Giants surprisingly release Nick McCloud after pay cut push

The Giants’ concerning cornerback depth chart got even thinner Tuesday when the Giants curiously released part-time starter Nick McCloud, The Post confirmed.McCloud started five of seven games played this season and offered much-needed versatility across the secondary to play on the outside, in the slot or at safety.He also was a core special-teamer ever since joining the Giants in 2022.The Giants approached McCloud, 26, about taking an in-season pay cut, a source confirmed after it was first reported by ESPN.

He was playing on a one-year, $3 million contract after he was retained as a restricted free agent during the offseason.That pay-cut strategy for salary-cap savings worked in the past for general manager Joe Schoen with receiver Darius Slayton and cornerback Darnay Holmes, but those moves were made after training camp at the roster cutdown when teams have the leverage of an overflow of free-agent availability.McCloud was asked to take a pay cut during a week leading up to a game that he started.He has allowed nine catches on 11 targets for 170 yards and a touchdown this season, according to Pro Football Focus.Cornerbacks Cor’Dale Flott, Adoree Jackson and Tre Hawkins all returned from injuries last game, but the Giants have been looking for answers there ever since the draft when they missed out on targeted second-round draft picks Kamari Lassiter and Kool-Aid McKinstry by a matter of a few picks.Deonte Banks, a 2023 first-rounder, was benched against the Steelers on Oct.

28 after two plays earlier in the season where coaches and teammates questioned his effort.Banks returned to the starting lineup last week and surrendered two touchdown catches to the Commanders’ Terry McLaurin, upping his league-leading total to six allowed.

 McCloud followed head coach Brian Daboll and Schoen over from the Bills, where he started his NFL career....