Giants’ CB Sam Beal opts out of 2020 season

New York Giants’ cornerback Sam Beal has opted out of the 2020 NFL season, becoming the third member of the team to do so. Left tackle Nate Solder and wide receiver Da’Mari Scott had previously opted out.

Entering what would have been his third NFL season, Beal was thought to be a potential starter at cornerback opposite James Bradberry with 2019 first-round pick DeAndre Baker on the Commissioner’s Exempt List while facing felony armed robbery charges in Florida.

Beal was a third-round Supplemental Draft selection in 2018. He spent all of that season on IR due to a shoulder injury. Last season, leg injuries limited him to six games.

The Giants now appear to be exceedingly thin at cornerback.

Bradberry, Corey Ballentine, Grant Haley, fourth-round pick Darnay Holmes, former XFL-er Dravon Askew-Henry, seventh-round pick Chris Williamson and rookie undrafted free agents Jarren Williams and Christian Angulo are on the roster. Julian Love and Montre Hartage, previously figured to be in the mix at safety, also have cornerback experience and could be used there.

Perhaps the Giants will also consider free-agent cornerbacks such as Logan Ryan or Dre Kirkpatrick.

The deadline for players to opt out of the 2020 season is Thursday.

NOTE: The Giants also activated linebacker Josiah Tauaefa from the Reserve/COVID-19 list.