EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- At New York Giants' minicamp on Tuesday, second-round pick Sterling Shepard operated as a first-team wide receiver and third-round pick Darian Thompson worked as a first-team safety.

First-round pick Eli Apple? His role is a bit less clear at this time.

First-round cornerback Eli Apple's progress will be one of the more interesting stories of New York's training camp. Ed Mulholland/USA TODAY Sports

Apple spent Tuesday's practice more or less rotating in and out of the lineup with starting cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Both of them worked some on the outside and some in the slot. (The other starter, Janoris Jenkins, seemed to work almost exclusively on the outside.) When people ask how Apple looks, the appropriate answer right now is, "Like a 20-year-old rookie," which is what he is. He's swimming a bit as he gets acclimated to the NFL game, and he's making mistakes as you would expect.

But Apple's progress will be one of the more interesting stories of training camp. Remember, the Giants didn't set out to take a cornerback with the No. 10 pick. They took Apple because two of their top three choices went No. 8 and No. 9, the other one scared off the entire top 12 with an ill-timed gas mask video, and Apple was the top choice left on their board. So while first-round picks are generally expected to play right away, the Giants don't really have an open spot for Apple.

They could use him in the slot, where they don't have a clear answer right now. Trevin Wade gets the slot corner work when it's not Apple or Rodgers-Cromartie. But Apple isn't experienced in the slot, and it might be a bit unfair to ask him to learn the intricacies of that new spot while also getting up to speed on pro football. That's why the Giants are trying different combinations.

"We want to train a variety of the guys inside," Giants coach Ben McAdoo said. "I think it helps with versatility, and it also helps to teach them the complete picture of the defense. If they can play outside and inside, it helps them understand what the other positions are going through. We have a variety of guys who can do both."

That remains to be seen. Obviously, if Apple is a quick study as a slot corner, that solves a lot of problems and keeps the Giants versatile in their secondary. If he doesn't look good in the slot but looks like he can help on the outside, who knows? Maybe they make a move with Rodgers-Cromartie, who's not in the 2017 plans anyway.

Drafting Apple gave the Giants depth and, ideally, flexibility at a very important position. The details of his first-year role remain to be seen, and depend on what he shows them in the months ahead.