Jets steal promising young CB from rival Giants after roster shuffle

The New York Jets just pulled off a masterful roster shuffle heist, stealing a promising young player at a position of need from their cross-stadium rivals, the New York Giants.

Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reported late Thursday night that the Jets had signed former Oklahoma State cornerback Korie Black to their practice squad. Black was a seventh-round pick of the Giants in this year's NFL Draft.

The 23-year-old originally made the Giants' 53-man roster but was released in a procedural move after the team claimed cornerback Rico Payton off waivers from the New York Saints.

The Giants reportedly planned to re-sign Black to their practice squad immediately, but instead, the Jets swooped in and made him an offer he couldn't refuse. As Ryan Dunleavy noted, the Giants’ front office likely isn’t too pleased with how it played out.

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Jets steal CB Korie Black from Giants and add much-needed CB depth

A three-year starter at Oklahoma State, Black twice earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors and started 38 of a possible 39 games over his final three seasons with the Cowboys.

At 6-foot, 190 pounds, Black is a long, physical boundary cornerback who was expected to be a Day 3 pick in this year's draft. The Athletic's Dane Brugler had a fifth-round grade on him, specifically noting his "physical attitude and length" as strengths of his game.

Black would end up falling to the Giants in the seventh round, and he quickly impressed coaches with a strong showing at minicamp. Unfortunately, the rookie cornerback missed most of the summer due to injury and only appeared in one preseason game — coincidentally against the Jets.

Black posted Pro Football Focus coverage grades of 73.6 and 74.5 in his final two seasons at Oklahoma State and proved to be a reliable tackler, missing just six tackles combined over that span.

The Jets were hurting for outside cornerback depth after losing Jarrick Bernard-Converse on waivers to the Cleveland Browns. Bernard-Converse had an excellent summer, and the Jets hoped they could sneak him through to their practice squad. Instead, Black takes his place.

The Jets have Qwan'tez Stiggers and Azareye'h Thomas on their 53-man roster, but outside of them, there really wasn't another player under contract who can play the outside cornerback position if Sauce Gardner or Brandon Stephens were to miss time due to injury.

Black gives the team much-needed depth at a position group that was looking a little thin before this move. His addition helps soften the blow of losing Bernard-Converse and essentially gives the Jets an extra member of their 2025 draft class to develop.

Don't be surprised if we see Korie Black on the field at some point this season. If Gardner or Stephens (or Stiggers or Thomas, for that matter) misses time, he likely won't have to wait long for his number to be called.

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