The biggest liability for the 2019 New York Giants’ uninspiring defense was the nickel defender position. The team initially bestowed the role to 2018 undrafted rookie free agent, Grant Haley. The former Nittany Lion was excellent in run support, one of the best pound-for-pound tacklers on the team, but was susceptible in coverage from the intermediate to deep parts of the field.
Corey Ballentine assumed the primary role as a nickel cornerback in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys, but he too struggled and was exposed against Mitchell Trubisky and the Chicago Bears.