Pat Leonard: John Harbaugh's roster philosophy guides Giants' NFL draft in clear direction

Pat Leonard, New York Daily News on Apr 25, 2026

Published in Football

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NEW YORK — Some teams pick players in the NFL draft like they’re throwing darts. The Giants have been one of them under GMs Dave Gettleman and Joe Schoen.

But John Harbaugh refreshingly brought a defined roster philosophy to this weekend’s process that guided the Giants in a specific direction toward a clear identity of being a bigger, more physical, more aggressive and in-your-face team.

“It’s definitely a priority, and it’s important,” Harbaugh said after the Giants wrapped up their seven-pick draft class. “The fact that they’re bigger, heavy-handed type guys is important. Especially in this division, you’ve got to play that way.”

Especially in the NFC East.

“Look at the size of the players they’re drafting,” a league source noted.

Linebacker Arvell Reese is 6-4, 243 pounds. Right tackle Francis Mauigoa is 6-6, 329 pounds. Wide receiver Malachi Fields is 6-4, 222 pounds. That’s on top of free agent signings like 6-3, 300-pound fullback Patrick Ricard, 6-8, 380-pound guard Daniel Faalele and 6-4, 241-pound tight end Isaiah Likely.

Harbaugh said the Giants this weekend had a “clear vision” for every player they targeted and picked.

He was describing the vision of how the Giants intend to use each player on the field, but he also meant the vision of how those players will help the Giants push around and beat the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders.

That’s the goal, right?

He said “you try to paint a picture” of what the team needs to look like. Then it’s about adding players to fit that identity while playing to the talent on the roster, as well.

“You want to have the type of guys that play the way you want to play, but you want to play the way your guys play, too,” he said.

Harbaugh noted that the Giants recognize their job has only just begun. He said “defensive tackle is something we have to continue to address” given the Giants’ recent trade of Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Veteran 6-3, 330-pound defensive tackle D.J. Reader could end up signing in the coming days on the interior.

Harbaugh also pointed out that the Giants always have the ability to continuously “churn the roster,” a reminder for all his players currently in the building that they should be reporting to work every day ready to compete for their spot.

So the process is still early. This rebuild won’t happen overnight. Still, Harbaugh’s clear vision for the team he wants, and his ability to put his money where his mouth is on draft weekend to drag the Giants toward that identity, is an encouraging start.

“A bunch of Giants,” Harbaugh said of his first draft class in the Big Apple. “Figuratively and literally.”

OBJ on deck, Nabers gets grace

Harbaugh said Odell Beckham Jr. “looked good” in his recent Giants workout, and the coach planned to speak with OBJ again Tuesday night.

“If we do anything it has to make sense for the Giants, it has to make sense for him,” Harbaugh said. “We’re not decided on that yet. He’s not decided on that yet.”

The coach also did not come down hard on wideout Malik Nabers at all for his Night 1 criticism of the Giants’ draft decisions.

“We don’t get too worried about stuff as long as the person’s heart is in the right place,” Harbaugh said. “Say what you think.”

He even said he told Nabers exactly how Reese would fit into the Giants’ defense, something Nabers had questioned when the team picked him at No. 5 overall.