The New York Giants are continuing to explore ways to strengthen their secondary, hosting free agent cornerback Nazeeh Johnson for a visit on Thursday, May 14, 2026. The 26-year-old defensive back, who has previously visited another NFC East club earlier this offseason, is looking to secure a role for the 2026 campaign.
While no deal has been finalized--Johnson remains a free agent--the visit signals that the Giants' front office, led by General Manager Joe Schoen, is actively surveying the market for additional depth at a position group that has undergone a significant makeover this offseason.
A defensive backfield in transition
If you've been following the Giants this spring, you know the secondary is hardly a weakness. Head Coach John Harbaugh and Defensive Coordinator Dennard Wilson have assembled what appears to be one of the deeper cornerback rooms in the NFC. The current roster lists Paulson Adebo, Deonte Banks, Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Korie Black, Art Green, Nic Jones, Greg Newsome II, Rico Payton, Dru Phillips, and Colton Hood at the position. That's 10 cornerbacks already under contract, not including potential undrafted free agents or further additions.
Yet there's a clear method to the numbers game. Adebo and Newsome were major acquisitions earlier this offseason, brought in to solidify the starting boundary spots opposite the emerging Banks, who took a step forward in 2025. Phillips has proven to be a reliable nickel option. Beyond that group, however, the depth chart is less settled. Green, Jones, Payton, and Black are young, unproven assets. Bernard-Converse is still transitioning from safety. Hood is a developmental piece.
Adding a player like Johnson--who has starting experience and a well-rounded skill set--wouldn't just be a camp body. It would give Wilson a veteran option who can play both outside and in the slot, compete for a roster spot, and serve as insurance if injuries strike. In a league where cornerbacks are almost never too plentiful, Johnson's arrival would raise the floor of the room.
What Johnson brings to the table
Johnson entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick in 2023 out of Marshall University. After redshirting his rookie year with an injury, he cracked the active rotation for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024, appearing in 16 games with four starts. He finished that season with 44 tackles, six pass breakups, and one interception. His role expanded in 2025, where he made eight starts and posted 57 tackles, nine passes defensed, and two interceptions, showing growth in zone coverage and run support.
At 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, Johnson doesn't have elite size, but he plays with the kind of physicality that coordinators love in press-man and hybrid schemes. He diagnoses screens quickly, arrives with authority against the run, and has enough closing burst to contest catches in front of him. He may not be a lockdown cover corner, but he is a reliable, versatile piece who can step into a starting role without disaster.
For the Giants specifically, Johnson would be a fit in a defense that leans heavily on zone concepts and leverages interchangeable defensive backs. Wilson's scheme asks cornerbacks to read and react, to tackle in space, and to handle multiple alignments. Those are precisely the traits Johnson showed during his time in Kansas City.
It's also worth noting that Johnson has already met with the Washington Commanders, another NFC East team, earlier in the offseason. That could mean the Giants are looking to get a closer look at a player they might have to beat out a division rival to sign. If Schoen and Harbaugh see value in Johnson, they'll likely want to move quickly before another suitor steps in.
Roster math -- where would Johnson fit?
The Giants' current 90-man roster is already stocked with cornerbacks, but that doesn't mean Johnson would be a long shot. Camp battles will inevitably trim the position. The question is less about talent and more about fit, experience, and special teams value.
Adebo and Newsome are locked into starting roles, assuming health. Banks, as a former first-round pick, still has the organization's investment behind him and should see plenty of snaps. Phillips is the clear favorite for the nickel spot. After those four, the competition for two or three remaining roster spots will be intense. That's where Johnson would enter the picture.
His special teams experience--he logged significant reps on coverage units in Kansas City--gives him an edge over younger, less experienced competitors. The Giants' coaching staff, led by special teams coordinator Chris Horton, values players who can contribute in all three phases. If Johnson can carve out a role on punt cover or kick return coverage, his path to a roster spot becomes much clearer.
Additionally, having a veteran like Johnson on the roster allows the Giants to be more patient with their developmental prospects. Green, Jones, and Payton are not going to be ready for major snaps Week 1. Johnson, by contrast, has been through NFL game plans, matchups, and the week-to-week grind. He can step in if a starter misses time without causing a dramatic drop-off.
The bigger picture: Joe Schoen's depth-first philosophy
This visit fits a broader pattern under Schoen's leadership. The Giants' general manager has consistently prioritized building quality depth, especially in the secondary. The addition of Johnson would follow the same blueprint as the Adebo and Newsome signings--targeting veterans who have starting experience but are still young enough to develop further.
It's also worth noting that the Giants have considerable flexibility in their salary cap situation heading into the summer. They are not in a position where they need to scrape pennies. That gives them room to sign Johnson to a modest, incentive-laden deal without jeopardizing future moves.
From a roster construction standpoint, Johnson would represent a low-risk, moderate-upside signing. If he makes the team and performs well, he could be a contributor or even a trade chip at the deadline. If he's surpassed by younger players, his contract would be easy to move on from. The potential reward far outweighs the cost.
What's next?
As of now, Johnson's visit is ongoing. No agreement has been reached. It's possible the Giants bring him in for a physical, get him familiar with the building, and then let him leave to consider other options. It's equally possible that a deal gets done before he departs.
Given that Johnson has already drawn interest from the Washington Commanders, the Giants may need to move deliberately. If they view him as a legitimate upgrade over the bottom of their cornerback depth chart, it makes sense to get a deal done soon.
In the meantime, fans should keep an eye on this name. He's not a star and he won't make nightly highlight reels. But in a league where games are often won by the third cornerback on the depth chart, Johnson could prove to be a valuable late-spring addition.
The Giants' secondary, already a strength on paper, might be getting even deeper.
