Through the first wave of free agency, Giants general manager Dave Gettleman demonstrated he was willing to spend to improve Big Blue's defense.
The biggest addition to the group is cornerback James Bradberry, who signed a lthree-year, $45 million deal with nearly $32 million of that money guaranteed.
Bradberry spoke via a conference call on Friday afternoon, making his first public comments since being signed as the key addition to the Giants' secondary. The former Panther said he was a bit surprised when the Giants' offer came in, but he's ready to be a leader in a very young Giants DB room.
"They came out of nowhere and made an offer to us," Bradberry said. "I wasn't even expecting them to come make an offer, but (Gettleman) already knew the type of guy I was, I already knew the type of guy he was, and I already knew what kind of program, or whole organization, that he was trying to bring and instill over there in New York. I knew it was nothing but positive."
The 26-year-old Samford product spent his first four seasons with the Carolina Panthers, and it was Gettleman who drafted Bradberry in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft and then watched him develop during his rookie season.
"I feel like Gettlemen, of course he saw me up close and personal my first year, and then after that he saw me from afar, but I think he saw me improve each and every year," said Bradberry. "In order to improve, you have to be able to take knowledge and apply it on the field and that's what I want to do to the younger guys. I want to give them knowledge, and hopefully they can apply it on the field."
Bradberry views himself as a versatile corner with the ability to thrive in either a man or zone scheme, making him a valuable piece of Patrick Graham's new defense.
"I play zone, I play man, but I would say I'm for whatever," Bradberry said. "Of course, playing a lot of man is a challenge for any cornerback and I'm always willing to accept a challenge."
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, Bradberry has yet to visit the Giants facility in New Jersey, though he did have a chance to speak to new head coach Joe Judge on the phone after signing. For now, he's still in Charlotte, fitting in workouts while he can while still practicing social distancing.
"Initially, free agency was going pretty smooth before the coronavirus came around," he explained. "When it became official that I signed with the team and I was choosing to go to the Giants, it didn't hit me, and I don't think it still has hit me yet. But I think after we get everything figured out with the coronavirus, everyone's safe and whatnot, I feel like it will hit me and settle in once I'm able to come up and visit."