The Giants brought in veteran CB Ross Cockrell for a visit today and intend to sign him, according to a source (and as @art_stapleton reported). He has to pass a physical and COVID tests first so it could be a few days.
Cockrell, 29, was with the Giants in 2017.
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) August 9, 2020
According to a report by Ralph Vacchiano, the Giants brought in former Panthers cornerback Ross Cockrell for a visit on Saturday and intend to sign him once he’s cleared the COVID-19 protocols and a physical.
Cockrell was the one free agent cornerback that made the most sense for the Panthers to sign. He started 11 games for Carolina last season and had a career-best year in coverage, allowing only a 68.6 passer rating and a 55.2% completion percentage. Adding him to the cornerback room would have given the team what it needs most on defense: outside depth. Instead, former Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman adds Cockrell to a Giants group that also has James Bradberry.
This is the third corner Carolina has missed out on in recent weeks.
First, the division-rival Falcons picked up Darqueze Dennard, taking the most talented name off the board outside of Logan Ryan. Then, the Panthers and the Giants both put in a claim for Ryan Lewis, who was awarded to Washington.
Signing Eli Apple for the price they did was a good low-risk, potential high-reward kind of move. General manager Marty Hurney knows that he needs to add another corner before the season begins, though and he may regret not bringing Cockrell back.
A lack of proven options at this position is one of the reasons why this could be the worst defense in the league this year.
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