Updated

The New York Giants have taken steps to improve their defensive backfield, agreeing to deals with safety Ryan Mundy and cornerback Aaron Ross in free agency.

Ross, a former New York No. 1 draft choice, played for the Giants from 2007-2011 and started in two Super Bowl victories. He played last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mundy arrives by way of Pittsburgh, where he played four seasons for the Steelers. He played in all 16 regular-season games in each of those seasons, with five starts, and also played in four Pittsburgh postseason games.

The moves came on the same day the Giants' chief rivals in the NFC East — the Philadelphia Eagles — also upgraded their secondary. Philadelphia, some two hours before New York announced its moves, added former Giants safety Kenny Phillips and former Baltimore Ravens cornerback Cary Williams.