The Giants’ cornerback situation was messy enough with DeAndre Baker on the Commissioner’s exempt list. Now with Sam Beal opting out for the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, things are much, much worse.

The only cornerback they know they can count on is James Bradberry, the prize of their free agent class who signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract back in March. There’s no doubt he’s the Giants’ No. 1 corner. The problem is, Baker and Beal were supposed to be 2 and 3.

Now what? Good question. The Giants’ roster is thin and their options are very limited. But here’s a quick look at where they might have to turn for help.

Free agent Logan Ryan

The one-time Patriot is still a free agent after spending the last three seasons in Tennessee. The Rutgers product is 29 and coming off a decent season with the Titans – with four interceptions and career-highs in tackles (113), sacks (4 ½), and passes defensed (18). So why isn’t he signed? Everyone seems to agree it’s his price tag. He was reportedly seeking $10 million per year, which might be why the Jets shied away from him after some interest. He’ll never get that now. But after clearing an extra $16.4 million in cap space when tackle Nate Solder opted out, the Giants can afford to give him something.

Darnay Holmes

The fourth-round pick figured to have a chance to make his mark as the slot cornerback this season, but now he might have to do it very quickly. Scouts seem to think that’s the best place for the shifty, 5-10, 192-pounder. He could eventually be a starter on the outside, but it would seem to be a risk to ask him to do that right away.

Grant Haley

He’s made 12 starts in two seasons with the Giants and he can get the job done – especially in run support. His pass defense ability, though, makes the 5-9, 190-pounder more suited to being a key reserve who can fill in when needed but won’t hold up against the NFL’s best receivers week after week. If he’s one of the top three corners, the Giants can probably get by. But if he’s one of the two starters, that’s a red flag.

Corey Ballentine

The sixth-round pick was exposed as a slot corner last year and had a shaky rookie season. He’s probably better suited to the outside, and might have gotten a chance to prove it with a strong camp or preseason. Without that, though, he won’t get the first shot at a top three job. He could be next in line, though.

Safety Julian Love

There is no indication the Giants plan to convert him back to corner, but they do have Jabrill Peppers and rookie Xavier McKinney in the starting spots now. Switching Love’s position would leave them with little depth at safety beyond Sean Chandler and perhaps Nate Ebner, though he is almost exclusively a special teamer. It’s not ideal because Love started to play well late last season and the Giants moved him to safety because they believed that’s his best position. But it is still a possibility.

Free agent Dre Kirkpatrick

He’s 30 and each of the last two seasons ended with him on injured reserve – with a shoulder injury in 2018 and a knee injury after six games last year. That doesn’t bode well for his future, especially since his play was declining, too. He’d be a desperation veteran who could be plugged right in and wouldn’t cost much, but that’s about it.

Free agent Mo Claiborne

The former sixth-overall pick (2012) played reasonably well in two seasons with the Jets, though injuries were an issue. But last year, with the Chiefs, he was a disaster. He was suspended for four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, then didn’t do much in eight games (one start) before spending the Super Bowl run on the inactive list. He’s 30 and this would be another desperation play.

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