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Sep 8, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants safety Jason Pinnock (27) warms up before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images John Jones-Imagn Images

Giants 2024 UFA Primer: S Jason Pinnock

Originally posted on New York Giants on SI | Last updated Jan 23, 2025 2:00 PM ET

Jason Pinnock went from being a waiver wire pickup (from the Jets) to a starting safety for the New York Giants. But with him approaching free agency and given how Giants general manager Joe Schoen has refrained from spending heavily on the safety position, has Pinnock played his last snap as a Giant?

Jason Pinnock, Safety

Height: 6-0
Weight: 200 lbs
Age: 25
NFL Exp.: 4 Years
College: Pittsburgh

The New York Giants claimed Jason Pinnock from the New York Jets right before the start of the 2022 season. He would take over the starting role later that season and has been the starter since then.

In three seasons with the Giants, Pinnock has 211 tackles (143 solos), 12 tackles for loss, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), and 10 pass breakups.

At one point, Pinnock led the defense in tackles, but he was quickly surpassed by, among others, Tyler Nubin and Bobby Okereke, both of whom had their respective seasons cut short due to injury.

Linebacker Micah McFadden (107 tackles) finished as the Giants team leader in tackles and the only defender to have 100+ tackles this season, unlike in 2023 when the Giants had two defenders (Okerke and safety Xavier McKinney) finish with 100+ tackles on the year.

2024 Season Recap

Like most Giants defenders, Pinnock had his fair share of struggles in 2024, and a lot of that could probably be attributed to the change in the defensive scheme.

In previous years, Pinnock could move around the formation more freely under Wink Martindale as defensive coordinator. In 2024, under Shane Bowen, we saw Pinnock play a pure safety role that didn’t allow him to be himself fully.

It’s certainly fair to say that Pinnock went from being a core safety to a replaceable depth safety in a four-week span.

He was regularly targeted in deep zone coverage, and although he was technically sound, his lack of movement skills and instincts were brutally exposed.

Pinnock matched his 2023 season tackle total of 85, but one area in which he was woefully underused was as a blitzer, which just so happens to be a strength.

In 2023 Pinnock blitzed 7.3% of the time; that percentage dropped to 3.2%, though he had one more sack in 2024 (3.0) than in 2023 (2.0).

Why the Giants Should Keep Him

While Pinnock had a down year, it was still a solid year overall in my opinion in a new system that limited him. His ability to play anywhere on the defense is invaluable and he should be able to take another step with his second year in the stem.

Why the Giants Shouldn’t Keep Him

Pinnock is yet another one of those defenders who doesn’t appear to be a good fit for what Bowen’s system runs.

Unless the defensive coordinator plans to be a little more flexible in deploying players to their strengths, there is no point in retaining a safety whose lack of movement skills was woefully exposed in deep zone coverage, nor do we envision Pinnock even wanting to return to the same system.

Potential Replacements If He Doesn’t Return

We have said it before and will say it again: safety is a sneaky need on this Giants roster.

With Pinnock being the best fit for the system, plus his pending free agency and the history Giants general manager Joe Schoen has with not wanting to spend premium dollars on the safety position, we think the Giants, if they lose Pinnock as is expected, will turn to the draft.

We like Nick Emmanwori, a prospect out of South Carolina. Emmanwori, 21, is an elite size (6-3, 227 pounds) and an athletic defensive back with experience in multiple roles in that highly competitive SEC division.

He’s excelled in zone-heavy defenses, which is apparently the Giants' defensive style of choice. He also boasts elite athleticism and a nonstop motor, and has been clocked at 4.3 in the 40-yard dash.

If that’s not enough to like about this potential Day 2/Day 3 prospect, Emmanwori also has advanced instincts and a sharp football IQ, which has seen him excel as the defense's quarterback, getting guys lined up and into position.

Keep or Dump?

With the Giants having chosen to retain Bowen, we don’t think Pinnock will want to stay, nor do we think the Giants will pony up the cash that it might take to retain Him, especially with Dane Belton waiting in the wings for a bigger role on defense.