On Wednesday, New York Giants third-year cornerback Sam Beal informed the team he was opting out of the 2020 season. That immediately put the Giants, once thought to be corner-rich coming into this season, in a tough position to find a pair of starters.
Beal was penciled in as the starter across from free-agent addition James Bradberry after DeAndre Baker was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List at the outset of camp.
The Giants will now pick a starter from a group consisting of Corey Ballentine, Julian Love, Grant Haley, Montre Hartage and 2020 draft choices, Darnay Holmes and Chris Williamson.
The Giants may not be comfortable with any of those players playing on the outside. That could prompt them to keep Love at safety, alongside rookie Xavier McKinney, and move the omni-talented Jabrill Peppers to cornerback.
Peppers, a versatile athlete going back to his high school days in New Jersey and his college career at Michigan, played safety with the Cleveland Browns and last year with the Giants, but has the ability to play corner, also.
Head coach Joe Judge has stressed that he wants players to be able to play more than one position. What better opportunity will he have to prove that than to try Peppers at corner?
Haley has shown he can play the slot, and Ballentine, Love and Holmes are coming to camp to try to displace him. Hartage has experience in this defense, but none of the aforementioned players possess the upside of Peppers.
Will the Giants have the forethought to make this bold move?
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