The New York Giants are still reeling from last year’s losses in free agency. Two players they let walk, running back Saquon Barkley and safety Xavier McKinney, both became All-Pros in their first season with their new teams.
The Giants don’t want to see a repeat this offseason. They can partially avoid that by simply re-signing safety Jason Pinnock, who will be an unrestricted free agent come March.
Pinnock, 25, has been a solid performer since the Giants picked him up off waivers before the 2022 season from the Jets, who drafted him out of Pitt in the fifth round in 2021.
Since being picked up by the Giants, Pinnock had played in 46 games (starting 37) with 211 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, and two interceptions — one of which he returned 102 yards for a touchdown.
This past season, Pinnock played on 89.3 percent of the team’s defensive snaps, a team-high. The Giants should make him a priority this offseason.
You can bet there will be other clubs interested in Pinnock’s services. The league is onto the Giants and their poor management decisions as many players they seem to let go move on to have solid careers elsewhere.
Pinnock is the only starter on defense that is an impending free agent. Everyone else is under contract. He has become the leader of a young secondary that is in dire need of direction.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen mentioned prioritizing bringing back Pinnock, who matched up well with rookie safety Tyler Nubin this season under first-year coordinator Shane Bowen.
Perhaps they are onto something with this duo. The Giants have questions up and down their roster and getting some stability down the middle of the defense would go a long way.
