When the New York Giants cut 2025 draft pick Korie Black, a cornerback out of Oklahoma State, they had every intention of re-signing him to the practice squad — before the crosstown rival New York Jets stepped in.
“Roster gymnastics don’t always turn out as planned,” The Athletic’s Dan Duggan reported on the evening of August 28.
Explaining: “The Giants kept seventh-round pick Korie Black on their initial 53-man roster, then cut him yesterday with the intention of signing him back to their practice squad. Instead, Black is signing with the Jets’ practice squad, per source.”
Duggan added that Black was the “first Joe Schoen draft pick to be cut as a rookie,” and now he’s gone.
Explaining Cornerback Korie Black Signing With Jets’ Practice Squad Rather Than Giants
For those who aren’t all that familiar with the practice squad and waiver claim rules, they’re fairly simple in this case.
Black went unclaimed on waivers around the NFL. If he had been claimed, a team would have had to dedicate him a spot on their 53-man roster.
Having said that, he went unclaimed and is then free to sign with any practice squad that he chooses, so long as there is an offer on the table.
Apparently, the Jets made that offer, as did the Giants, and Black chose Gang Green.
Most times, you don’t really see a team lose a prospect once they clear waivers, because there is often a sort of handshake agreement that the youngster will re-sign with the practice squad. But in this case, Black elected to forgo that option to start fresh with the Jets.
Giants Beat Reporters Blame Joint Practice With Jets After Korie Black Decision
Giants fans were not happy about this turn of events on social media, as one user called it a “classless” move by Jets general manager Darren Mougey. But the reality is, once you make the decision to cut a player from your 53-man roster, there’s always a risk that said player won’t return.
In this case, Giants beat reporters pointed to joint practices as the likely reason for the Jets’ interest.
“The sticking point here with Korie Black, I would imagine, is that if the Jets claimed Korie Black, the Giants tip their cap and perhaps rethink joint practices in the future,” NorthJersey.com beat reporter Art Stapleton noted.
Continuing: “Perhaps. But [the] Giants claimed players from the Jets in 2022, so it’s all fair game. The difference here: Black was not claimed to the 53. He made a lateral move to the Jets’ PSQ, and that’s something [the] Giants could not have anticipated.”
Similarly, New York Post reporter Ryan Dunleavy said: “[The] NY Giants wanted Black back on [the] practice squad after he cleared waivers, but this is the power of joint practices.”
In a separate post, Dunleavy also relayed that he “can’t imagine [the] NY Giants front office is happy right now. Black made the initial 53 and then was cut one day later because he was more likely to sneak through waivers.”
It would seem that the Giants were outfoxed by the Jets and Black himself after attempting a risky maneuver. At this point, it is what it is.
Black played a total of 12 preseason snaps (all against the Jets), per Pro Football Focus, and was credited with 1 solo tackle and 1 tackle assist. He was targeted once in pass coverage, but did not allow a catch.
Hopefully, he doesn’t turn into a draft gem of a prospect at cornerback.
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