Secondary is second to none

David Merritt has an inside look at the Giants defensive backfield and the longtime safeties coach is buying into the hype about the newlook secondary, a unit he believes can be the best in the league.

“Yes, I think that is fair to say,’’ Merritt said Tuesday. “I do.’’

The addition of Dominique RodgersCromartie and Walter Thurmond at cornerback makes the Giants deep at that critical position.

“Most depth I have seen since I’ve been here and I have been with Tom [Coughlin] now going on 11 years,’’ Merritt said. “This is the most depth I have seen and I am happy to have all the toys.’’

At safety, there’s Antrel Rolle, who Merritt believes is coming off his best season, and Stevie Brown returning from missing all of 2013 following knee surgery. The Giants signed veteran Quintin Demps for depth and Merritt is impressed with two young players, secondyear Cooper Taylor and rookie Nat Berhe. Merritt calls Berhe “the missile’’ because of his aggressive ways.

Taylor was in for 38 snaps in the 1713 preseasonopening victory over the Bills, and Merritt gave him a negative grade for only one play. It was by far the most extended look on defense for Cooper, who at 6foot4 and 228 pounds is linebackersized and has filled out from his rookie year. “He is definitely more masculine, if I can say that,’’ Merritt said. “He is thicker.’’

The Giants signed 11year veteran Israel Idonije, a defensive end who played nine years for the Bears and last season for the Lions, and tight end Jerome Cun

ningham, who will be in his first professional training camp. The roster spots became available after the Giants waived/injured running back David Wilson and waived defensive end Kendrick

Adams. Wilson cleared waivers and is now on injured reserve. Rookie WR Odell Beckham Jr. (hamstring) sat out again but he looked fluid running and changing direction on the side. … RB Peyton Hillis was forced out with a sprained ankle. … LB Spen

cer Paysinger cleared his concussion protocol and returned to the field.