Jason Pinnock left for the San Francisco 49ers as their former starting free safety and with an upgrade needed this offseason, Jevon Holland signs with Big Blue. According to Ian Rapoport, he received a 3-year deal worth $45.3 million, with $30.3 million in guarantees that can get up to $46.8 million in incentives. The 25-year-old free safety gives the Giants a big-time ball hawk in their secondary, as they had the second least amount of interceptions with just 5 in 2024.
While the New York Giants still need a quarterback, with veterans like Russell Wilson, Joe Flacco, and Jameis Winston all visiting, it seems they will go with a bridge and then draft one either in the first or second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Aaron Rodgers decision is still one they are waiting on, as Shedeur Sanders is a quarterback they can target at pick 3 since Cam Ward will likely go first overall unless they trade up with the Tennessee Titans.
With Tommy “Cutlets” DeVito the only signal caller on the roster, that is their biggest need left to fill still. But their defense with a great front seven fell apart with new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen due to injuries, it was mostly their talent in the back end that struggled. The secondary was their second biggest weakness on the roster, as the offensive line did hold up better than in previous seasons.
Jevon Holland Perfect Fit for Big Blue
The former second-round pick from Oregon is now the 11th highest-paid safety, which to me, is a bargain. Especially comparing it to Trevon Moehrig‘s contract, according to Spotrac, who signed with the Carolina Panthers this offseason away from the Las Vegas Raiders. Both are the same age but Holland fits the Giants a bit more with his roaming position rather than Moehrig, who plays strong safety and sometimes in the box.
The Miami Dolphins chose to not extend after a down year, as they had a bad season overall due to injuries across the board and Holland didn’t have a pick last year. But you bet on traits, not just recent production. With his range and ball skills as a young enough free safety coming into his prime, Holland is on the cusp of a breakout season.
The signing just made sense in hindsight, as he had ties to the Gmen already with Oregon Duck Kayvon Thibodeaux, who can play with a former college teammate again. Holland also had some support from a former Giant safety Xavier McKinney, who they let walk and signed with Green Bay last offseason.
That decision was up there with their Saquon Barkley decision in all-time bad beats, as McKinney had an all-pro season with 8 interceptions as a Packer in the first season with them. Although signing with a division rival like the Philadelphia Eagles, who went on to win a Super Bowl in his first season as well, is way worse, at least the Giants had a plan this offseason to attack the safety position to replace what they decided to let go. A prior position flaw is now a strength heading into the 2025 season, even if it took two offseasons to figure it out.
Duo with Tyler Nubin Forms Top Safety Unit
Despite not having a pick in 2024, Holland has 5 career interceptions in his four-year career with Miami, as he had a few injuries the past two seasons. The first two seasons were his best, as the Dolphin’s former safety had 4 of his interceptions back then with 17 total pass deflections in that span. In 2023, Holland did have 3 forced fumbles and a pick six he returned 99 yards to the house.
In 2024, he had a down year all around and struggled with Anthony Weavers’ scheme, who was their new defensive coordinator. Holland was way better in Vic Fangio’s scheme, as he took off last offseason to Philly. Whether he misses him as a person or not is a different story and while Weaver was probably good to the players, it was still a down year for the now safety for the Giants. While it wasn’t great, he was playing with a hand injury and a knee injury throughout the last two seasons and had a concussion in 2023.
With former second-round rookie from Minnesota Tyler Nubin, they form one of the better safety duos in the NFL. The Giants can have the tandem grow in the next few years, as the 23-year-old strong safety can take another step forward as a leader of this defense in 2025.
PFF had Nubin with a high run defense (76) and tackle (79.4) grade before he went out with a season-ending foot injury that shortened his rookie year. He was leading the team in tackles and didn’t let up any touchdowns or more than 205 yards in coverage as a do-it-all safety for them.
The young potential breakout star in 2025 only played 13 games and statistically, had a pass broken up and a forced fumble in one of their few wins last year. Now with just the cornerback room needing improvement, that need getting addressed in the NFL Draft will improve the secondary entirely and will make everyone a bit better as a whole. While there is injury risk with both, it is a good gamble to take with their pass rush.