After all, the Giants' second starting cornerback in Week 1 has likely been on the roster this whole time.
Anyone hoping a golden parachute would show up on the waiver wire to resolve the inconclusive position battle between Cordell Flott and Nick McCloud was surprised Thursday when the Giants didn't claim the cornerback.
There won't be a repeat of 2022, a year in which the Giants solved a similar pinch by signing veteran free agent Fabian Moreau to their practice squad after camp and eventually promoting him to the starter opposite Adoree Jackson.
At least not yet.
General manager Joe Sean said he's “feeling good” about the cornerback depth.
“This is an important position when we consider trades or additions with other organizations. If you ask every team, 32 out of 32 will say, 'We're looking for cornerback additions.' This is a position that's hard to find. We're always looking to add to our entire roster, but when you look closely, there aren't many teams that have three quality cornerbacks on their roster.”
So, with just one practice left before fight week, who wins the training camp battle between Flott and McCloud?
Neither of them placed any obvious limitations on the work.
“I have a good idea of where the team is headed,” head coach Brian Daboll said, but declined to go into details.
Sean may have dropped a hint by describing McCloud as a “role player” after saying Flott and McCloud will “compete” until the coaching staff makes a final decision.
The Giants had considered drafting either Kool-Aid McKinstry or Kamari Lassiter to pair with Deonte Banks, but both second-round picks were selected ahead of Sean at the 47th spot.
Flott said he was “certain” that he did enough to win the spot before missing about three weeks with a quadriceps injury.
He did not play in any of the team's three preseason games and returned during light practice on Tuesday.
“We're definitely picking up right where we left off and just getting our defense back together,” Flott said. “I know what I'm doing, I can do it and I'm very confident.” [Stuff] “In football, these things happen. Nobody in this business wants to get hurt, but when things happen, you have to deal with it and move on from there.”
Of the 1,184-plus players released in the past five days, only 26 were claimed on waivers.
Five of the 26 were cornerbacks, three of whom went to the Panthers, who were No. 1 on the waiver list while the Giants were No. 6 in last season's class.
Waivers work differently than the NFL Draft in that the rankings don't meander and the five teams ranked above the Giants have priority in the event of overlapping claims.
But the only player the Giants asked to acquire, according to Sean, was former Packers safety Anthony Johnson Jr.
The Vikings take on the Giants with All-Pro Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, who threw 10 touchdowns in his rookie season.
“They have a good group of receivers,” Flott said. “Justin Jefferson, who I played with at LSU, checks all the boxes, but he's not the only guy they have. They have a group of other good receivers that we have to be wary of.”
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Cordele Flott and Nick MacLeod
If McCloud, who struggled against Garrett Wilson in last week's joint practice with the Jets, doesn't start, he'll offer some versatility at safety, slot or undersized linebacker.
“Whatever I get, I know I earned it on my own merit,” McCloud said. “Coming into camp, my biggest goal was to bring value to the defense and I didn't know where I would be. [playing]My teammates and coaches trust me and want me to play. I felt like I was competing every day and my teammates trust me to perform at a high level no matter where I'm in the best 11. [on the field].”
The Giants' other cornerbacks are third-round draft pick Jrue Phillips, who only worked out in the slot, and Tre Hawkins, who was benched as a rookie last season.
Isaiah Simmons, a converted linebacker, is a cornerback and safety.
