After a disappointing 2025 season, the Giants have looked to rebuild their roster, now led by new Head Coach John Harbaugh and an almost entirely new coaching staff. With limited cap space, the Giants have strengthened their weaknesses, implemented a new style of play, but also lost some key contributors. The first thing done this offseason was the release of former captain and linebacker Bobby Okereke.
He has been a key contributor to this Giants defense in past years, but recent injuries, play decline and salary cap issues have led to his release. The Giants have filled this hole by signing former Bears linebacker and two-time Pro Bowl Tremaine Edmunds, who is a reliable veteran that has surpassed 100 tackles in each of his eight seasons.
The Giants also re-signed linebacker Micah McFadden to help out the struggling rush defense. McFadden suffering a foot injury in the team opener and missing the rest of the season was a key part of this struggle, as the Giants re-signed him hoping to get him back to playing like his 2024 self where he led the team with 107 tackles.
After losing star wideout Wan’Dale Robinson this offseason, who had a career year in 2025, surpassing 1,000 yards and stepping up big time for the injured Malik Nabers, many expected the Giants to fulfill this need in the draft.
Instead, the Giants signed tight end Isaiah Likely, who reunited with Harbaugh from Baltimore and was stable in the Ravens tight end room that produced a league-high 18 combined receiving touchdowns and contributed to an offense that was ranked first in the NFL for yards per game in 2024.
The Giants have also brought back former wideouts Gunner Olszewski and Isaiah Hodgins, who had minimal production last year but hope to develop more in this system and step up while Nabers continues to recover from his ACL injury. While many of the moves this free agency are meant to fill gaps in the roster, they are also meant to implement the new style of play that Harbaugh is known for. He has a big emphasis on running the ball.
Another signing that ties into this is another one of Harbaugh’s former Ravens, fullback Patrick Ricard, who played a crucial role in the Ravens having the highest rushing yards and yards per carry in NFL history in 2024. The Giants also resigned offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, who played a key part in the Giants being top five in major rushing categories in 2025.
This use of heavy personnel is not only effective for the run game but also for franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart, who is seen as the franchise’s cornerstone after a stellar rookie season and is now given more protection and room to expand his play. Harbaugh is building this Giants roster and implementing his style of play and past success as the team looks to get out of this rough stretch and make a playoff push.
