Duke football: Ross Cockrell, New York Giants can’t agree to terms on deal

Former Duke football star Ross Cockrell playing for the Carolina Panthers. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Former Duke football star Ross Cockrell playing for the Carolina Panthers. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) /
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Former Duke football standout Ross Cockrell could not come to terms on an agreement with the New York Giants as the cornerback remains a free agent.

A potential return to the Big Apple for Ross Cockrell was reported by various New York Giant beat reporters, but the potential deal fell through as the cornerback and the team could not agree on the financial aspects of the contract.

Cockrell, a First-Team All-ACC selection in 2012 and 2013, was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 4th Round of the 2014 NFL Draft and only spent one season with the team.

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The now 29-year-old was released by the Bills during his second training camp and then quickly signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he received a contract extension following his very productive first season with the organization.

Prior to the start of the 2017 season, the former Blue Devil was traded to the New York Giants, where he only spent one season before signing a two-year deal with the Carolina Panthers in 2018.

However, Cockrell’s return to the state of North Carolina did not go as planned as he suffered a broken left tibia and fibula during training camp for the 2018 season. He did return to the field in 2019 with the Panthers to play in 14 games.

As training camps get underway across the National Football League, Ross Cockrell still remains unsigned, and it seemingly would be a perfect fit to return to New York and play for the Giants, who struggled tremendously on defense last season, specifically in the secondary.

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The Giants also have been dealt a rough hand with their cornerbacks in terms of off-the-field issues, injuries, and COVID-19 related opt-outs.

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Ross Cockrell has played in a total of 68 games in his NFL career with seven interceptions, 44 passes defended, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and 219 tackles.