Who should start at cornerback for the NY Giants with James Bradberry?
By David Solow
Sam Beal:
The Case for Sam Beal: Beal was touted as the best supplemental draft prospect since Josh Gordon. Some scouts had a late first-round grade on the tall and rangy corner from Western Michigan. Beal is a legit 6 foot, has long arms, strong ball skills, and enough athletic upside to start in the NFL.
Other Beal strengths are his ability to make plays on the ball, his physical playstyle, and willingness as a tackler. He comes without baggage off the field (he just fell behind on credits and was at risk of losing eligibility, forcing him to declare for the supplemental draft.) The tall corner got more and more playing time at the end of 2019, rotating in and out with DeAndre Baker, and there wasn’t a drop off when he got on the field.
The Case Against Sam Beal: Beal’s 53.9 PFF rating was high among Big Blue cornerbacks, but still low compared to average NFL cornerbacks in 2019. He allowed 14 receptions in just 20 targets. The supplemental pick out of Western Michigan has had trouble staying healthy during his short career.
The verdict: Sam Beal is a tall corner that could eventually excel on the outside and start for the NY Giants. He has to prove he can stay healthy though. He will get a chance to compete for the job in training camp and he will likely have to make plays on special teams to earn more playing time.