Former UCLA cornerback and 2020 fourth-round pick Darnay Holmes is looking to steal a high spot in the Giants' depth chart after a tough offseason on the group.
DeAndre Baker won't be with the team for the foreseeable future after being charged with four counts of armed robbery earlier this summer, and Sam Beal opted out of the 2020 season due to coronavirus concerns.
That leaves the free agent pickup James Bradberry on one end of the field and Corey Ballentine on the other, but there's not much else on the sidelines awaiting to be subbed in.
"Really just staying devoted to the grind," Holmes said about how depth chart moves motivate him. "I respect everything that is going on around our building. Everybody is following the set standards and really me just abiding by that set standard and having that faith that when the time comes, we are going to be ready for anything that comes our way."
Hoping to make an impact, Holmes has been proving his worth in training camp thus far, including grabbing an interception during practice on Sunday.
"We were in a man situation and I had disciplined eyes and disciplined technique. Being taught proper fundamentals, the plays will come to you," Holmes said.
“I think Darnay has done a good job of learning the speed of the game and adjusting fast. He’s a smart guy, prepares very well. He learns. He’s a guy that can apply lessons not only from his own mistakes but from watching other people," head coach Joe Judge said about Holmes.
Like any rookie, this is Holmes' real first taste of playing against professionals, but that hasn't phased him much since getting drafted because he's got a lot of guys around him helping him adjust and get comfortable.
"The group of guys we have around us – we have a lot of mentors, a lot of veterans, a lot of guys who have been around. I have always been a person that seeks knowledge. By seeking knowledge, you are able to use that and store it and have it around you so you are able to maneuver accordingly," Holmes said.
Even with what he learns from the vets around camp, Holmes still relies on the things that got him to this point.
"Really just trusting your technique and having patience. Really being able to snap it clearly, line back up and have an understanding that you are supposed to be here and trust what you have going on," Holmes said.
We'll see if it all translates to a real NFL game in just a couple of weeks.