​There will be battles for both roster spots and playing time at most positions across the New York Giants roster during training camp, and we’ll examine many of them between now and the first practice in West Virginia on July 29. Safety is one of the most intriguing positions, so we’ll start there. The roster includes Jevon Holland, Tyler Nubin, Jason Pinnock, Ar’Darius Washington, Elijah Campbell, and Raheem Layne, with cornerback Nic Jones also offering safety versatility. Holland and Nubin are the current likely starters, but neither has performed at a level that earns a guaranteed role full-time.
Holland signed a three-year, $45.3 million contract last offseason, with $30.3 million guaranteed, to be a disruptor in the back of the defense. He has not delivered that impact. While not disastrous, his performance was comparatively ordinary. In 512 coverage snaps, Holland recorded only one interception and five pass breakups. His overall Pro Football Focus score was a modest 58.4, ranking 51st out of 65 qualifying safeties. PFF’s Defensive Football Impact Score placed him at 76.6, which sits 38th among 85 qualifiers. In run support and playmaking, he was ranked 79th and 54th, respectively, again in the context of 85 qualifiers. That output falls short of the level for which the Giants paid.
The reality is that the 2023 season is near a reflection of Holland’s career arc. Across five NFL seasons, his impact scores have fluctuated but never reached elite levels, with a best-ever PFFS Impact Score around the low 30s while hovering in the 40s in other years. He has never logged more than two interceptions in a season, and his career-best four turnovers forced (an interception and three fumbles) came in 2023. Defensive pass game coordinator Donald D’Alesio noted that Holland is aware of plays from last year he would like to have back, and he suggested that Holland sometimes tries to do too much, which can cause him to neglect the fundamentals. Entering his sixth NFL season at age 26, Holland appears to be what he is: not a liability, but not a game-changer either.
Nubin, a 2024 second-round pick out of Minnesota, arrived with high hopes that his playmaking credentials—13 interceptions, 11 passes defensed, and three forced fumbles across 55 collegiate games—could translate to the NFL. That transition has not fully materialized. In 26 NFL games (24 starts), Nubin has zero interceptions, one forced fumble, and just three passes defensed. His PFFS Impact Score ranks him 68th out of 85 qualifying safeties. An athletic profile showing limited elite burst, evidenced by a Relative Athletic Score of 3.67 out of 10, has at times been offset by suboptimal angles, which have allowed bigger plays to develop. Improving his angles became a focus for the Giants last season, and another year of experience could help, especially if defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson’s more aggressive scheme can unlock his potential.
Between Holland and Nubin, Nubin might be the more vulnerable option in the competition for a starting role, with both players facing the pressure of proving they belong as long-term contributors. The Giants will be evaluating not just raw statistics, but also how these players fit into the defense’s scheme, how they tackle fundamentals, and how they respond to coaching. Training camp will serve as the primary proving ground to determine which player earns the trust of the coaching staff and secures a more permanent place in the lineup.