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The New York Giants signed a 41-tackle free agent after losing undrafted CB Thaddeus Dixon to a torn Achilles.

The New York Giants reacted quickly to losing highly paid undrafted cornerback Thaddeus Dixon to a potentially season-ending injury by adding a 34-game veteran defensive player with 41 tackles and one career sack in 2026 NFL free agency.

Former North Carolina cover man Dixon tore his Achilles during offseason workouts on Wednesday, May 13. The injury prompted Big Blue to give Dixon’s roster spot to ex-Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Khalid Kareem, a move confirmed by Giants.com Managing Editor Dan Salomone on Thursday.

Kareem, a fifth-round pick by the Bengals in the 2020 NFL draft, spent the last two seasons as a member of the Atlanta Falcons. While he bounced between the practice squad and a spot on the active roster, 28-year-old Kareem joins arguably the most talent-heavy position group on the Giants’ roster.

It’s a different story in the secondary, where Dixon appeared primed to compete for playing time as a rookie. Particularly after he was handed “one of the biggest guarantees of any UDFAs in this class ($282,500) league-wide,” per Dan Duggan of The Athletic.

Now the Giants again find themselves searching for credible cover behind veteran duo Paulson Adebo and Greg Newsome II, along with this year’s second-round pick Colton Hood. Help the Giants can find from a veteran of five teams, who worked out for the team the same day Dixon’s injury and Kareem’s arrival were confirmed.

Khalid Kareem Added to Crowded Edge-Rusher Mix

Kareem has the frame, as a 6-foot-4, 255-pounder, to be a factor on the edge, but he faces an uphill battle to earn reps with the Giants. When this season’s snap count will be dominated by 16.5-sack Pro Bowler Brian Burns and a pair of top-five picks, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

The latter has seemingly survived endless trade rumors and now figures to be a key member of a rotation that’s the envy of most around the league. An embarrassment of riches on the outside is supplemented by versatile, roving disruptor Chauncey Golston, who can play linebacker or anywhere along the defensive line for new play-caller Dennard Wilson.

Having this many legitimate game-wreckers ahead of him makes Kareem a likely camp body. One whose best chance of making the final roster will be to prove his worth on special teams.

The expectations for Dixon were greater, but the Giants aren’t giving up on adding to their options at cornerback.

Giants Work Out Potential Thaddeus Dixon Replacement

General manager Joe Schoen and head coach John Harbaugh moved fast after the full extent of Dixon’s injury was made known. A workout was arranged for 27-year-old defensive back Sam Webb on Thursday, per KPRC 2 Houston’s Aaron Wilson.

Webb had two stints with the Las Vegas Raiders, but he spent last season on the practice squads of a pair of different AFC teams, the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns.

He’s unlikely to be an upgrade over Dixon, who enjoyed “an impressive week at the Senior Bowl in Mobile.” Impressive enough “the Giants pursued him as soon as the draft ended,” according to the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz.

Dixon’s draft stock initially looked good, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport noted a “hamstring injury helped lead him to be undrafted.”

Further injury woe has now cost Dixon a legitimate chance to solve problems for the Giants at an obvious position of need, but the franchise remains active trying to add viable defensive depth.