Giants’ Jason Pinnock has proven he can be a starting safety

Can he improve on good 2023 season?

When Julian Love left in free agency before the 2023 season, many wondered how the New York Giants would replace the versatile defensive back. Jason Pinnock capably provided the answer.

Let’s discuss Pinnock as we continue player-by-player profiles of the Giants’ 90-man roster.

The skinny

Height: 6-foot
Weight: 200
Opening day age: 25
Position: Safety
Experience: 3
Contract: Final year of four-year, $3,750,451 million rookie deal | 2024 cap hit: $3.116 million | Fully guaranteed: $270,448 ($0 in 2024)

Career to date

The New York Jets selected Pinnock in Round 5 of the 2021 NFL Draft. The Giants pounced a year later when the Jets tried to sneak Pinnock to their practice squad, claiming him on waivers.

Pinnock played in 14 games with five starts, while also being a key special teams contributor in 2022. In 2023, he started all 16 games. Pinnock played 1,011 defensive snaps (95%). He made 85 tackles (59 solo) and had two interceptions including a 102-yard return for a touchdown, six passes defended, two forced fumbles, and two sacks. Pinnock also had a good 74.8 passer rating against.

The only alarming number on his stat sheet was a 13.7% missed tackle rate, per Pro Football Focus.

Pinnock was originally expected to make $1.325 million in salary this season. The league’s Proven Performance Escalator program, based on his playing time exceeding expectations outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, bumped his salary and cap charge for 2024 to $3.116 million.

2024 outlook

With Xavier McKinney now a member of the Green Bay Packers, Pinnock’s importance to the defense should only grow. The most likely potential starters alongside him are rookie Tyler Nubin or third-year man Dane Belton.

Pinnock can be a free agent at the end of the season. If he puts together another good year he will enter his walk year in a position to earn a nice contract.