#Patrick Graham poised to give Giants’ defense multiple looks

“Yes.’’ That was Patrick Graham’s answer to what seemed much more like an either-or question.

The new Giants defensive coordinator arrives with a history filled with Bill Belichick-inspired theories as to how to best stop the opponent. Joe Judge, the head coach who hired Graham, has said he wants his defense to be “multiple’’ in design — meaning different looks each week. With this in mind, Graham on Tuesday was asked if his base defense will be a 4-3 front, a 3-4 front, a 2-4 front or perhaps a 3-3-5 design.

Graham smiled.

“I always answer with ‘yes,’ ’’ he said. “Whatever you want to say, I’ll say yes. I’m not trying to make a joke of it. We are going to do what’s best with what we have in terms of the people, the personnel we have and what we think is best for the game. I would say this, the game is mostly made up of sub plays when you look at the percentages. Most of the time there is three receivers out there. I think you have to look at it from a sub perspective in terms of how you are going to deploy the guys and then go from there.’’

Graham, 41, was a defensive lineman at Yale and spent seven years with the Patriots. Four of those years (2012-15) coincided with Judge’s time in New England. In 2016, Ben McAdoo hired Graham to coach the Giants defensive line. It was short-lived stay for McAdoo, and in 2018 Graham moved to the Packers. When Brian Flores — another former Patriots assistant on Belichick’s staff with Judge and Graham — in 2019 was named the Dolphins head coach, he hired Graham to run the Dolphins’ defense. In a rare lateral move, Graham moved to the Giants after Judge came calling, though Graham was also named assistant head coach along with his defensive coordinator title.

“Obviously, I have familiarity with Joe,’’ Graham said. “He presented an opportunity to work with the Giants. I have familiarity with the organization and it’s close to home, so it’s been positive. I’m excited to be here now in 2020. That’s pretty much the extent of that.’’

Graham in his first go-round with the Giants was a dutiful assistant, with his media sessions pleasant but mostly generic. He showed more personality in this first introduction as the defensive coordinator, mixing in colorful praise for linemen Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams with a playful shot at himself.

After describing Lawrence as having “a bubbly personality’’ Graham countered with, “I would say that counters my demeanor, which is usually not too bubbly.’’

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The Giants signed OT Jackson Dennis (Holy Cross) and WR Cody White (Michigan State) and waived TE Kyle Markway and LB Mark McLaurin.

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The Giants had veteran cornerback Ross Cockrell in for testing but a deal could not be reached. An experienced cornerback could still interest the Giants, who are depleted at the position after Sam Beal opted out and DeAndre Baker was placed on the Exempt List while facing serious criminal charges.