Giants Add Defensive Back Ar’Darius Washington, Lose Defensive Back Dane Belton

The Giants make a swap of defensive backs/special teams players.

Aug 21, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Ar'Darius Washington (47) during the second half against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

The New York Giants continue to churn right along with the free-agent route and have added to their defensive backfield after losing from their defensive backfield.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz has reported that Big Blue has signed defensive back Ar’Darius Washington to a one-year deal worth a reported $3 million, and that free-agent safety/special teamer Dane Belton is planning to sign with the Jets.

Washington, like many of the Giants’ free-agent signings thus far, has a connection to Giants head coach John Harbaugh and his days in Baltimore. Washington signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2021 out of TCU. 

He appeared in 29 games with 11 starts for the Ravens and recorded 85 career tackles, seven tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, two interceptions and 10 pass breakups on defense.

The 5-foot-8, 180-pound Washington, who can also contribute to special teams, was limited to four games this past season after suffering a torn Achilles during the 2025 offseason. He returned for the final four games of the year, contributing one sack, one forced fumble and seven tackles in limited action.

Washington has experience as both a box and deep safety as well as in the slot, in addition to his special teams experience.

Washington, in essence, is a replacement for Belton, who last year was the Giants' team leader in special teams tackles. 

Jan 4, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants safety Dane Belton (24) looks on before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium. | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Belton, a fourth-round pick by the Giants in 2022 out of Iowa, has missed just two NFL games in his four-year career and has made 22 starts. But he was never able to earn a starting role in the Giants' defensive backfield, instead landing as a participant in the team’s dime package.

Belton led the team with 20 special tackles while manning the fullback role on punts.  As a safety, his weakness was in deep coverages where he lacked the agility to turn and go with speed, making it a challenge for him to play single-high safety.

Belton showed an instinct for the game and is always around the ball and was always around the ball.  In his four seasons he’s recorded six INTs, four sacks, four forced fumbles, four recovered fumbles, and 16 pass breakups. 

Despite playing limited snaps, Belton finished second on the team with 100 defensive tackles. 

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