With many questions surrounding the Giants secondary, the addition of veteran CB/S Logan Ryan made too much sense.
DeAndre Baker's future with the team is in doubt due to his current legal troubles and Sam Beal opted out of the season. Second-rounder Xavier McKinney is also going to miss a significant amount of time after fracturing his left foot during training camp.
So, with cornerbacks and safeties out, Ryan's versatility to fill in at both positions is a big plus for head coach Joe Judge.
"His versatility within his skill set is probably his greatest strength. He does a lot of things really well. His ability to do more than one thing makes him a big strength to the team," Judge told reporters before practice began on Tuesday.
Ryan won't be subject, then, to learning just one position in defensive coordinator Patrick Graham's scheme. Judge is planning on Ryan bouncing around the secondary, and mixing up his position is something he trusts the veteran will have no trouble executing.
"He’s going to play a variety of roles for us," Judge explained. "If I gave you one answer to you, I’d be lying. ...We’re going to play him in different packages all over the field. Really, having a guy like that allows you to play other guys in fewer positions because he can handle a lot of the multiples while these guys are learning the system.”
Ryan and Judge both came into the NFL roughly around the same time. And given Judge's special teams assignment in New England, Ryan was subject there to start his career as he learned his cornerback role. The relationship there is very good, and Ryan's New Jersey roots also made the Giants look like a good fit for him to land.
"I got a ton of memories with Logan," Judge said. "It was only my second year in the league when we drafted Logan."
Judge added that the talks with Ryan that eventually led to him signing a deal with Big Blue wasn't the first time both parties had dialogue. A one-year pact worth up to $7.5 million was finally agreed upon, and Ryan is on his way back to New Jersey again.
"I'm glad it worked out, I'm glad he's on his way up here," Judge said.