The New York Giants continued to address the depth of their roster by inking safety Bobby McCain to a one-year deal, which became official on Thursday.
McCain was a 2015 fifth-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins as a cornerback out of Memphis in 2015. In the pre-draft testing, McCain had a Relative Athletic Score of 8.47/10 with elite agility and good explosion, including a 99th-percentile 20-yard shuttle. During the 2105 NFL Draft, current Giants general manager Joe Schoen was Miami’s director of player personnel, so it makes sense that Schoen would still have an interest in the versatile defensive back.
The former Washington Commander also felt that New York was the best spot for him right now.
“I just felt like it was the best fit, best opportunity for me to come and show what I’m capable of. Show I’m just trying to come win and compete,” McCain said during a Zoom media availability after the deal was official.
In 2020, McCain started 16 games for the Dolphins and then spent the past two seasons with the Commanders, starting 32 games. That level of consistency is obviously a selling point for the Giants as McCain has played in at least 16 games in six of his eight NFL seasons.
Last year, McCain had a career-high 76 tackles and three tackles for a loss while forcing one fumble and defending five passes in 17 games for Washington.
During his career, the defensive back has played nickel corner, deep safety, and box safety during his time in the NFL, but mentioned that he plans to play safety for the Giants, hoping to win the starting spot opposite Xavier McKinney.
“There’s things that we can both help each other with,” McCain said about working with McKinney. “Whether it’s via on the field, the off the field. I know he’s a really good player. He’s gonna continue to be a good player in this league and just us being able to communicate. We’ve already been in contact and been in touch, and us being able to communicate, we’ll help each other. It’ll help us go a long way.”
However, that doesn’t mean defensive coordinator Wink Martindale can’t be creative in the way he utilizes McCain in coverage or how he sends him on blitzes.
“You know, you can’t complain if you’re a DB in this defense,” McCain said. “I like to blitz. I can do it all. I can cover, blitz. You name it, I can do it.”
In 121 NFL games, McCain has 11 interceptions, so he’s not exactly a ball-hawk, but he is a sure tackler and can make a play on the ball when necessary, as Giants fans saw in 2021 when he intercepted Jake Fromm twice, including returning one back for a touchdown.
Safety didn’t seem like a major need for the Giants at the beginning of free agency, but when Julian Love signed with the Seahawks, finding depth, and possibly a starter at safety, became a bigger need.
It all led to McCain believing the Giants were the best fit for him.
“I’ll be looking to be the guy,” he said. “I’m coming here to play. I’m coming here to compete. I’m coming here to win.”
