Breaking down the Giants at CB: Depth chart, camp battles and keys to success entering 2020 training camp

As NFL training camp is only a few weeks away, new head coach Joe Judge is certainly ready to finally get in the building with his players to start evaluating and putting together his roster.

GM Dave Gettleman made some big improvements to the roster on both sides of the ball, which will lead to some heated camp competition.

So over the next few weeks, we’ll look at some of those position groups as well as some key players who will be pivotal in the Giants' success or failure during the 2020 season. Let’s continue with an area that needs to improve on defense for Big Blue this season…

CORNERBACKS DEPTH CHART (in order)

- LCB: DeAndre Baker, Sam Beal, Montre Hartage
- RCB: James Bradberry (FA addition), Corey Ballentine, Chris Williamson (rookie)
- SLOT: Grant Haley, Darnay Holmes (rookie)

2019 REVIEW

Gettleman knew that his secondary needed some fixing after 2018, and he made a pretty bold move by trading back into the first round after already having two picks and selecting Georgia CB DeAndre Baker at No. 30 overall. Baker (whose future with the Giants is now up in the air due to legal troubles) was a great press corner in college, and the Bulldogs were comfortable leaving him on an island. The Giants, with Janoris Jenkins already on one side, hoped he could bring that play opposite him.

However, (now former) defensive coordinator James Bettcher’s scheme wasn’t a press heavy playbook but rather lots of zones and different coverages that Baker was confused with to start his NFL career. There were busted coverages left and right from the rookie, and he even admitted picking up the playbook was something he had to consistently work on.

Baker did have a strong finish to the season, which was promising. But he wasn’t the only rookie dealing with new life in the NFL. Sam Beal, after sitting out a whole year due to a shoulder injury, made his debut and it wasn’t all positive. He had his rookie moments as did Corey Ballentine whenever he got to play on defense. His main role was as a return man during kickoffs.

And then there was Jenkins, who started the year off fine, but a Twitter exchange with fans that saw him use a derogatory term without a real apology led to Gettleman cutting him. He would end up with the New Orleans Saints shortly thereafter.

It was a young group coming in, and the Giants knew they needed coaching and time to adjust to the league. While some flashes of good coverage came, the Giants allowed 264 passing yards per game. Of course, that isn’t entirely on the corners with safeties and linebackers involved. But it mostly falls on them at the end of the day.

CAMP BATTLE TO WATCH

It’s a curious situation as to what’s going to happen with Baker’s legal battle. Depending on what goes down, Baker might not be a Giant, and that’s a reality that Judge might have to plan for with just two weeks until training camp.

Either way, that other corner spot opposite Bradberry is up for grabs. If Baker is still on the team, he would be at the top of the depth chart and has the advantage. But Beal and even the fourth rounder in Holmes shouldn’t be dismissed as starting options.

Open battles are always fun to watch, and in this training camp with only two preseason games on the schedule at the moment, those camp practices will be extra competitive. There aren’t many open battles on the Giants, so this will be a prime emphasis heading into Week 1.

THREE KEYS TO SUCCESS

Bradberry lives up to the hype: Gettleman knew the Giants needed a new No. 1 corner, and his former second-round pick with the Carolina Panthers was one of the top options on the free agent market. So a $14.5 million per year deal over the next three seasons was inked to fill that void. Now the 27-year-old has to live up to that kind of money, or fans will be angry…really angry. Bradberry has covered top receivers around the league, and he said he has no issue being the top dog. If this unit wants to turn itself around this season, though, Bradberry is a major key in making that happen. He will set the tone.

Young corner takes big leap: No matter if it’s Baker, Beal, Ballentine or a rookie, the Giants need one of their young DBs to step up and take that stride forward. If not, Bradberry won’t be getting a lot of balls thrown his way. Jenkins learned that quickly in 2019, as he wasn’t targeted nearly as much as usual. The production level needs to be somewhat even on each side of the field, so one of these corners will have to show consistency.

Patrick Graham utilizes the depth: The Giants are high on Holmes, who has the ability to play in the slot or outside. That could be very versatile for the secondary. But again, whomever wins that starting corner spot next to Bradberry will have two others waiting right behind him for their opportunity. The Giants invested a few draft picks in making this group solid, so Graham and his assistants will be tasked with tapping into their potential and finding ways to use them.