Starting safety job ‘is Dane Belton’s to lose’

The New York Giants selected Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin with the 47th overall pick in this year’s NFL draft with the intention that he would fill the void left by the departure of Xavier McKinney in free agency.

That plan was in place until last week when Nubin was sidelined with a calf injury and replaced by third-year veteran Dane Belton, who is healthy and proving his worth in practices.

Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said on Thursday that Belton is currently the front-runner for the starting safety job next to Jason Pinnock.

Shane Bowen says the safety job is Dane Belton’s to lose while Tyler Nubin has been injured pic.twitter.com/9WGt9ZdmLP

— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) August 1, 2024

Belton has recently said, he believes the job should be his by right, anyway.

“I’m confident in my abilities,” Belton said, via NJ Advance Media. “I feel like I earned the right to play (more last year). . . This year, I’m trying to take the job.”

That aside, Nubin is working hard to get back on the field. He is doing individuals on Thursday.