperately needed this type of guy after letting Xavier McKinney walk last year.”

Farrar’s comments and highlights are more deserved praise for a free-agency deal initially savaged by critics, but a signing more than one former Super Bowl winner believes will be key to the Giants’ defense this season.

Giants Equipped to Overcome Xavier McKinney Mistake

McKinney has already established his bona fides as an opportunistic playmaker, but Holland has his own worthy track record. It includes a quintet of interceptions, five sacks and as many forced fumbles in four seasons with the Dolphins.

The numbers aren’t overwhelming, but a two-time Super Bowl winner with the Giants still thinks Holland is ready for stardom. For now, the Giants will settle for a multiple defensive back who can replace McKinney’s range and nose for the football.

Those qualities helped McKinney grab nine INTs and make 27 pass breakups with the Giants. He also faced 53 targets without allowing a single touchdown in coverage last season, per PFF NY Giants.

Yet, those numbers weren’t enough to convince team brass to keep McKinney, who told The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov he didn’t feel wanted by the Giants: “I could tell they didn’t really want me there.”

Watching Barkley rush for over 2,000 yards and win a Super Bowl with NFC East rivals the Philadelphia Eagles stung, but the Giants missed McKinney’s skills as much defensively.

Fortunately, the emergence of 2024 NFL draft second-round pick Tyler Nubin took away some of the sting, while Holland could add even more to an evolving secondary.

Jevon Holland Ready to Change Giants Defensive Backfield

They wouldn’t pay McKinney, but the Giants splashed the cash for Holland, in part because of the many ways the $45.3 million man can change their defensive backfield. Many of those ways were described by a former three-time Super Bowl winner who played cornerback and safety for the New England Patriots, and believes the Giants can now be similarly creative on the back end.

Being able to deploy Holland at so many spots will make it easier for defensive coordinator Shane Bowen to disguise coverage looks, both pre- and post-snap. No matter where he lines up, Holland’s greater value could be his knack for making big plays.

None in his career have been bigger than this 99-yard pick-six against the New York Jets in 2023, when Holland actually traversed “124.4 yards” from end zone to end zone, according to Next Gen Stats.

Being able to turn defense into offense will be an asset after the Giants struggled to make splash plays in every phase last season. Letting Barkley and McKinney go undermined both sides of the ball, but Schoen has at least corrected the latter mistake.