Can Nick McCloud force his way into Giants’ lineup?

Will the New York Giants continue to view Nick McCloud as a terrific special teams player and valuable depth piece in their secondary? Could McCloud force his way into the starting defensive backfield?

Let’s discuss McCloud as we continue our player-by-player profiles of the Giants’ 90-man roster.

The skinny

Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 193
Opening day age: 26
Position: Cornerback
Experience: 3
Contract: One year, $2,985,000 | 2024 cap hit: $2,985,000 | Guaranteed in 2024: $0

Career to date

McCloud entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Buffalo Bills in 2021. He was cut at the end of the preseason, landed on the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad, appeared in two games, got cut again, and finished the season on Buffalo’s practice squad.

The Giants claimed him on waivers after Buffalo released McCloud before the start of the 2022 season.

McCloud has played in 31 games for the Giants over two seasons, starting 11. In 2022, he played 537 defensive snaps (57%).

McCloud has played well when given the opportunity. He has allowed passer ratings of 92.8 and 72.4 for the Giants, has an interception, nine passes defensed, and three forced fumbles.

McCloud has emerged as a core special teams player. In 2023, he played 76% of the Giants’ special teams snaps.

2024 outlook

Entering the offseason, the belief was that McCloud would get an opportunity to compete to be the Giants’ starting outside cornerback opposite Deonte Banks.

That may be the case, but it did not look that way in the spring.

After drafting slot cornerback Andru Phillips in Round 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Giants are moving 2023 slot cornerback Cor’Dale Flott outside. During the spring, McCloud took most of the first-team reps in the slot, but if the Giants were willing to move Flott it would seem they expect Phillips to be the slot cornerback.

McCloud has played both spots. He played 151 slot snaps in 2022 but just 25 last season when he was outside for 244 snaps.

Whether McCloud forces the Giants to start him or not, he figures to be a significant contributor on both defense and special teams in 2024.