New York Giants Sign Four and Cut Four

Maurice Canady – © USA TODAY Sports

The New York Giants have signed the following unrestricted free agents:

• DE Jalyn Holmes (New Orleans Saints)
• CB Maurice Canady (Dallas Cowboys)
• CB Khalil Dorsey (Baltimore Ravens)
• S Henry Black (Green Bay Packers)

Both Canady and Dorsey have previous experience with former Ravens and current Giants defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale. Holmes was coached by former Vikings and current Giants defensive line coach Andre Patterson in Minnesota.

The 26-year old, 6’5”, 283-pound Holmes was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. In three seasons with the Vikings, Holmes played in 25 regular-season games with nine starts. All of his starts came in 2020 as he was credited with 36 tackles and two pass defenses. The Vikings waived him in September 2021, and he was then signed by the Saints. He played in eight games with one start and was credited with 14 tackles and one pass defense.

The 27-year old, 6’1”, 200-pound Canady was originally drafted in the 6th round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Ravens. He has spent time with the Ravens (2016-2019), New York Jets (2019), and Cowboys (2020-2021). The Ravens cut him in November 2019 and he was then claimed by the Jets. Canady signed with the Cowboys in March 2020, but opted out of the 2020 NFL season due to COVID. Canady has played in 40 regular-season games with four starts. He played in eight games in 2021 with the Cowboys, but missed half the season with a concussion that landed him on Injured Reserve. In those eight games, he played just 14 percent of defensive snaps and was credited with six tackles.

The 24-year old, 5’9”, 181-pound Dorsey was originally signed as undrafted rookie free agent by the Ravens after the 2020 NFL Draft. He played in six games as a rookie in 2020, almost exclusively on special teams. Dorsey missed all of 2021 with an injury that landed him on Injured Reserve in August. The Ravens chose not to tender him as an exclusive rights free agent.

The 25-year old, 6’0”, 204-pound Black was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Green Bay Packers after the 2020 NFL Draft. In two seasons, he has played in 25 regular-season games with no starts, While most of his playing time has come on special teams, he did play in 24 percent of all defensive snaps in 2021 and was credited with 38 tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble. The Packers chose not to tender him as an exclusive rights free agent.

To make room for these four, the Giants cut the following players:

• QB Brian Lewerke (waived)
• DE Raymond Johnson (waived)
• LB Trent Harris (contract terminated)
• S Jordan Mosley (waived/injured)

Lewerke was signed late in the preseason in August 2021 and then to the Practice Squad in early September 2021. The 6’3”, 216-pound Lewerke was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the New England Patriots after the 2020 NFL Draft. The Patriots waived him in early September 2020.

The Giants signed Johnson as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2021 NFL Draft. He surprisingly made the team, played in 15 games with no starts (16 percent of all defensive snaps), and finished the season with three tackles, one tackle for a loss, and one sack.

Harris was signed to the Practice Squad in early September 2021 and the 53-man roster in November. The Giants then placed him on Injured Reserve in early December with an ankle injury and waived him at the end of the month. He played in four games with no starts (15 percent of defensive snaps in those games), finishing with seven tackles. The 6’2”, 255-pound Harris was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the New England Patriots after the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent his rookie season on the Practice Squad of the Patriots. The Miami Dolphins claimed Harris off of waivers in September 2019. He played in 11 games with three starts with the Dolphins, accruing 20 tackles and 1.5 sacks. The Dolphins cut him in early September 2020. The Giants signed Harris to the Practice Squad and then the 53-man roster in October 2020; he was re-signed to the Practice Squad in December after playing in four games with two starts (26 percent of all defensive snaps in those games). He finished they year with five tackles and 0.5 sacks.

Mosley was signed four days ago after impressing as a rookie tryout player during the team’s rookie mini-camp.