EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants today bolstered both their special teams and secondary when they acquired cornerback Keion Crossen in a trade with the Houston Texans.
Crossen played his rookie season in New England in 2018 when Joe Judge was the Patriots' special teams coordinator.
Houston will receive a 2023 sixth-round draft choice from the Giants in exchange for Crossen.
Crossen, 5-10 and 185 pounds, is entering his fourth NFL season. He has played in 43 regular-season games with four starts and played in five postseason games for the Patriots and Texans, including Super Bowl LIII.
Crossen's career totals include 49 tackles (38 solo), one interception, six passes defensed and 24 special teams tackles (19 solo) in the regular season and one tackle on defense and four on special teams – all unassisted – in the postseason.
View photos of new Giants defensive back and special teamer Keion Crossen.
DB Keion Crossen
Houston Texans defensive back Keion Crossen (35) lines up against the Tennessee Titans during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) stands on the playing field during the NFL game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Chicago. The Bears defeated the Texans 36-7. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) plays against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) reacts after making a play against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) takes a defensive position during an NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020 in Houston. The Bengals defeated the Texans 37-31. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
Houston Texans' Keion Crossen (35) breaks up a pass intended by Chicago Bears' Allen Robinson (12) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) runs after the ball during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) follows a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) runs after the ball during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) follows a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) stands in position during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brett Carlsen)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) follows a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Houston Texans defensive back Keion Crossen (35) looks to defend during an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Houston. The Texans beat the Raiders 27-24. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Houston Texans defensive back Keion Crossen (35) sets into position against the Kansas City Chiefs in an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in Kansas City. The Chiefs won the game 51-31. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) drops back in pass coverage during an NFL game against the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Houston. The Texans defeated the Raiders 27-24. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Houston Texans defensive back Keion Crossen (35) celebrates during in an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. Kansas City won 51-31. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Houston Texans defensive back Keion Crossen (35) celebrates a play against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Houston Texans defensive back Keion Crossen (35) during an NFL regular season football game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019 in Houston. The Titans won, 35-14. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Houston Texans defensive back Keion Crossen (35) celebrates after stopping Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Dare Ogunbowale (44) during the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Houston Texans defensive back Keion Crossen (35) looks up from the sideline with his helmet off during a NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019 in Carson, Calif. The Texans won the game 27-20. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) runs on the field during player introductions before an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns , Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020 in Cleveland. The Browns defeated the Texans 10-7. (Alika Jenner via AP)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) catches a pass during an NFL training camp football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Texans defensive back Keion Crossen (35) runs drills with the team during NFL football practice Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen yells as he runs off the field during an NFL training camp football practice Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Houston. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP, Pool)
Texans defensive back Keion Crossen (35) arrives at NFL football practice Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) dances on the field while getting ready to run a drill during an NFL training camp football practice Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Houston.(Brett Coomer/Pool Photo via AP)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) runs around the back of the end zone while warming up during an NFL training camp football practice Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Houston. (Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle via AP, Pool)
Texans defensive back Keion Crossen (35) runs a drill during NFL football practice Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)
Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen (35) dances on the field while getting ready to run a drill during an NFL training camp football practice Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Houston.(Brett Coomer/Pool Photo via AP)
New England Patriots defensive back Keion Crossen (35) takes a defensive position during the NFL Super Bowl 53 game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 in Atlanta. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
New England Patriots rookie defensive back Keion Crossen (35) gets set during the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. The Patriots defeated the Rams 13-3. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
New England Patriots defensive back Keion Crossen gets set on defense prior to a play against the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. The Patriots won in overtime, 37-31. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
New England Patriots defensive back Keion Crossen (35) defends Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler (30) during an NFL football AFC Divisional playoff game on Sunday, January 13, 2019 in Foxborough. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
New England Patriots defensive back Keion Crossen (35) reacts with defensive back Nate Ebner (43) during an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Jan. 13, 2019 in Foxborough, MA. New England won 41-28 (Aaron Doster via AP)
New England Patriots defensive back Keion Crossen (35) waits for the snap during a NFL game against the Carolina Panthers Thursday August 22, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Panthers 10-3. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots defensive back Keion Crossen (35) reacts after a big defensive play during a NFL preseason football game against the New York Giants Thursday Aug. 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. The Giants defeated the Patriots 31-29. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots defensive back Keion Crossen (35) drops into coverage during a NFL preseason football game against the New York Giants Thursday Aug. 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. The Giants defeated the Patriots 31-29. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots defensive back Keion Crossen (35) drops into coverage during a NFL game against the Carolina Panthers Thursday August 22, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Panthers 10-3. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots defensive back Keion Crossen (35) celebrates a New England victory during the AFC championship NFL football game Sunday January 20, 2019 in Kansas City, Mo. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots cornerback Keion Crossen (35) closes to the ball in action against the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday August 16, 2018 in Foxboro, Mass. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots defensive back Keion Crossen warms up before an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots cornerback Keion Crossen (35) drops into coverage in action against the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday August 16, 2018 in Foxboro, Mass. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots defensive back Keion Crossen (35) after an NFL football training camp in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday, June 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
In 2020, Crossen started each of the last four games – his first career starts – while playing all 16 games for Houston. He posted career-high totals of 34 tackles (25 solo) and five passes defensed. Crossen had a career-best nine tackles (eight solo) in his starting debut at Chicago on Dec. 13.
Crossen entered the NFL in 2018 as the Patriots' seventh-round draft choice, No. 243 overall. As a rookie, he contributed mostly on special teams but also played as a reserve corner and finished with seven tackles on both defense and special teams. Crossen played six snaps on defense and 18 on special teams in the Patriots' victory against the Rams in the Super Bowl.
On Aug. 31, 2019, Crossen was traded to the Texans for a 2020 sixth-round draft choice. In his first season in Houston he played in all 16 regular-season and two postseason games and tallied eight tackles (six solo) on defense and five stops (four solo) on special teams.
A North Carolina native, Crossen played four seasons at Western Carolina, where he posted 165 tackles (106 solo), three interceptions, 19 passes defensed, 1.0 sack, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
*Earlier today, the Giants exchanged No. 3 quarterbacks when they waived/injured Clayton Thorson (concussion) and signed free agent Brian Lewerke.
*The Giants also placed on injured reserve three players who were injured in the preseason opener Saturday night against the Jets: linebacker TJ Brunson (torn ACL), guard Kyle Murphy (ankle) and safety Joshua Kalu (torn pectoral).
Brunson, a 2020 seventh-round draft choice, played in five games for the Giants last season.
View photos of the New York Giants' active 53-man roster as it currently stands.
RB Saquon Barkley
RB Devontae Booker
CB James Bradberry
G Ben Bredeson
RB Gary Brightwell
LB Lorenzo Carter
WR Pharoh Cooper
DB Keon Crossen
LB Tae Crowder
OT Korey Cunningham
P Riley Dixon
TE Evan Engram
QB Jake Fromm
K Graham Gano
FB Cullen Gillaspia
QB Mike Glennon
WR Kenny Golladay
G Will Hernandez
DT Austin Johnson
WR Collin Johnson
DL Raymond Johnson III
QB Daniel Jones
LS Casey Kreiter
DL Dexter Lawrence
DB Julian Love
G Wes Martin
LB Benardrick McKinney
S Xavier McKinney
TE Chris Myarick
LB Azeez Ojulari
DB Steven Parker
OT Matt Peart
FB Elijhaa Penny
C Billy Price
LB Reggie Ragland
DB J.R. Reed
LB Quincy Roche
TE Kyle Rudolph
DB Logan Ryan
DT Danny Shelton
WR Sterling Shepard
OL Matt Skura
WR Darius Slayton
LB Elerson G. Smith
OT Nate Solder
OT Andrew Thomas
DT Leonard Williams
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