When DeAndre Baker was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list and Sam Beal opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19, it became apparent the New York Giants had no other choice but to sign a free agent cornerback (or two).
Late on Saturday night, the team took the first step towards beefing back up their paper thin unit with a report that they intend to sign veteran Ross Cockrell.
I’m told #NYGiants plan to sign CB Ross Cockrell provided he clears camp-entry COVID-19 testing, per source.
Cockrell visited today.
So there’s at least one veteran corner set to come aboard after DeAndre Baker was formally charged + Sam Beal opted out.— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) August 8, 2020
Cockrell was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth-round of the 2014 NFL Draft and after one season in Western New York, spent two years with the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the Giants in 2017. For the past two seasons, Cockrell has called the Carolina Panthers home.
In 2019, Cockrell ironically played across from James Bradberry, whom the Giants brought in as a high-priced free agent earlier this year.
In six NFL seasons, Cockrell has appeared in 68 games with 43 starts (did not play in 2018), recording 219 tackles, 44 passes defensed and seven interceptions.
In 2019, Cockrell allowed a passer rating of 68.1, a completion percentage of 55.2 and just a single touchdown. Since 2010, he’s also among the NFL’s best cornerbacks in forced incompletion percentage.
#WelcomeBack Ross Cockrell.
2019: 8th lowest NFL passer rating against for a CB (68.1) min 600 snaps.
Injured for all of 2018.
2017: 74.1 coverage grade with the Giants
3 seasons of a 70+ coverage grade since 2015. pic.twitter.com/uvoSwJZZKi
— PFF NY Giants (@PFF_Giants) August 9, 2020
The move to sign Cockrell may not be flashy, but it’s exactly what the Giants needed right now.
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