New York Giants Dark Horse Could Win a Key Starting Job

The New York Giants were very busy in free agency this offseason, addressing some key areas of need and poaching a bunch of former Baltimore Ravens players, which was obviously orchestrated by John Harbaugh.

Tight end Isaiah Likely is the biggest name of that group, but the Giants also signed fullback Patrick Ricard as well as 6-foot-8, 370-pound offensive lineman Daniel Faalele.

But New York added another ex-Ravens player that many people seem to be sleeping on heading into 2026: defensive back Ar'Darius Washington.

Washington spent most of 2025 on injured reserve due to a torn Achilles, but returned in December and saw limited playing time in four games.

The year prior, however, Washington was actually one of the more underrated defensive backs in all of football, playing both safety and nickelback for Baltimore and registering 64 tackles, a sack, a couple of interceptions and eight passes defended. He also managed an 80.3 overall grade and and 84.2 coverage grade at Pro Football Focus.

It was a one-off season for Washington, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and barely played up until 2024, but he was incredibly impressive.

And in a Giants secondary that is certainly lacking, there is a possibility that Washington could steal a starting job heading into next season.

Right now, Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin are New York's starting safeties, and Dru Phillips is starting at nickel. But while Holland's job is surely safe, a world exists in which Washington could displace one of Nubin or Phillips.

A former second-round pick, Nubin has been a major disappointment for the Giants over his first couple of seasons, and a legitimate argument can be made that he is not an NFL starter at this point. Phillips played very well during his rookie campaign in 2024, but saw his production fall off a cliff last season.

Surrendering big plays in the secondary was a big reason why New York went 4-13 last season, and while Washington isn't a household name, he could prove to be someone who helps stop the bleeding.

Of course, the Giants specifically need a stronger showing from Holland in Year 2, especially after the former Miami Dolphins star signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the club in March 2025. But Washington could be a dark horse candidate to help shore up the defensive backfield.

The 26-year-old holds the edge of being very familiar with Harbaugh and vice versa, and it's also important to remember that defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson was the Ravens' defensive backs coach in 2023.

If Nubin or Phillips slip up in training camp and Washington impresses, it would not be completely shocking to see the TCU product steal a starting role before Week 1.

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