Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen can take advantage of their connection to the Buffalo Bills to get the New York Giants some All-Pro assistance in the secondary, in the shape of cornerback Tre’Davious White.
The 29-year-old who met with the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday, March 19, will visit the Giants and Tennessee Titans “later this week,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Giants’ head coach Daboll and general manager Schoen were both in Buffalo when White earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2019. Injuries have hampered his performances in recent years, leading to the once well-regarded cover man being released by the Bills on Wednesday, March 6.
Acquiring White would allow the Giants to substitute veteran corner Adoree’ Jackson. The move would also add a capable partner for second-year pro Deonte Banks, who impressed as a rookie.
Tre’Davious White Can Solve Giants’ CB Problem
As Schefter’s colleague Jordan Raanan pointed out, “the Giants have been looking to add at CB + RB, at their price.” Their attempts to add corner help have been thwarted because “ultimately Darious Williams, who visited last week, got more than they were willing to spend for vet CB.”
Tre’Davious White has the obvious connection to Giants through Joe Schoen + Brian Daboll in Buffalo.
The Giants have been looking to add at CB + RB, at their price. Ultimately Darious Williams, who visited last week, got more than they were willing to spend for vet CB. https://t.co/Y2MzYxsu9K
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) March 19, 2024
Williams signed a three-year deal to return to the Rams, so the Giants won’t want to lose out to the NFC West franchise again. Not when White could fix an obvious weakness on Schoen’s roster.
When he’s healthy, White has legitimate shutdown skills. He’s proved as much by never surrendering a completion percentage above 54.8 in the pros. Nor has he allowed a quarterback rating better than 79.9 in any single season, per Pro Football Reference.
White’s problem has been staying on the field. A torn ACL wrecked his 2021 season, before a torn Achilles ended White’s 2023 campaign in Week 4.
His lengthy injury history will likely give some suitors cause for concern, but the Giants have the advantage of inside knowledge. Daboll and Schoen know the player personally, so they’re better-placed to judge what he has left.
Given the connection, it “definitely makes sense for the Giants to kick the tires,” according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. He noted how “the CB spot opposite Banks is crying out for a prove-it contract, which is what White figures to get after missing extensive time the past three seasons.”
Definitely makes sense for the Giants to kick the tires. The CB spot opposite Banks is crying out for prove-it contract, which is what White figures to get after missing extensive time the past three seasons https://t.co/nlZsSQXhjH
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) March 19, 2024
Reaching back into the well for another former Bills player won’t be a problem for Daboll. Not when he’s already made a happy habit of drawing on experiences with his old team for inspiration when adding talent.
Brian Daboll Has a Habit of Signing Ex-Bills Players
Daboll’s fondness for ex-Bills players was summed up by the decision to replace two-time Pro-Bowl running back Saquon Barkley with Devin Singletary. The latter played four seasons for the Bills from 2019-22, the first three when Daboll served as offensive coordinator.
Singletary isn’t the only member of the Bills Daboll has added to his offense since becoming head coach of the Giants in 2022. Center Jon Feliciano arrived in free agency that year, while wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins was signed during the season.
Both are no longer with the Giants, but the trend is clear. Daboll has no issue seeking help from former Bills. Bringing back White would be a valuable addition to a secondary already weakened by the absence of a safety Xavier McKinney joining the Green Bay Packers.
The Giants responded by signing former New England Patriots safety Jalen Mills, who can also play cornerback, but White would immediately become a starter at a scarce position.
