Giants, Ross Cockrell fail to reach contract — report

It looks like cornerback Ross Cockrell is not going to be a member of the New York Giants after all. Newsday’s Tom Rock reported Tuesday evening that the two sides “Couldn’t come to an agreement.”

The Giants need cornerback help with DeAndre Baker on the Commissioner’s Exempt List and Sam Beal having opted out for the 2020 season.

Cockrell, a 2014 fourth-round pick by the Buffalo Bills, was a Giant in 2017 and spent the last two years withe Carolina Panthers. If he had signed, Cockrell likely would have ended up starting opposite James Bradberry for the Giants.

The Giants are thus back to the drawing board in their search for a veteran cornerback. Trumaine Johnson, Logan Ryan and Dre Kirkpatrick are among players available.

As for the current Giants roster, Corey Ballentine might be the likely leader of a young group of cornerbacks who could compete for that spot. The Giants drafted Darnay Holmes in the fourth round and Chris Williamson in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft. They also have former XFL-er Dravon Askew-Henry and undrafted free agent Christian Angulo as options.

The Giants could also consider moving 2019 fourth-round pick Julian Love back to cornerback after he transitioned to safety as a rookie.

Anyway, this just serves as a reminder that a deal isn’t a deal until it’s signed and the team makes it official.