NFL

Giants’ Hosley looks to step it up

It will be an elevation this season for last year’s first-round pick, David Wilson, who will be the Giants’ starting running back. It also will be an elevation for last year’s second-round pick, Rueben Randle, who will be their third receiver.

The question is whether last year’s third-round pick, Jayron Hosley, can be more as well.

“I think as a whole, with those three, including me, David and Rube I think we’re all ready to take the next step,” Hosley told The Post yesterday. “David’s obviously the starter. Rube is getting a lot of work with the ones. And myself, I feel like we’re all growing. We’re all ready.”

Hosley, the cornerback out of Virginia Tech, enters what will be a telling season for him on multiple fronts.

Cornerback is the Giants’ most pivotal positional group — the team ranked 28th in the NFL last year in passing yards allowed — and Hosley is a key part of the future.

Third-year man Prince Amukamara is one starting cornerback, but this is likely the last year in blue for longtime starter Corey Webster. Unless Terrell Thomas re-establishes himself as a starter (doubtful after back-to-back ACL tears), the Giants will need a new starting corner next season. If Hosley wants to win that spot, he’ll have to play well this year.

Last season, Hosley probably saw more extensive playing time than either Wilson or Randle. He played in 12 games and started six, racking up 37 tackles and an interception.

Hosley, though, wasn’t very effective. According to the site Pro Football Focus, which grades players in every game based on film study, he ranked 111th of 113 among corners who played at least 25 percent of their team’s snaps.

In Hosley’s defense, he was a rookie, and he was also playing the nickel, which he said he had never played before. So far in camp, with Aaron Ross back with the Giants, Hosley is mainly working as the fourth corner.

“I want to get to that point [where teams don’t even throw his way], but at the same time, right now this is my time to make my plays because they’re going to come at me,” Hosley said. “That’s how I establish myself.”

The 5-foot-10, 178-pound Hosley, who’s also in the mix to be the Giants’ punt returner (he had two returns for touchdowns in college), said he has a stronger understanding of the defense this year.

“I just think I’m more comfortable and out there just playing ball instead of thinking about what to do,” he said. “I’m more comfortable in all my assignments and just having fun out there.”