The first impression Darian Thompson made on the man who will determine if he is ready to play right away was not based on how he looked. Steve Spagnuolo, the Giants’ defensive coordinator, noticed during the rookie minicamp how Thompson sounded.

“He was barking out,” Spagnuolo said. “That’s the first thing I look for in a safety. Will you be loud? Are you not afraid to make a mistake? I think that’s huge, and that stuck out a little bit. We’ve got a long way to go though.”

Sounding like an NFL starter is one thing. Playing like one is something else. Thompson, a third-round draft pick from Boise State, is one of those rookies with a clear path to the field, if he can traverse the potential landmines along the way.

Most first-year players know, or at least suspect, they are destined to fill a backup role, at least until they prove they are worthy of more or a veteran ahead of them on the depth chart falters or gets hurt. The starting free safety spot has no such roadblocks.

The Giants are searching for a companion for Landon Collins in the back end of their defense. They have Nat Berhe, Mykkele Thompson and Bennett Jackson, three youngsters who all missed the entire 2015 season with lower leg injuries. None is assured of anything. That is why Darian Thompson has a shot.

“I heard a little about it,” Thompson said of the situation at free safety. “All I can control is what I can control. It’s a new start for me. A lot of people don’t know me, so I’m trying to put my best foot forward, and whatever happens happens.”

It could happen for Thompson. Collins, a second-round pick from Alabama last year, became the first rookie safety in Giants history to start all 16 games. Collins had his ups and downs and played out of position at free safety — he is more of a natural strong safety. This season, the Giants want Collins to line up where he is more comfortable — hence the need for a starting free safety.

Darian Thompson fits that job description. He is long and rangy at 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds, though he is not considered to have elite speed. He has a nose for the ball and is the Mountain West all-time leader with 19 career interceptions, a record previously held by longtime NFL safety Eric Weddle when he played at Utah.

“Ball-hawk” is the most common description of Thompson’s style.

“There’s a lot of work that goes into it,” he said. “If you have the right study habits and mentality, it can happen. A lot of it comes with instinct and film study. I believe I have that ability, but I have to continue to work to keep it that way.”

As far as the “barking” Spagnuolo noticed and praised, Thompson said that was expected of him at Boise State, and moving teammates around with his words and direction is a responsibility he embraces.

“It is very important for a safety to be able to command in the secondary because they can see everything most of the time,” Thompson said. “They can be a leader back there and a quarterback of the defense. That’s something I’ve been doing throughout the college level, and it comes natural for me. I think it’s something they look for in a safety.”

Berhe is coming off calf surgery and hoping to show the flashes he displayed as a rookie on special teams in 2014 — safeties coach Dave Merritt dubbed him “the Missile” — which could make him a viable option. Mykkele Thompson (Achilles tendon) and Jackson (knee) need to show they are healthy and that they deserve roster spots. Darian Thompson needs to show, well, everything, as he attempts to push his way onto the field.

“I want to show them that they have a very good player with their draft pick,” Thompson said. “I’m ready to get to work and help benefit the team in any way possible.”