Darnay Holmes isn’t going anywhere.
But he had to take a pay cut to ensure 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 in the slot for the Giants in recent years, but he is 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 outside.
Holmes was set for a $2.9 million cap hit this season.
“I’d say everybody we have right now has some sort of value,” coach Brian Daboll said on Sunday when asked about Holmes. “What that is, I think, is varying degrees, but I have a lot of confidence and trust in Darnay. We’ll see how everything plays out.”
Holmes appeared in 15 games for the Giants last year 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 is also insurance in case Jackson struggles in his new role or one of the rookies needs to be replaced.
He’s following in the path of receiver Darius Slayton, who took a pay cut to remain in blue last year.
Holmes was one major decision the Giants had 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 first group.
As for wide receiver, second-year player Wan’Dale Robinson (ACL surgery) is still on the PUP list.
Daboll said they were still having discussions about whether Robinson would be on the initial 53-man roster.
Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, Parris Campbell, Jalin Hyatt and Sterling Shepard are the first five.
The season-ending torn ACL suffered by undrafted rookie Bryce Ford-Wheaton could 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 in 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 have to deal with Kyler Murray in Week 2. ESPN reported that the Cardinals’ quarterback will remain on the PUP list to start the season, meaning he would be ineligible for the first four games of the season.