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Jaxson Dart signs contract with New York Giants

NFL: New York Giants Rookie Minicamp

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Only two of the team’s draft picks remain unsigned

Jaxson Dart, the 25th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has signed his rookie contract with the New York Giants. The team announced the news on their website Friday afternoon.

The No. 25 overall selection is the fifth member of the seven-player draft class to sign his rookie deal, joining outside linebacker Abdul Carter (third overall pick), offensive lineman Marcus Mbow (fifth round), tight end Thomas Fidone II (seventh round), and cornerback Korie Black (seventh round).

That leaves only third-round pick Darius Alexander and fourth-round pick Cam Skattebo unsigned.

Dart’s contract, slotted by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, is a fully guaranteed four-year, $16.977 million deal. The contract includes a pro-rated signing bonus of $8.987 million. Dart’s 2025 cap numbers will be $3.086 million.

The NFLPA public salary cap page showed the Giants, who recently restructured the contract of edge defender Brian Burns, with $6.382 million in cap space before the Dart signing.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/5/30/24440236/jaxson-dart-signs-contract-with-new-york-giants
 
Make or break: Can Cor’Dale Flott become a long-term piece for the secondary?

New York Giants v Atlanta Falcons

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Will Flott earn a second contract?

The New York Giants have invested heavily in their defense over the last couple years.

They’ve added high draft picks and talented free agents to try to turn the unit into one of the best in the NFL. The Giants’ defense has had good players for years now, however it’s also been top-heavy, with little depth behind their starters.

The secondary was always of the biggest concerns, and depth can be key. Not only have the Giants been thin on the back end, but the secondary always has to deal with attrition over the course of a year.

That makes 2022 third-round pick (81st overall) Cor’Dale Flott of keen interest as he enters his fourth year. Flott was never a consistent starter through the first two years of his career, but did start 10 of 14 games in 2024. He’s unlikely to push for a starting job in 2025 after the addition of Paulson Adebo and the emergence of Dru Phillips in the slot. However, he could still be an important depth piece who sees plenty of playing time in sub packages or in the event of injury.

Because of that, Flott taking the next step in his development would be an absolute boon to the Giants. And if he doesn’t, he could find himself looking for a new home in the 2026 free agency period.

Reasons why he’ll make it​


The biggest factor in Flott’s potential success is the improvement he showed over the course of 2024.

Last year was Flott’s busiest to date, with him playing 637 snaps (73.8% of the total defensive snaps). Thanks to the Giants’ depth issues in the secondary, the overwhelming majority of those snaps came on the outside, as opposed to the slot. Flott played just 50 snaps in the slot, as opposed to 578 as an outside cornerback — a full game more than his 505 total snaps in 2023.

He certainly had his struggles over the course of those snaps, but the extra work may have been good for him. For instance, Flott showed growth in the mental and technique aspects of his game over the course of 2024.

He struggled some with missed tackles to start the season, with 5 missed tackles in his first 8 games. However, those five were the only missed tackles all year and he didn’t have a single missed tackle after Week 8. By the end of the year, his 8.6% missed tackle rate was significantly lower than the Giants’ 13.3% rate (which itself was roughly league-average).

Flott has always had a good closing burst, but his choice of angles is improving as well.



He’s also showing an improved understanding of leverage and how to force the ball back to his teammates.



His coverage and passer rating against also improved over the course of the year. Using Week 8 as the dividing line, we see a stark shift in Flott’s completion percentage allowed. Prior to Week 8, he allowed 73.1% of passes to be completed, which dropped to 57.9% completed after Week 8.

Part of the difference comes down to how Flott was used and the Giants’ switch to more aggressive scheming after the injury to Dexter Lawrence. The other part is that Flott is improving in how he reads quarterbacks’ eyes and tracks the ball from off coverage.



He is still better in man than zone, and off-man seems to be his greatest strength. We’ll see if (or how) the Giants’ defense changes with the additions of Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland, however they primarily used a mix of Cover 3 and Cover 1 last year. Flott being skilled in off-man coverage could be an asset if the Giants continue to mix those two coverages and use one to disguise the other.

Why he may not make it​


The first, and most notable, issue in Flott’s game is one he can’t do much about.

Flott is whip-thin and is still listed at 175 pounds despite being 6-foot-2. That can make it difficult for him to get bigger defenders on the ground if he doesn’t tackle with excellent form. While he was a relatively secure tackler who didn’t outright miss often, limiting yards after contact is an issue. Flott simply doesn’t have much stopping power and needs to take very good angles and make sure he wraps up every time. If he arrives high, or doesn’t wrap up, even average sized receivers can survive his tackle attempts.



Here we see Flott attempting to bring down Jalen Tolbert at the top of the screen. Instead of laying a big hit that might jar the ball loose, or get him down quickly and securely, Tolbert is able to shrug off Flott. Fortunately, Tyler Nubin was there to clean up, or that could have been a bigger play for the Cowboys.

Flott’s frame can also make him vulnerable to physical play from receivers.

He was a thorn in Brandin Cooks’ side both times the Giants played the Cowboys last year, and Flott largely had Cooks locked down. This play was one of the very few times Cooks got the better of Flott, and it was due to the subtle push-off mid-route.



Cooks is able to disrupt Flott, who isn’t quite able to recover and erase the separation that Cooks creates with the shove. A sturdier frame would allow Flott to absorb the contact without giving up separation (or at least as much) — or force Cooks to be more blatant with the push and draw an offensive pass interference call.

Flott’s aggression and toughness can also work against him when he’s matched up against smart, savvy route runners.

He has good quickness and relies on his downhill burst to arrive with any kind of power. But that means he needs to commit hard and fast to a course of action, which can lead to biting hard on play fakes.



Flott is at the bottom of the screen here, and a subtle fake from the receiver (Noah Brown) convinces Flott to flip his hips in the wrong direction. He’s completely unable to recover and loses his balance doing so, giving up a tremendous amount of separation and a 34-yard play.

Final thoughts​


The question as to whether Flott can “make it” and be a useful piece for the Giants really depends on your expectations for him.

If someone is expecting Flott to be an every-down starter, let alone a “shutdown” corner, then they’re bound to be disappointed. He flashes the ability to be disruptive at the catch point thanks to his quickness and length, but he’ll likely never be a consistent problem for offenses.

So from that perspective, he’d be a bust.

However, if he’s expected to be a depth piece — the fourth cornerback who comes on in certain sub packages or if a starter needs to come off the field — that’s another story. As he is, the Giants could do (and have done) worse for cornerback depth.

He’s limited by his frame and his aggressive game can be used against him by savvy opponents. That said, Flott’s versatility to play outside or the slot are useful, as is his ability to be disruptive when playing off-man.

He’ll need to continue to work on his tackling technique, as well as his discipline in not biting on fakes or misdirection when in zone coverage. Flott can cement himself as a primary depth piece and an option that coaches feel good about in the absence of the starter if he takes the next step in those areas. Doing so could remove cornerback from the Giants’ list of needs for several years.

But while Flott might not need an upgrade if he can’t take that next step, he also wouldn’t prevent the Giants from adding another cornerback who can force him off the roster.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/5/...long-term-piece-for-new-york-giants-secondary
 
2025 Summer Scouting - Nyck Harbor, WR, South Carolina

NCAA Football: Citrus Bowl-South Carolina at Illinois

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Will Harbor realize his athletic upside?

The New York Giants could target a wide receiver at the top of next year’s draft, and adding another explosive athlete to pair with Malik Nabers would certainly be attractive.

So with that in mind, we’re starting this year’s Summer Scouting series with arguably the freakiest athlete in the country at any position and any level.

South Carolina wide receiver Nyck Harbor possesses the rare kind of athleticism that’s normally reserved for video game characters. He holds the distinction of being the first freshman to headline Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks List” back in 2023, and became the first player to headline the “Freaks List” in back-to-back years in 2024.

Harbor has true “Track Star” speed — and I mean that literally, not just as a metaphor. His 10.11-second 100-meter time ranking third all-time in South Carolina program history while his 20.20 200-meter time ranks second in program history. Harbor is a World Class athlete, even among the athletic freaks at the highest level of college football.

That 20.20 time earned him a spot in the Olympic Trials with the chance to represent the USA in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Harbor turned down the invitation in order to concentrate on football and this year stepped away from track entirely.

(Harbor is the South Carolina receiver wearing number 8 with white gloves and socks.)

Strengths​


Nyck Harbor simply does not make sense as an athlete.

He possesses truly elite size, standing 6-foot-5, 242 pounds and appears to have long arms as well. Harbor looms over any cornerback asked to cover him, and makes other track athletes look like children. We don’t have a concrete 40 time for Harbor, however he’s expected to run somewhere in the 4.3-second range and could even dip down into the 4.2’s.

As you may expect from Harbor, he’s remarkably sudden off the line of scrimmage. Where other big receivers may have sluggish or rolling releases, Harbor explodes off the line with minimum wasted energy. He has light, springy steps and is able to shorten his stride and change his tempo over the course of his route. That allows Harbor to be quicker and more agile than you’d expect from a receiver his size. He’s able to break relatively quickly for a big receiver, as well as be a true deep threat when he lengthens his strides.

Harbor also does a good job of tracking the ball in the air, as well as extending to maximize his (already large) catch radius. He also understands his role in South Crolina’s route concepts and blocking schemes.

Finally, Harbor’s size and strength allow him to run through traffic, as well as be an effective blocker. He has good competitive toughness and is willing to do the dirty work as a blocker or play hard even when he won’t be getting the ball.

Weaknesses​


Harbor’s primary weaknesses appear to be as a technician.

Despite his athleticism his routes will likely always be a little bit rounded due to his sheer size. It’s tough to get that much human to change direction quickly, and he can only sink his hips to lower his center of gravity so much.

In addition to his route running, that can also cause him to be a bit inaccurate when blocking in space. He can be a bit prone to whiffing if he has to change direction suddenly or is a bit out of position.

He wasn’t asked to run a particularly diverse route tree, and was usually used as a decoy or to create traffic. Harbor’s catch mechanics are also awkward at this stage of his development. There were a few too many instances of unnecessary basket catching, letting the ball into his chest plate, or double-catches.

Those two factors likely contributed to the fact that he isn’t targeted often and only has 38 catches through two years (12 in 2023, 26 in 2024). That could change as he enters his third year and isn’t splitting his time between track and football.

Final thoughts​


Nyck Harbor is going to be absolutely fascinating to watch this year.

He has the athletic potential to be dominant at his position and could draw comparisons to Calvin Johnson.

However, that potential is as yet unrealized.

He has the benefit of playing with LaNorris Sellers, who was highly impressive at times last year and could emerge as the top quarterback prospect in the 2026 draft. If so, there will be plenty of eyes on Harbor and he could be in a better situation than many of his peers. That said, it’s on him to take the next step and begin to realize his potential.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/5/...scouting-report-nyck-harbor-wr-south-carolina
 
Giants named a potential trade suitor for Atlanta Falcons’ TE Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons v Minnesota Vikings

Kyle Pitts | Photo by David Berding/Getty Images

Is this a deal you would make?

If Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts truly is on the trade block, should the New York Giants be among the suitors?

Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports reports that the Falcons have been listening to offers for the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and that a Day 2 pick might pique the Falcons’ interest.

Is Pitts, whose production has declined dramatically since a Pro Bowl rookie season that saw him gain 1,026 receiving yards, worth giving up a Day 2 pick for? Should the Giants be interested?

CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin lists the Giants among potential landing spots. He writes:

Are the Giants in a position to pay for immediate help? They may be short on salary cap space, but Pitts’ appeal, at age 24, is that he could also stick around for the long term. Head coach Brian Daboll would surely be OK pairing the big man with Malik Nabers, giving Russell Wilson an added safety valve for an offense sorely lacking secondary playmakers over the last few years. Assuming this link-up would extend beyond 2025, Pitts’ arrival would also bode well for Jaxson Dart, the presumptive quarterback of the future.

In the last three years, the 24-year-old Pitts has not come close to his 68-catch, 1,026-yard rookie season. In 2024, he had just 47 catches for 602 yards (12.8 yards per catch), albeit he did have a career-best 4 touchdown catches.

The Giants have 24-year-old Theo Johnson entering his second season. He showed promise last season with 29 receptions in 12 games before suffering a season-ending Lisfranc injury. They also have Daniel Bellinger, who will be 25 in September, Chris Manhertz and seventh-round pick Thomas Fidone II.

One factor to consider is that the Giants are already without a 2026 third-round pick, having given that up when they moved from No. 34 to No. 25 in the 2025 NFL Draft to select quarterback Jaxson Dart. It seems unlikely the Giants would want to surrender their second-round pick, meaning they would enter the draft without a Day 2 selection.

My vote on the idea of trading for Pitts would be a strong “no.” How about yours? Vote in teh poll and let us know.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/2025/6/...rade-suitor-for-atlanta-falcons-te-kyle-pitts
 
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