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22 Questions in 22 Days

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22 Questions in 22 Days: State of the secondary

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With the calendar flipped to July, Giants.com asks 22 important questions leading up to the start of the 2022 training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

For 22 days, a member of the Giants.com crew will answer one question about the roster, coaching staff, schedule, and much more.

No. 13: What is the state of the Giants' secondary following departures of some veterans?

Dan Salomone: Joe Schoen was candid when he took over as general manager, saying that "tough decisions" lied ahead due to salary cap restrictions. Nowhere was that more evident than in the secondary. The Giants parted ways with top cornerback and 2020 Pro Bowler James Bradberry and veteran safeties Logan Ryan and Jabrill Peppers, who were both voted captains a season ago. But it's a new era at 1925 Giants Drive.

Safety Xavier McKinney, the only defensive back in the NFL last season with at least 90 tackles, 10 passes defensed and five interceptions, will take on an even larger role as a team leader moving forward. Julian Love, who was going to dye his hair half-blond if McKinney made the Pro Bowl last year, made up the second half of the top tandem for much of spring practices. The Giants also drafted Iowa's Dane Belton, a first-team All-Big Ten selection whose five interceptions last season tied for the second-highest total in the nation, in the fourth round.

At cornerback, everyone moved up a notch following Bradberry's release, starting with his former wingman Adoree' Jackson. The same goes for Darnay Holmes and Aaron Robinson, who both started a few games last season. Cor'Dale Flott, a third-round pick from LSU, will also be in the mix to play a sizable role in his rookie campaign.

All the while, the defensive backs are learning what it's like to play for the blitz-happy Wink Martindale.

"It's just giving us energy," McKinney said. "We're able to go out there and play without worrying about making mistakes, so it's just giving us a lot of freedom to just go play, go attack and be the play-makers that we have on our defense. It's been fun, and we've loved every bit of it."

Take a look at rare photos of New York Giants training camps through the years.

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