Roster cuts: Giants cut CB Darnay Holmes

The New York Giants are cutting cornerback Darnay Holmes, per reports on Tuesday morning.

The move doesn’t come as much surprise following the events of Saturday’s preseason game against the New York Jets. Holmes was started the game and was active late into the fourth quarter, playing 53 total snaps on defense. He finished the game with five total tackles and a pass defensed, but will remembered for a bad missed tackle on Jets running back Israel Abanikanda. He wasn’t the only Giant to miss Abanikanda on his 45-yard touchdown run, with also-released Darrian Beavers whiffing as well.

Holmes also left that game with a neck injury.

As a vested veteran with four accrued NFL seasons, Holmes will become a free agent.

The Giants originally drafted Holmes out of UCLA in the fourth round (110th overall) if the 2020 NFL Draft. He started five games in his rookie season, coming up with 30 tackles, 5 passes defensed, and an interception. His best year, however, was in 2022 when he set career-highs with 572 defensive snaps, 38 total tackles, and 8 passes defensed. That year he also allowed a career best 61.2 completion percentage.

He fell off badly in 2023, playing just 123 snaps and allowing 75 percent completion. Despite that, the Giants re-signed Holmes to a one-year, $2 million contract in the spring of 2024 to add depth to a very young secondary.

The Giants came into training camp and preseason with questions at cornerback, but it’s now clear that Holmes was not going to be among the possible answers.