The New York Giants have seen some incredible highs and some abysmal lows. Over the last 10 years, they’ve been the second-losingest team in the NFL. Four head coaches, two interim head coaches, and a 55-109-1 record have left fans extremely disappointed.
New York has turned the page once again, and the culture shift is already showing. Under new head coach John Harbaugh, calculated decisions are being made. After a strong offseason of free agent signings and an even stronger draft, here’s why the Giants are making smart roster moves.
The Giants signed former Baltimore Ravens offensive guard Daniel Faalele earlier in the offseason. He started all 17 games in each of the last two seasons under Harbaugh, and seemingly followed his coach to New York.
There was no guarantee that Faalele would make New York’s roster in 2026. It was all but certain he wouldn’t land the starting job either. Veteran Jon Runyan and 2026 10th overall draft pick Francis Mauigoa seem to have that locked down.
In the past, the Giants may have held onto a player like Faalele. If he had failed to make the roster, they would’ve just cut him loose and allowed another team to sign him. They instead traded him to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2027 sixth-round draft pick.
A sixth-round pick may not seem like much, and in a vacuum, it isn’t. When you consider the factors, though, this is a smart move. Trade Faalele now instead of cutting him, and gain a lottery ticket in next year’s draft.
The Giants just turned a one-year rental into a four-year guarantee. This gives Harbaugh the chance to develop a late-round player into a solid backup or a surprising starter. There is also the option to include this pick in a trade package next year, if the opportunity arrives.
Najee Harris’ career has been a mixed bag. Since being drafted in 2021, he has spent four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the Los Angeles Chargers. In his time with the former, he recorded four straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
Harris’ time in LA was doomed from the start. He missed training camp with an eye injury sustained during the Fourth of July. He then suffered a torn Achilles just three games into the 2025 season. He was released following the season, and now joins Big Blue.
The reason for Harris’ signing can be debated. New York’s third-year back, Tyrone Tracy, struggled in the preseason opener, and Dante “Turbo” Miller was waived following a groin injury. The team also released wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster following the signing.
No matter what the reason was for the Giants signing Harris, it’s a smart move. Before his tumultuous 2025 season, he started all 68 games for Pittsburgh and accrued 1,097 carries in those four years. He won’t start over Cam Skattebo, but he provides terrific depth to the backfield.
If Harris makes the roster, he could find himself as the Giants’ RB3. Devin Singletary is under a one-year, $1.3 million contract and is the same age as Harris, 28 years old. Harris was a starting back just two years ago. If he can find that same form and earn a roster spot, he’ll create stiffer competition for the other rushers.
Trading a guard on the roster bubble and signing a running back coming off an Achilles tear may seem small. The moves themselves aren’t big; the implications of them are.
The Giants didn’t wait for Faalele to be cut; they traded him for a shot at a younger player. When Miller went down with an injury, they didn’t waste time in finding a veteran replacement.
Releasing Smith-Schuster was a process of elimination. The receiver suffered a knee injury in training camp and missed the preseason opener. While injuries are unfortunate and uncontrollable, it took him out of contention for a roster spot.
Harbaugh is setting a standard in New York. Harris brings power to the run game, something the Giants are prioritizing in the new era. He not only brings depth, but competition for both Singletary and Tracy. Every player needs to earn their spot, and Harbaugh is looking to the future.
The Giants have multiple roster battles going on right now. The receiver room is packed, the kicker competition is far from over, and the cornerbacks are vying for a starting job. If a trade is beneficial, it will happen. An injury can cause a player to lose their shot. There is no easy path to a future in New York.
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