Naming Tre Hawkins Iii one of their starting cornerbacks was the easy part for the Giants. 

It was the rookie’s ability to stay there that presented the difficult challenge. 

Like so many of the Giants’ tests this year, Hawkins quickly failed. 

After starting the first three games and playing 88, 63 and 67 percent of the Giants’ defensive snaps, respectively, Hawkins was benched for their embarrassing 24-7 “Monday Night Football” loss to the Seahawks.

He didn’t play a single defensive snap, instead getting seven snaps on special teams — the first time Hawkins played on special teams this year. 

“I’d grade myself a little hard,” Hawkins told The Post. “I don’t think I played too well. I think I did good things on film, but I also got a lot to improve on, a lot to still learn with teams’ tendencies. I have a lot to learn still, I’ve kind of seen that throughout the three games.” 

He has been targeted nine times in coverage this year, allowing eight receptions for 127 yards, one touchdown and a 155.8 passer rating. 

Hawkins emerged as one of the biggest stories of training camp, flying up the depth chart despite being drafted in the sixth round out of Old Dominion in the Sun Belt Conference.

He won a starting job to begin the season, and along with first-round pick Deonte Banks, the Giants planned to have two rookies starting at cornerback. 

Tall with long arms, Hawkins shined throughout the summer and appeared to be perfectly molded for what defensive coordinator Wink Martindale craves in his defensive backs, though much of that success came in practice against the Giants’ anemic offense. 

By starting Hawkins, the Giants moved veteran Adoree’ Jackson to the slot, a new wrinkle they believed would benefit their secondary.

But during Monday night’s loss, they moved Jackson to outside corner for Hawkins and inserted Cor’Dale Flott, who played 55 percent of the defensive snaps, at slot. 

“It was based on who we were playing, in terms of how we were matching the corners and part of the game plan,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “That’s probably going to be a week-to-week discussion as we go through who we’re playing, the matchups, how we want to play them defensively.” 

Though Martindale said he will need to use additional corners because of the heat in Miami when the Giants face the Dolphins on Sunday, Hawkins likely will be on the sideline again the vast majority of the game. 

“It wasn’t nothing too spectacular I was doing [in training camp], I was just trying to compete and get better every day,” Hawkins said. “That’s kind of how I earned the spot and I’m going to continue to do that. 

“I find the positive in everything. When I’ve been watching, I’ve been trying to still learn. Wink told me to make sure I’m learning when I watch, too, so I’ve just tried to learn, letting it go slower. When you’re not in it, your adrenaline is not rushing, I’m kind of just sitting back and learning.”