Expectations were high for DeAndre Baker entering the 2020 season for the NY Giants. After his recent legal troubles, the G-Men could be looking for different answers at the cornerback position. Who should be the starting cornerback for Big Blue opposite James Bradberry?
NY Giants fans should no longer be excited about DeAndre Baker. Because of his questionable behavior, it does not seem likely that he will play this season. Baker turned himself in Saturday morning and is claiming his innocence for whatever he has been accused of.
The case did get interesting when lawyers for both Baker and Quinton Dunbar claimed to have recanted statements from all of the alleged victims involved, but this case might go to trial and if it does Baker will be unlikely to see the field until it’s complete (with the commissioner’s exempt list in play).
I do hope, like most NY Giants fans, that Baker is innocent of everything and he can quickly get back to playing football. Unfortunately, there have also been reports that DeAndre Baker was the only player to not participate in the team’s virtual meetings in the week leading up to the alleged incident.
Joe Judge and his coaching staff need to look ahead and figure out what to do with the rest of their young secondary. Dave Gettleman has drafted four cornerbacks not named DeAndre Baker in the last two drafts. He also used a 3rd-round supplemental draft pick on Sam Beal in 2018.
The G-Men have plenty of options within the third level of the defense. Cornerback is still one of the deepest positions on the roster, although many of the players are young and unproven.
The $30 million guaranteed given to James Bradberry is seeming more and more like a bargain for Big Blue. The former corner from Carolina is a lock to start in Patrick Graham’s defense. Who should be starting on the opposite side of the field in the NY Giants’ base defense?
So here's a more positive thing to look at! Our brand new CB1, James Bradberry, who's missed ONE game over the last three seasons.
— Alex Wilson (@AlexWilsonESM) May 15, 2020
Trying to be positive, I hope you're okay with that! pic.twitter.com/OSxCruocxK
In this article, I will rank the cornerback options for the G-Men opposite Bradberry. The players are ranked based on my opinion of their potential in 2020 and their past play at the cornerback position.
Corey Ballentine:
The Case For Corey Ballentine: The 6th-round pick out of small-school Washburn has the athletic traits to start at outside cornerback in the NFL. The former track star ran a 4.47 40-yard dash and possesses quick-twitch in his feet for a sharp lateral change of direction. To go along with his explosive athleticism, Ballentine has 32-inch arms and plays with a physical demeanor.
The athletic specimen had to overcome a lot of adversity in 2019 from the start. Ballentine was shot and his best friend was killed just hours after being drafted by the NY Giants. Despite experiencing the most trying circumstances imaginable, Ballentine showed flashes as a rookie. He was often asked to play out of position in the slot, but he is better suited to play on the outside.
The Case Against Corey Ballentine: He was overwhelmed at times last season. His 36.6 rating by Pro Football Focus shows he is still getting adjusted to the speed of the NFL. The G-Men allowed 63 out of 81 pass completions for 750 yards and five touchdowns out of the slot last season, and Ballentine spent his fair share of time at the position.
The verdict: Corey Ballentine deserves a chance to compete for the starting job after overcoming so many obstacles during his rookie season. He would be best suited as a reserve cornerback though. He can still contribute on special teams.
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.
Darnay Holmes:
The Case for Darnay Holmes: Darnay Holmes was the most impressive cornerback at the 2020 NFL combine. He was described as “flawless and unbelievable” by Deion Sanders. High praise from Sanders for a cornerback is like a basketball player getting complimented by Michael Jordan.
“I thought that young man from UCLA earlier today, Darnay Holmes, he was something. I thought he was special in what he went through.” — Charles Davis & Deion Sanders rave about Darnay’s combine showing in Indy today. pic.twitter.com/6yMnnV3yMX
— Matt Joye (@mattjoye) March 1, 2020
The well-built corner out of UCLA had eight interceptions for the Bruins and played with consistent effort. He has the toughness necessary to excel in the NFL to go along with his 4.48 40 yard dash time. Holmes has experience playing on the outside and in the slot, which increases his versatility for the G-Men.
The Case Against Darnay Holmes: Holmes might be best suited to play the nickel cornerback position. Despite having experience on the outside, his strength is playing inside against slot receivers. DeAndre Baker was thrown into the fire as a rookie on the outside, and it did not work out so well for him.
The verdict: I do sense that the Giants were very excited to draft one of the top cornerback prospects in the fourth round. I believe he will get a chance to compete for a starting spot opposite Bradberry but will end up playing mostly in nickel packages.
Logan Ryan (free agent):
The Case for Signing Logan Ryan: Logan Ryan has a proven track record of strong cornerback play, coming off a 3-year contract with the Titans. He led all cornerbacks in tackles last season with 81, and the physical corner has experience playing on the inside and outside. Pairing the versatile corner with James Bradberry would give the NY Giants one of the stronger cornerback duos in the NFL.
Ryan is definitely the best cornerback left on the free-agent market. Dre Kirkpatrick is another cornerback that some Big Blue fans have taken a fancy to, but I don’t believe he’d be a big upgrade over the young cornerbacks currently on the roster.
The Case Against Signing Logan Ryan: He reportedly wants a contract similar to his last one, which paid him 10 million per season. He has experience playing in the New England system of defense, but he is better going up against slot receivers. Darnay Holmes was just drafted for that job, and he will be much cheaper.
The verdict: Logan Ryan might be a luxury that the G-Men can’t afford. Without any maneuvering, they don’t currently have the cap space to sign Ryan. He would be the best free-agent option at the position, but the team might be better off giving more reps to their young corners, which can benefit them more long-term.
Julian Love:
The Case for Julian Love: Love is just a good football player. He actually outperformed Jabrill Peppers at strong safety last season, and his excellent football instincts were obvious against the pass and run. Cornerback is Love’s natural position though and he was a Jim Thorpe award finalist as a CB for Notre Dame.
Reminder that Julian Love was the 7th CB on PFF’s Board in 2019, and forced 18 incompletions (90.7 coverage grade) his last year at Notre Dame, 3rd best among eligible cornerbacks in his draft class.
— PFF NY Giants (@PFF_Giants) May 15, 2020
It was a real surprise that the Fighting Irish corner fell to the 4th round in the 2019 NFL draft. In Notre Dame’s semi-final game against Clemson, Love matched up very well against Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross. When he left the game due to injury, the wheels fell off for the Irish and his strong play was sorely missed. Julian is now listed as a cornerback on the Giants’ official website, and that could a position he will excel in.
The Case Against Julian Love: One of the reasons Love was moved to safety is that he lacks the top-end speed of an ideal NFL corner. Patrick Graham might view Love as a versatile chess piece that can be used all over the secondary, and not one of the outside starting cornerbacks.
The verdict: I believe Love is the answer. He should get the first shot at starting cornerback based on his strong play last season and his terrific career at Notre Dame. He lacks top-end speed, but so did Baker, and he was given every opportunity in 2019.
Another possibility for the G-Men is that they use a CB by committee approach. They have so many cornerbacks with different skill sets, they can mix and match depending on matchups.
Love and Beal can play more against the bigger receivers, while Ballentine and Holmes are used against the speedy guys. The secondary is built like a basketball team. The NY Giants have players to cover the point guards and the power forwards of the NFL.