Giants Roster Breakdown: Ryan Mundy

Ryan Mundy has never been a star, or a full-time starter. The New York Giants signed him as a free agent to provide depth at safety after losing Kenny Phillips. We look at what Mundy brings to the table as we continue our player-by-player breakdown of the 90-man roster the Giants will bring to training camp later this month.

2012 Season In Review

Mundy played all 16 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, starting three games. He ended the year with 39 tackles and two passes defensed. Mundy earned a -3.5 grade from Pro Football Focus in 292 defensive snaps.

In his four years with the Steelers Mundy proved durable, never missing a game. He totaled 130 tackles, eight passes defensed and one interception. He was a sixth-round selection by Pittsburgh in 2008.

2013 Outlook

The Giants signed Mundy as a free agent after losing Kenny Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles. At first glance that would seem like a loss for the Giants. Phillips, a 2008 first-round pick, started 41 games for the Giants over five seasons and was an excellent player -- arguably one of the league's better safeties -- when his knees permitted him to play.

The Giants have liked what they have seen from the 6-foot-1, 209-pound Mundy, however, and he has to be considered a leading candidate along with second-year man Will Hill for the role of third safety in the three-safety packages defensive coordinator Perry Fewell likes to employ.

Mundy is also an excellent special teams player who made 13 tackles in punt or kickoff coverage for Pittsburgh a season ago.

Mundy won't be a star, but he should be a valuable contributor for the Giants in 2013. A typical low-cost, useful signing by Giants general manager Jerry Reese.