According to Giants senior managing editor Dan Salomone, there was a spectacular transaction in New York during a mostly lackluster trade deadline when the Giants unexpectedly dismissed cornerback Nick McCloud after starting him in five games this season. The team also let go of veteran punter Matt Haack.
After being undrafted in 2021 and being waived by the Bills, Bengals, and Bills a second time, McCloud was claimed off waivers by the Giants. McCloud has established himself as a reliable contributor since coming to New York, starting 16 of 38 games since 2022. After three years of favorable grades from Pro Football Focus (subscription required), McCloud is having a down year analytically, grading out as the 104th-best cornerback out of 110 players graded in the league.
McCloud hasn’t lived up to his full potential this season, but he still gave a secondary beset by injuries some much-needed versatility by being able to move to the nickel and safety spots when necessary. The desire for cap space made it further more necessary to waive McCloud. The Giants asked McCloud to take a pay cut in order to free up some much-needed cap space and help them get through the rest of the season financially, according to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. McCloud is now in free agency after refusing the pay decrease.
In order to assist regular punter Jamie Gillan, Haack was signed. Gillan was questionable heading into the team’s Week 6 matchup with a hamstring injury, and Haack came in to relieve him for the following four games while Gillan’s availability was still restricted by injury. Haack’s release suggests that Gillan will soon be removed from the injury list and able to play again.
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