The New York Giants have claimed four players from the eviction settlement after yesterday’s cuts.
The Giants have claimed G Jack Anderson, CB Justin Layne, CB Nick McCloud and S Jason Pinnock. The Giants were fifth in priority on the distance wire, and unsurprisingly, they used their position to bolster their offensive and secondary line. The depth of the Giants’ offensive line has taken a serious blow thanks to injuries, and there are doubts about the quality of their depth in the secondary after the preseason.
Anderson was a seventh-round pick (236th overall) by the Buffalo Bills in the 2021 NFL Draft. He was initially waived and signed to the Bills’ training squad after the 2021 preseason, but was unsubscribed from the Bills’ training squad in September of that year by the Philadelphia Eagles. He spent most of the season on the Eagles’ active roster, but ended up briefly on their injured reserve in November.
Anderson is a tall (6-foot-5, 315-pound) guard from Texas Tech who possesses good strength and agility as well as the versatility to back up from center position. He played a few snaps against the Giants last year and started as right guard (before moving to center after Brett Toth tore his ACL) for the Eagles against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 18.
Anderson can be expected to add depth to the offensive interior of the Giants.
- Justin Layne (corner back)
Layne, 24, is a tall cornerback (6-foot-2, 192 pounds) who was selected from Michigan State in the third round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2019 NFL Draft.
He played in 43 games (0 starts) for the Steelers, totaling 41 tackles and 1 fumble. He has good height and solid movement skills for his height, which should enable him to play the pressman’s coverage that Martindale demands from his cornerbacks. Lane’s size and experience in Pittsburgh’s aggressive secondary should fit him into Wink Martindale’s schedule and give the Giants more depth in the outside corner.
- Nick McCloud (cornerback, Bills)
McCloud is another former Buffalo Bills player, who was signed by the Bills in 2021 as an undrafted free agent. the practice squad of the Cincinnati Bengals.
McCloud is considered a very good athlete with a good mix of height (6-foot-1), weight (193 pounds) and speed (4.45s 40 yard dash, 4.16s short shuttle). However, his flowing hips and instincts were questioned in college.
It’s no surprise that the Giants claim a safety with only two healthy safes on the roster, as Dane Belton returns from a broken bone.
Pinnock was considered a “stunning” cut by the New York Jets and reportedly looked on track to be their third safety. The former Pittsburgh safety has a great mix of size (6 feet, 204 pounds) and athleticism (4.49s 40 yard dash, 39.5″ vertical, 4.1s short shuttle, 6.9s 3-cone drill) . He had snapped shots with the Jets’ starters with Lamarcus Joyner injured and had safely started three games for the Jets in 2021 after switching from cornerback.
The Giants have announced that G Shane Lemieux, OLB Elerson Smith and CB Rodarius Williams will be placed on the injured reserve to start the season.
Stick with Big Blue View for more as the Giants roster continues to take shape.
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