Ranking the most impactful NY Giants for the 2024 season: Why Jason Pinnock is No. 12

EAST RUTHERFORD - When Julian Love left the Giants for Seattle in free agency last offseason, the question many outside the organization wanted answered: who would start at safety next to Xavier McKinney?

The sentiment shared with me turned out to be prophetic: "They like JP. A lot."

JP, as in Jason Pinnock, and he made the most of his opportunity, carving out a role in the secondary that should expand even more as the Giants prepare for the 2024 season. He has earned his place in our ranking of the 12 most impactful players heading into training camp, which begins with the first practice scheduled for July 24.

The scouting report

Pinnock was signed off waivers from the Jets late in the summer of 2022 and arrived with the Giants feeling as though he was pigeon-holed into being solely a special teams contributor by his former team.

Last season, Pinnock impressed in training camp and never looked back, recording 85 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions in a career-high 1,011 defensive snaps. He added 10 pressures, 19 run stops, and two forced fumbles, breaking up five passes in coverage with two interceptions, including a spectacular 102-yard return of a pick against the Dolphins.

Pinnock has displayed great range with tremendous acceleration and plays with physicality. He showed improved awareness and anticipation as the season went on.

Why Pinnock made the list

Pinnock is a player whose impact should be felt even more this year. It will be interesting to see if he hit his ceiling at those high points last year, or if there is still room for his game to grow. Because if there is, he can be an incredibly important piece to the puzzle at just 25 years old. With McKinney having left for the Packers, Pinnock should take on a bigger leadership role on the back end, too. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen loves using his safety combinations in key roles and Pinnock is positioned to fit nicely with rookie Tyler Nubin and Dane Belton.

Jason Pinnock: What they're saying

"I've always been a diamond in the rough. A diamond's still a diamond. It's just buried, and I'm tired of being a diamond in the rough." - Pinnock on his potential prior to the 2023 season