The New York Giants lost one of their cornerbacks on Wednesday, as third-year player Sam Beal opted out of the 2020 season. While we don’t know what personal issues might have been the cause, Beal will lose out on a fantastic opportunity to gain some lost ground after spending the last two seasons predominantly injured.
Of course, we wish him well and hope his family isn’t affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, his departure opens the door for multiple players to lock down the CB2 spot.
Let’s take a look at three players on the roster the New York Giants could elevate:
1.) Darnay Holmes
When entering the NFL, most penciled Darnay Holmes in as the Giants’ starting nickel corner. Interestingly, Holmes never played slot corner in college, he only earned a few reps during the Senior Bowl. After being coined the best nickel corner in the draft by analysts, without ever seeing live reps there, the Giants shouldn’t feel the need to stick him at the position immediately. With Beal and DeAndre Baker likely missing the 2020 campaign, Holmes should be given the opportunity to compete at CB2.
Holmes has a similar frame to former Giant Janoris Jenkins (5-foot-10, 195-pounds), so the idea that he is too small is completely untrue. Holmes is a competitive athlete who has a great character. His leadership mentality and great tangible traits make him a primed player to take a stab at the void position. However, I believe he should compete in the slot as well.
In 2019, he played on a high ankle sprain with UCLA. His toughness and grit are at the forefront of his positive qualities, and I believe he has the drive to earn an opportunity at CB2 and at nickle.
With that being said, he is still somewhat of a raw prospect that needs some refinement. Adapting to NFL size and speed is not an easy task, as Sterling Shepard showed him a few weeks ago during a training session. Shepard’s quick-twitch abilities were too much for Holmes, who was left tracking Shepard a few steps behind. Camp should give him ample experience and reps against NFL talent, which will prove to be essential in his progress toward becoming a starter.
2.) Julian Love
Love showed the ability to play at a high-level in 2019, after taking over for Jabrill Peppers at strong safety in week 12. Love racked up 37 combined tackles, five tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, three passes defended, and one interception in his rookie season. He allowed a 65.5% completion rate against and one touchdown, but he played multiple positions that were unfamiliar to him. While at Notre Dame, Love played corner mostly, so that is where his skill set lies. The Giants have looked to create a utility player out of Love, similar to baseball.
Having a quality reserve option that can play strong safety, free safety, and cornerback is a huge bonus for the New York Giants. With Beal and Baker likely out, Love might be forced into action a bit sooner than we expected. He has the background to play CB2, but he hasn’t earned as many reps at the position due to a lack of speed and agility. Giving him a crack at it is not a bad idea, though.
3.) Corey Ballentine
Corey Ballentine is another player who could be given an opportunity at CB2. In 2019, the former Washburn corner struggled to adapt to the NFL. Over 13 games and two starts, he logged up 26 combined tackles, two passes defended, and allowed at 64.3% completion rate and four touchdowns.
Ballentine is a high-upside player with a ton of potential, physically. He has long and lanky arms to pair with being a cornerback but lacks the experience against better talent. If he can develop and progress through training camp, he could be in a place to compete for the open corner spot. However, I still believe he is a year behind the rest, coming from a smaller school and looking way out of place during his rookie campaign.
Nonetheless, it is a fantastic opportunity for him to complete and bring the best out of himself with the New York Giants.