Darnay Holmes isn’t going anywhere.
But he needed to take a pay cut to make sure he would remain a Giant.
The slot cornerback avoided being cut by reworking his contract, a source confirmed.
The 25-year-old, former fourth-round pick had played within the slot for the Giants lately, but he’s projected to be a backup this season.
Big Blue has moved top cornerback Adoree’ Jackson into that spot, with rookie cornerbacks Deonte Banks and Tre Hawkins III on the skin.
Holmes was set for a $2.9 million cap hit this season.
“I’d say everybody we now have straight away has some type of value,” coach Brian Daboll said on Sunday when asked about Holmes. “What that’s, I believe, is various degrees, but I actually have a whole lot of confidence and trust in Darnay. We’ll see how all the pieces plays out.”
Holmes appeared in 15 games for the Giants last yr and had eight passes defensed.
He isn’t known for being great in coverage, but is a sound tackler, which defensive coordinator Wink Martindale values.
Holmes can also be insurance in case Jackson struggles in his latest role or certainly one of the rookies needs to get replaced.
He’s following in the trail of receiver Darius Slayton, who took a pay cut to stay in blue last yr.
Holmes was one major decision the Giants needed to make ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline to trim the roster to 53.
Two other intriguing positions are middle linebacker and wide receiver.
The trade for Isaiah Simmons means one less spot available in the primary group.
As for wide receiver, second-year player Wan’Dale Robinson (ACL surgery) remains to be on the PUP list.
Daboll said they were still having discussions about whether Robinson could be on the initial 53-man roster.
Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, Parris Campbell, Jalin Hyatt and Sterling Shepard are the primary five.
The season-ending torn ACL suffered by undrafted rookie Bryce Ford-Wheaton may lead to veteran Cole Beasley making the team.
Tight end Chris Myarick was placed on season-ending injured reserve after he suffered a broken hand within the preseason finale against the Jets.
Offensive linemen Wyatt Davis and Jack Anderson, and cornerback Zyon Gilbert were waived with injury designations as well. … The Giants won’t need to cope with Kyler Murray in Week 2. ESPN reported that the Cardinals’ quarterback will remain on the PUP list to begin the season, meaning he could be ineligible for the primary 4 games of the season.
