Nat Berhe Should Get Shot To Win New York Giants' Safety Job

The New York Giants drafted Nat Berhe with the first of two fifth-round picks in 2014 and they expected him to play an important role last year. A calf injury derailed those plans as Berhe was placed on injured reserve, but the Giants are entering 2016 counting on Berhe to realize the potential they have seen in him.

At San Diego State, Berhe was a very versatile player. He played a hybrid safety/linebacker position at times while occasionally lining up as a slot corner. He is a physical safety who doesn’t shy from contact and uses good instinct to get into position and make up for a lack of blazing speed. As Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese called him after they drafted him, he is a “football player” which is high praise.

Berhe figures to get a shot at the Giants’ starting free safety job. Bennett Jackson, another young player the Giants’ coaching staff is high on who is coming off a torn ACL, should be his main competition. Regardless of who wins, both figure to see significant playing time. Berhe’s versatility should allow Steve Spagnuolo to use Berhe in different sets all over the field.

Obviously the Giants won’t hand Berhe the job. Their faith in Jackson might be just as high as it is in Berhe, but the Giants’ faith in both players has led them to forgo bringing in veteran help at safety as of now. Even if a veteran is brought in, Berhe and Jackson will see plenty of playing time as long as they are healthy.

Berhe has worked extremely hard this offseason, posting video of his workouts on social media. Nobody can question his dedication and there is a good chance he puts it all together in camp and wins the starting safety job. The Giants will, and should, give him every opportunity to do so.