It's the question on everyone's mind, but Jevón Holland didn't ask it.
"My job as a defender is to give the ball back to the quarterback," the former Dolphins safety said in his first interview since signing with the Giants.
Paulson Adebo, a cornerback who spent his first four seasons in New Orleans, didn't make it a prerequisite either. He is more concerned with keeping his eyes on the opposing quarterback.
"I just got here, figuring out how I can help the team," he said. "And then I'll let whoever has to make those decisions handle those. But I'm excited and confident that we'll make a good decision."
In the meantime, the two defensive backs from the south came up north to join forces in a revamped secondary.
While the Giants led the league in sacks for a good portion of last season, it went through an 11-game drought without an interception. The unit closed with three in the final three weeks, but their five total interceptions were 31st in the league. Their 60 passes defensed were tied for 25th.
The team is looking to turn things around in 2025.
Brian Daboll hired a new secondary coach/pass game coordinator (Marquand Manuel) and cornerbacks coach (Jeff Burris) to serve under coordinator Shane Bowen, who enters his second season with the Giants. Adebo and Holland are here to help.
Adebo, a third-round pick out of Oregon, has started 51 of 52 games in four seasons. His career numbers include 251 total tackles, 43 passes defensed, 10 interceptions, seven tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
"I feel like I can play man or zone," Adebo said. "In New Orleans we did play a lot of man, bump-and-run coverage. But I feel comfortable playing in a zone scheme. Did that in college a lot. I really feel good either way."
View every move made by the New York Giants during the 2025 cycle.
OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exception (December 4)
OLB Tomon Fox - Waived, No Recall (December 2)
OLB Tomon Fox - Free Agent Signing from NYG PS (December 1)
LB Swayze Bozeman - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (December 1)
WR Dalen Cambre - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (December 1)
CB Myles Purchase - Practice Squad (November 25)
TE Maximilian Mang - International Practice Player Signing (November 24)
K Jude McAtamney - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 24)
RB Eric Gray - Activated, from Reserve (November 22)
TE Thomas Fidone II - Reserve/Injured (November 22)
LB Swayze Bozeman - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 22)
WR Dalen Cambre - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 22)
OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exception (November 19)
RB Eric Gray - Returned to Practice (November 19)
OLB Tomon Fox - Waived, No Recall (November 17)
K Younghoe Koo - Free Agent Signing from NYG PS (November 15)
G Evan Neal - Reserve/Injured (November 15)
WR Dalen Cambre - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 15)
DL Elijah Chatman - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 15)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Free Agent Signing from PIT PS (November 13)
OLB Trace Ford - Practice Squad (November 13)
K Graham Gano - Reserve/Injured (November 12)
TE Zach Davidson - Practice Squad (November 11)
K Ben Sauls - Practice Squad (November 11)
LB Zaire Barnes - Free Agent Signing (from NYG PS) (November 8)
OLB Tomon Fox - Free Agent Signing (from NYG PS) (November 8)
WR Beaux Collins - Reserve/Injured (November 8)
ILB Darius Muasau - Reserve/Injured (November 8)
K Younghoo Koo - Activated from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 8)
WR Ray-Ray McCloud - Activated from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 8)
CB Rico Payton - Activated, from Reserve (November 1)
CB Art Green - Reserve/Injured (November 1)
WR Ray-Ray McCloud III - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 1)
LB Zaire Barnes - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 1)
CB Rico Payton - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (October 29)
DB Jarrick Bernard-Converse - Claimed, off Waivers from CLE (October 28)
RB Cam Skattebo - Reserve/Injured (October 28)
LB Swayze Bozeman - Practice Squad (October 28)
WR Juice Wells Jr. - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 28)
K Graham Gano - Activated, from Reserve (October 25)
LB Swayze Bozeman - Waived, No Recall (October 25)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 25)
S Raheem Layne - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 25)
WR Ray-Ray McCloud III - Practice Squad Veteran (October 23)
K Jude McAtamney - International Practice Player Signing (October 23)
DB LaMareon James - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 23)
K Graham Gano - Designated for Return/Returned to Practice (October 22)
CB Korie Black - Free Agent Signing (October 21)
K Jude McAtamney - Waived, No Recall (October 21)
DL Elijah Garcia - Practice Squad (October 21)
LB Jonas Griffith - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 21)
OLB Victor Dimukeje - Activated, from Reserve (October 18)
DL Elijah Garcia - Waived, No Recall (October 18)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 18)
LB Zaire Barnes - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 18)
OLB Victor Dimukeje - Returned to Practice (October 15)
WR Juice Wells Jr. - Practice Squad (October 13)
LB Jonas Griffith - Practice Squad Veteran (October 13)
LB Neville Hewitt - Free Agent Signing (from NYG PS) (October 9)
K Jude McAtamney - Free Agent Signing (from NYG PS) (October 9)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 9)
LB Zaire Barnes - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 9)
LB Neville Hewitt - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 4)
K Jude McAtamney - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 4)
OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exception (October 1)
WR Malik Nabers - Reserve/Injured (September 29)
OLB Tomon Fox - Waived, No Recall (September 29)
DL Elijah Garcia - Free Agent Signing from NYG PS (September 27)
OLB Tomon Fox - Free Agent Signing from NYG PS (September 27)
K Jude McAtamney - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 27)
LB Neville Hewitt - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 27)
K Graham Gano - Reserve/Injured (September 27)
OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exception (September 24)
K Younghoe Koo - Practice Squad Veteran (September 23)
LB Curtis Jacobs - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 23)
OLB Tomon Fox - Waived, No Recall (September 22)
OLB Tomon Fox - Free Agent Signing from NYG PS (September 20)
WR Xavier Gipson - Waived, No Recall (September 20)
DL Elijah Garcia - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 20)
LB Neville Hewitt - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 20)
DB LaMareon James - Practice Squad (September 17)
DB Dee Williams - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 17)
LB Swayze Bozeman - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (September 16)
LB Chris Board - Reserve/Injured (September 16)
LB Neville Hewitt - Practice Squad Veteran (September 16)
LB Curtis Jacobs - Practice Squad Exception (September 16)
WR Dalen Cambre - Practice Squad (September 16)
TE Qadir Ismail - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 16)
DB Patrick McMorris - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 16)
DL Elijah Garcia - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 13)
LB Swayze Bozeman - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 13)
WR Xavier Gipson - Claimed off Waivers from NYJ (September 11)
ILB Micah McFadden - Reserve/Injured (September 11)
CB Tre Hawkins III - Waived, No Recall from Reserve/Injured (September 9)
T Reid Holskey - Practice Squad (September 8)
G McClendon Curtis - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 8)
DL Elijah Garcia - Activated from Practice Squad/Standard Elevation (Sept. 6)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Free Agent Signing (August 29)
CB Rico Payton - Reserve/Injured (August 29)
LB Zaire Barnes - Practice Squad (August 29)
G McClendon Curtis - Practice Squad (August 29)
OLB Trace Ford - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (August 29)
LB Swayze Bozeman, TE Qadir Ismail, DB Patrick McMorris - Practice Squad (August 28)
S Beau Brade - Claimed off Waivers from BAL (August 27)
CB Rico Payton - Claimed off Waivers from NOR (August 27)
CB Korie Black - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette - Practice Squad Veteran (August 27)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Practice Squad Veteran (August 27)
K Jude McAtamney - International Practice Player Signing (August 27)
OLB Trace Ford, DL Elijah Garcia, OL Bryan Hudson, G Jake Kubas, S Raheem Layne, RB Dante Miller - Practice Squad (August 27)
DL Elijah Chatman, OLB Tomon Fox, DL Jordon Riley, CB Dee Williams - Practice Squad Exception (August 27)
OL Joshua Ezeudu - Reserve/Injured / Designated for Return (August 26)
RB Eric Gray - Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (August 26)
OLB Victor Dimukeje - Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (August 26)
WR Da'Quan Felton, CB Tre Hawkins, TE Jermaine Terry - Waived, Injured (August 26)
T Stone Forsythe, WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey, DL Jeremiah Ledbetter, WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, RB Jonathan Ward - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 26)
WR Dalen Cambre, DL Elijah Chatman, QB Tommy DeVito, TE Greg Dulcich, DL Cory Durden, OLB Trace Ford, OLB Tomon Fox, DL Elijah Garcia, OL Bryan Hudson, G Jake Kubas, S Raheem Layne, K Jude McAtamney, RB Dante Miller, S Makari Paige, DL Jordon Riley, WR Antwane Wells, DB Dee Williams - Waived, No Recall (August 26)
CB TJ Moore - Reserve/Injured (August 24)
S K'Von Wallace - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 24)
WR Zach Pascal - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 22)
WR Jordan Bly, ILB K.J. Cloyd, CB O'Donnell Fortune, ILB Dyontae Johnson, C Jimmy Morrissey, WR Montrell Washington, OL Jaison Williams - Waived, No Recall (August 22)
T Andrew Thomas - Passed Physical (August 19)
LB K.J. Cloyd - Free Agent Signing (August 4)
RB Jonathan Ward - Free Agent Signing (August 4)
LB Ty Summers - Reserve/Injured (August 4)
RB Rushawn Baker - Waived, Injured (August 4)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton - Reserve/Injured (July 28)
S K'Von Wallace - Free Agent Signing (July 22)
DB Anthony Johnson - Waived, Injured (July 22)
T Andrew Thomas - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 22)
RB Eric Gray - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 22)
OLB Victor Dimukeje - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 22)
Giants receive 2026 sixth-round draft pick from Dolphins in exchange for conditional 2027 seventh-round selection and TE Darren Waller (July 7)
RB Cam Skattebo - Selection List Signing (June 18)
DL Darius Alexander - Selection List Signing (June 2)
QB Jaxson Dart - Selection List Signing (May 30)
OLB Abdul Carter - Selection List Signing (May 22)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Free Agent Signing (May 12)
CB T.J. Moore - Free Agent Signing (May 12)
DB R.J. Delancy III - Waived, No Recall (May 12)
DB Tommy McCormick - Waived, No Recall (May 12)
OL Marcus Mbow - Selection List Signing (May 9)
TE Thomas Fidone II - Selection List Signing (May 9)
CB Korie Black - Selection List Signing (May 9)
RB Rushawn Baker, WR Jordan Bly, WR Dalen Cambre, WR Beaux Collins, DB R.J. Delancey, WR Da'Quan Felton, OLB Trace Ford, DB O'Donnell Fortune, DB Tommy McCormick, DB Makari Paige, TE Jermaine Terry, WR Antwane Wells, OL Jaison Williams - Free Agent Signing (May 9)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (May 9)
DL Casey Rogers - Waived, No Recall (May 8)
CB Korie Black - Selected in the 7th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 246 overall) (April 26)
TE Thomas Fidone II - Selected in the 7th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 219 overall) (April 26)
OL Marcus Mbow - Selected in the 5th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 154 overall) (April 26)
RB Cam Skattebo - Selected in the 4th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 105 overall) (April 26)
DL Darius Alexander - Selected in the 3rd Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 65 overall) (April 25)
QB Jaxson Dart - Selected in the 1st Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 25 overall) (April 24)
LB Abdul Carter - Selected in the 1st Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 3 overall) (April 24)
DT Ross Blacklock - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (April 15)
QB Jameis Winston - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 31)
LB Ty Summers - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 31)
QB Russell Wilson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 26)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Exclusive Rights Signing (March 26)
WR Zach Pascal - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 25)
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 25)
OLB Victor Dimukeje - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 21)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 21)
OL Greg Van Roten - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 19)
DL Jeremiah Ledbetter - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
CB Paulson Adebo - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
S Jevón Holland - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
WR Darius Slayton - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
DL Chauncey Golston - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
OL James Hudson III - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
LB Chris Board - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
OL Stone Forsythe - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette - Re-signed (March 12)
DT Roy Robertson-Harris - Free Agent Signing (March 10)
P Jamie Gillan - Re-signed (March 8)
TE Chris Manhertz - Re-signed (March 8)
QB Tommy DeVito - Re-signed (March 8)
OLB Tomon Fox - Re-signed (March 7)
LS Casey Kreiter - Re-signed (March 5)
WR Montrell Washington - Free Agent Signing (February 14)
CB Nic Jones - Free Agent Signing (February 14)
DT Ross Blacklock - Reserve/Future (January 6)
C Bryan Hudson - Reserve/Future (January 6)
K Jude McAtamney - Reserve/Future (January 6)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Reserve/Future (January 6)
DT Casey Rogers - Reserve/Future (January 6)
In 2023, Adebo had a career year statistically with 76 tackles, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. His 18 passes defensed were also third-most in the league that season.
He carried that over to 2024, when he had three interceptions in his just seven, but that ended when he suffered a broken femur.
"I'm doing really good," Adebo said. "Been running, sprinting, changing directions, doing everything and really practicing to be able to be ready when the activities start."
Will he be ready for spring? The offseason workout program begins April 21.
"Pretty much," he responded. "I've been doing everything, changing directions and stuff. Just kind of taking it day by day, but I feel really positive about that."
Adebo wasn't "too worried" about the injury disrupting his value on the free agent market. Putting out videos of him doing backflips will do that.
"You know, I feel like that was a cherry on top for sure," he said.
Adebo didn't recruit Holland, but they go back to their days in the Pac-12, with the former at Stanford and the latter at Oregon.
"He's a great player," Adebo said of Holland. "I followed him throughout his career. That was exciting to see that he would be coming as well. We've always communicated on the phone and stuff, Instagram. That was cool that he was going to be here too."
Holland also brings over four years of starting experience. He was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team in 2021, when he was picked in the second round (36th overall). He has five career interceptions, one of which he returned 99 yards for a touchdown.
"I think the Giants and the people that they've brought in and the people that they have a desire to breed excellence," Holland said. "I think this environment is something that will allow me to be that, to grow. I absolutely think there's plenty of room left to grow. I'm nowhere near my peak. I think the Giants have the exact environment I need and the personnel I need to be able to reach those new heights and as well lead a group of men and also create a winning culture. And the Giants have a history of a winning culture. I feel like it was the right choice."
Holland and Adebo won't be complete strangers in the locker room, both having a former college teammate to show them around. Holland played with Kayvon Thibodeaux with the Ducks, and Adebo goes back with Bobby Okereke to their days with the Cardinal.
"It's going to be fun," Holland said of Thibodeaux. "Every time we're around each other it's always laughs. I'm really looking forward to running that back just like it was in 2019 in Oregon."
"Bobby was like my O.G. when I came in at Stanford," Adebo said. "We've got a real good relationship. We hang out. We talk football. Talk about ways to better ourselves on the field. That was a good relationship for me to have coming into this organization."
Now they will be the veterans bringing along a young secondary, which includes cornerback Deonte Banks (entering his third season), safety Tyler Nubin (second) and nickel cornerback Dru Phillips (second).
"I know [Banks] is a big, fast, strong, physical corner," Adebo said. "I like a lot of things that he does. Very explosive. Very athletic. So, I'm happy to be able to come in and work with him."
"[Nubin is] a good, talented kid," Holland said. "Talked to him. Great spirit. Full of life. Excited to play next to him, and help him grow, just like I was when I was younger. I hope to be that same vet to help him take off."
Holland added: "That's a recipe for excellence. It's a group of guys that are going to be able to build with each other, create a community amongst each other, and rely on each other when we're out there on the field. Communication makes the defense flow smoothly. To be able to know the guy next to me. Knowing who they're playing with and being able to communicate easily, makes the job a lot easier. I think that would help us fly around and make plays and be free on the field."
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