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Nick McCloud’s ability to play anywhere sometimes leaves him playing nowhere.
Despite being the vocal leader in the defensive backs’ meeting room and knowing the Giants’ playbook assignments for outside cornerback, safety, slot cornerback, linebacker and the hybrid “moneybacker” position under new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, McCloud opened training camp as a super-sub.
The first indication of his role changing happened when he took some snaps away from outside cornerback Cor’Dale Flott – the projected starter opposite Deonte Banks throughout the offseason – during the final joint practice between the Giants and Lions prior to Thursday night’s preseason opener.
A McCloud-Flott position battle seems to be heating up just as the games start.
“Whatever role that I need to do, or the coaches see me fit, I have to be ready. I could put my hand in the dirt and do that,” McCloud said with a laugh. “I wouldn’t say I pride myself on [versatility]. I can play a lot of different spots, and I feel like that’s why teammates and my coaches love me – because I pride myself in knowing my stuff.”
The Giants are showing a best-player-plays mentality rather than handing out starting jobs based on draft status. Look no further than the position change for right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor and the recent signing of guard Greg Van Roten and the trickle-down playing-time limitations on 2022 first-round pick Evan Neal (injured) and 2022 third-rounder Josh Ezeudu.
“I keep gaining confidence every day I practice,” said Flott, also a 2022 third-rounder who was in the slot at this time last summer before moving to the outside during the season. “I’m real comfortable. Me and Tae [Banks] are pushing each other. Going against Malik [Nabers] is good competition to keep rising higher.”
In the aftermath of free-agent departures Xavier McKinney and Adoree Jackson, McCloud, 26, has stepped up as the loudest voice in a young secondary. But that voice is naturally quieted on gamedays if coming from the sideline.
Edge rusher Brian Burns noticed McCloud’s impact and offered unprompted praise this week.
“He’s shown me a different side of him every time I see him,” Burns said. “Just competing. He challenges.”
Flott, 22, is being challenged after the Lions hit a couple of deep passes on busted coverages during practices.
“I’m better now [than I was last year] at understanding concepts, slowing the game down, understanding what’s coming,” Flott said. “Age doesn’t concern anybody on the team. Sometimes I forget I’m 22, to be real. It’s about how much work and effort you put into film.”
The Giants re-signed McCloud to a non-guaranteed one-year, $2.9 million as a restricted free agent mostly because of his strong special-teams contributions. But he could be called upon in a much larger defensive role than the 27.6 percent share of the snaps that he received last season (down from 47.4 percent in 2022).
“It’s just a want-to,” McCloud said. “I want to help this defense, I want to help this team, and it matters to me. If you want to do something and something matters to you, you are going to get it done.”
