After releasing Janoris Jenkins late in the season last year the New York Giants needed some veteran leadership among their cornerbacks and came away with the perfect fit in James Bradberry. Bradberry, who will receive a three-year, $45 million deal instantly becomes the Giants’ number one corner. He has spent the last few years defensing against some of the best receivers in the NFL and has proven himself to be one of the best.

Bradberry is still just 26 years old and fits the Giants youth movement while also filling a position of need. The Giants didn’t have a corner on the roster that was over 24 and while there is talent there they did need to add depth at the very least. DeAndre Baker still has the talent to be the number one guy but adding Bradberry takes some the pressure off of Baker and will allow him to develop under the tutelage of a very good corner who has cut his teeth against some of the best competition the NFL has to offer.

Last year, Bradberry had three picks and 12 passes defensed while facing off against the likes of Michael Thomas, Mike Evans, ad Julio Jones, who he faced twice each last year. He also played against DeAndre Hopkins and D.K. Metcalf last season. He held all under 100 yards. He allowed only one touchdown, to Thomas in Week 12, to all of those receivers. Evans has the most yards against him among those receivers with just 82 and Thomas had the best week against Bradberry in Week 12 catching five passes on five targets for 51 yards and a touchdown. Bradberry is a shutdown corner and the Giants sorely needed that.

This is one signing that Giants’ GM Dave Gettleman won’t regret. Bradberry fills a position of need while also giving the Giants a player that Gettleman is familiar with, he was a second round pick of Gettelman’s back in 2016. This was a move the Giants needed to make and one that should work out in the long run.