New York Giants lose CB Sam Beal for 2020 season

New York Giants, Sam Beal
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 24: Allen Robinson #12 of the Chicago Bears catches a pass in front of Sam Beal #23 of the New York Giants during a game at Soldier Field on November 24, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Giants 19-14. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

The New York Giants had a third player opt-out of the 2020 season on Wednesday afternoon. Cornerback Sam Beal elected to sit, despite having an opportunity to lock down the number two corner spot with DeAndre Baker on the commissioner’s exempt list. Beal has struggled to earn starting reps due to injuries the last two seasons after being a supplemental draft pick back in 2018.

After the Giants released Janoris Jenkins in 2019, Beal enjoyed six games and three starts. He tallied 26 combined tackles, one tackle for a loss, one past defended and allowed a 76.2% completion rate and one touchdown.

With Beal opting out, the Giants will have to rely on Corey Ballentine and Darnay Holmes to compete. This is a big blow for a secondary that was already thin, to begin with. The Giants can now look to utilize the cap space saved from Nate Solder to sign a free agent cornerback. Veteran Logan Ryan remains on the market and is becoming more attractive now the players are opting out before the Thursday deadline.

However, Beal still has two seasons left on his contract, so it will be pushed one extra year. That means he will be with the Giants until 2022.