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“Unsettled” would be a good way to describe the New York Giants defensive backfield. Beyond Jabrill Peppers, James Bradberry and rookie Xavier McKinney, it is uncertain who will be playing, where they will be playing, or who will even be on the roster.
Does that leave an opening for strong safety Jaquarius Landrews, an undrafted free agent from Mississippi State, to sneak onto the roster?
Let’s take a closer look.
The basics
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 200
Age: 23
Position: Safety
Experience: Rookie
Contract: Year 1 of three-year, $2.295 million undrafted free agent contract | Guaranteed: $15,000
How he got here
A JUCO transfer, Landrews saw part-time action in 10 games for Mississippi State in 2018, registering 21 tackles (4.5 for loss) in 10 games with 5 passes defensed. Starting at strong safety in 2019, Landrews had 77 tackles, a half-tackle for loss, an interception and 9 passes defensed.
Ranked No. 40 among safeties in the 2020 NFL Draft by Dane Brugler of The Athletic, Landrews went undrafted. Landrews signed with the Giants as an undrafted free agent.
To be honest, I haven’t been able to find much more information that that about Landrews as a player. He is one of those guys it is difficult to even find a scouting report for.
2020 outlook
Unless there is a rash of injuries, COVID-19 positive tests, or both, Landrews would seem unlikely to make the 53-man roster. The practice squad, though, is realistic. Currently, rules under the new CBA have expanded that group from 10 to 12 players. There is some talk that because of the pandemic teams could keep as many as 16 practice squad players, increasing the opportunities for many young players and offering teams added protection.
Landrews figures to compete with players like Christian Angulo, Dravon Askew-Henry, Malcolm Elmore, seventh-round pick Chris Williamson, and maybe even third-year man Sean Chandler for a practice squad spot. He has apparently played both strong safety and as a nickel corner, so that versatility might help him compete.