Daboll has ‘a lot of confidence’ in DB Flott

There is an opening in the Giants’ starting lineup as a perimeter cornerback to play across from Deonte Banks and it sounds as if there is a favorite to take that spot, at least this early in the process in the spring.

“Look forward to working in phase three and training camp,’’ coach Brian Daboll said Saturday on the second day of rookie minicamp. “But I’ve got a lot of confidence in Flott.’’

That would be Cor’Dale Flott, who is entering his third year with the Giants. Daboll rarely, if ever, unsolicitedly brings up a name of a player when the question is about the depth chart. So, Daboll clearly is high on what Flott can bring to the defense.

Flott, a 2022 third-round pick from LSU, has appeared in 25 games his first two seasons, starting 13. He mostly has played in the slot but now it appears he will be groomed as an outside corner. Other options include Nick McCloud and Tre Hawkins. Rookie Dru Phillips, a third-round pick from Kentucky, could have the inside track as the slot corner.

➤ TE Theo Johnson ,a fourth-round pick from Penn State, said he has “heard stuff’’ regarding Darren Waller’s possible retirement. If Waller is indeed giving up football — that is the strong indication — Johnson has a direct pathway to significant playing time in his first season.

“Not sure what’s gonna happen,’’ Johnson said. “We’ll see how it shakes out.

➤ There are more than 50 players attending this rookie camp on a tryout basis. That is a large group.

“You don’t want anybody to slip through the cracks so you bring in as many people as you can to give them an opportunity,’’ Daboll said. “Maybe you sign one, maybe sign two, maybe you don’t sign any. I think it’s good for those guys to get an opportunity and for us to get eyes on ’em, doing some of our stuff. If there’s someone we think is worth bringing up and signing that’s what we’ll do.’’

Daboll, asked if he can remember a tryout player making a big impact, immediately brought up cornerback Malcolm Butler, who went undrafted and became a starter for the Patriots.

➤ This is not a promising update: CB Aaron Robinson “is still working with the rehab guys,’’ during the voluntary workout program, according to Daboll.

Robinson, a third-round pick in 2021, made it into only 11 games his first two seasons and spent all of 2023 on injured reserve following knee surgery.

➤ Two rookies attending this camp as tryouts are relatives of players on the Giants’ roster. Chaz Neal, a 6-foot-9, 315-pound offensive tackle from Florida A&T, is a cousin of OT Evan Neal. Isaac Hodgins, a defensive tackle from Oregon State, is the younger brother of WR Isaiah Hodgins.