In Giants free agency, John Harbaugh super-sizes the offense and Ravens head north

The New York Giants were busy on the first two days of the free agency, as new coach John Harbaugh put his imprint on a roster that has won seven games combined over the past two seasons. Not surprisingly, that has meant a trail of players following Harbaugh from Baltimore to New York. But Harbaugh’s arrival hasn’t caused a complete housecleaning, as a handful of Giants have been re-signed.

Here’s a closer look at the moves the Giants have made in Harbaugh’s first reshaping of the roster:

Likely a new identity on offense

Less than an hour into the free agency negotiating period, the Giants came to an agreement with former Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely on a three-year, $40 million contract. The Likely addition signals a clear shift in the Giants’ approach. They are essentially using the 6-foot-4, 245-pound Likely to replace the 5-foot-8, 185-pound Wan’Dale Robinson as the team’s slot receiver.

It’s obviously not a player-for-player swap, as Likely is a tight end who can take some snaps in-line and Robinson is a wide receiver who can align outside. But both players primarily line up in the slot, so the Giants will become much more of a 12 personnel (2 TE, 2 WR) offense.

The Giants used 11 personnel (1 TE, 3 WR) on 61 percent of their snaps last season, which was the 14th-highest rate in the league. And that number was reduced by injuries at wide receiver; the Giants used 11 personnel on 73 percent of their snaps in 2024.

By comparison, the Ravens used 11 personnel on an NFL-low 30 percent of their snaps last season. The Giants (33 percent) and Ravens (36 percent) ranked in the top six in 12 personnel usage in 2025. But again, last season was an outlier for the Giants after they lost No. 1 wide receiver Malik Nabers to a knee injury in Week 4 and had no viable replacement. They used 12 personnel on just 19 percent of their snaps from 2022 to 2024.

Likely isn’t a force as a run blocker, but his ability to line up at tight end with Theo Johnson adds more versatility to the offense. There’s obviously a tradeoff in receiving production from Robinson to Likely to this point in their careers. Likely, who split time with Ravens No. 1 tight end Mark Andrews throughout his career, had 27 catches for 307 yards and one touchdown last season. Likely set career-highs with 42 catches for 477 yards and six touchdowns in 2024. Robinson broke out with 92 catches for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns last season as the Giants’ top receiving option.

There’s a premium placed on that production, as Robinson agreed to a four-year, $70 million contract with the Titans. Likely’s average annual salary will be $4.2 million lower.

The Giants are also making a bet on the Likely’s upside. The 25-year-old averaged 3.3 catches for 48.7 yards and 0.7 touchdowns in the 10 games Andrews missed over the past four seasons. That’s a significant jump from his averages of 1.9 catches for 21.7 yards and 0.2 touchdowns in 58 games with Andrews in the lineup.

The super-sizing of the offense continued with the agreement to sign longtime Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard on Tuesday. The two-year contract is worth $7.6 million to make Ricard the highest-paid fullback in the league, according to a league source. The 6-foot-3, 300-pounder lines up in the backfield and at tight end, adding more flexibility to the Giants’ offensive attack.

Daniel Bellinger, who had been the No. 2 tight end behind Johnson, agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract with the Titans. The Giants re-signed No. 3 tight end Chris Manhertz to a one-year contract (likely worth the veteran minimum). Manhertz has 30 catches in 10 seasons, so there’s no ambiguity about his role — he is viewed as an elite blocker, with his special teams role and leadership adding value.

Even as the Giants pivot to more of a tight end-heavy offense, they’ll need to bolster their receiver corps. The top of the depth chart right now is Nabers, who is in the middle stages of a lengthy rehab from a torn ACL and meniscus, and Darius Slayton, who is coming off a disappointing season.

The Giants have re-signed Isaiah Hodgins and Gunner Olszewski to one-year contracts to set a baseline for depth. Olszewski’s return ability gives him the inside track to a roster spot, but he has 25 catches in six NFL seasons, so he’s not a viable receiving threat. Hodgins gives the Giants a reliable backup, but they should be striving to find an upgrade. Ideally, Hodgins would land on the practice squad as the type of veteran insurance policy that was lacking after Nabers went down last season.

How the O-line stacks up after AVT got away

The Giants had to re-sign right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor to prevent their offensive line from regressing. Getting him on a three-year, $39 million contract is a steal considering that makes him the 16th-highest paid right tackle in the league.

The Giants cycled through so many bad right tackles since Kareem McKenzie’s retirement after the 2011 season. Then Eluemunor provided stability the past two seasons on a two-year, $14 million contract. The expectation was that Eluemunor’s valued pass-protection skills would drive up his price, but the well-traveled 31-year-old didn’t have the type of market he was seeking. That made it an easy call for the Giants to keep Eluemunor as they focus on fostering young quarterback Jaxson Dart’s development.

The savings from Eluemunor could have been directed to an upgrade at right guard, but the Giants had yet to make any other offensive-line signings as of Tuesday night. The Giants reportedly heavily pursued Alijah Vera-Tucker, but he agreed to sign a three-year, $42 million contract with the Patriots late Monday night.

Vera-Tucker securing such a large payday despite a significant injury history seemed to cause the guard market to stall. Some of the top guards — Wyatt Teller, Dylan Parham, Kevin Zeitler — were still available as of Tuesday night. Greg Van Roten, who has played every snap at right guard for the Giants the past two seasons, and Daniel Faalele, who played nearly every snap at right guard for the Ravens the past two seasons, are more affordable options with familiarity.

It will be interesting to see where 2025 fifth-round pick Marcus Mbow fits. He may just be cast as a quality swing tackle behind Eluemunor and left tackle Andrew Thomas, who has a lengthy injury history. But with the starting tackles locked in for at least the next two seasons, the Giants have the freedom to experiment with Mbow at an interior spot this offseason. Mbow could compete to start at right guard or center based on the uncertainty at those positions.

The Giants’ interior depth took a hit when backup center Austin Schlottmann agreed to sign with the Titans on a two-year contract worth a maximum of $9 million on Monday. Schlottmann played well in four starts in place of John Michael Schmitz last season.

Edmunds and McFadden at ILB — Sonny Styles next?

The three-year, $36 million contract the Giants agreed to with inside linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is closer to the top of the market than was projected. Devin Lloyd, who broke out with an All-Pro season in Jacksonville, set the market with a three-year, $45 million contract from the Panthers. (Amazingly, Edmunds has been in the NFL for four more seasons than Lloyd despite both being 27 years old.)

The Bears cut Edmunds last week to create $15 million in cap savings. They then signed Devin Bush to a three-year, $30 million contract as a replacement. The Giants made a similar swap, cutting Bobby Okerere to create $9 million in cap savings before landing Edmunds. Edmunds should fill the leadership void created by Okereke, who was a captain during each of his three seasons in New York.

“Great dude, good in the locker room,” an assistant coach who has worked with Edmunds told The Athletic. “Quiet guy and doesn’t talk a lot, but when he talks, guys listen. Good culture piece to build around. Long and still can run, but limited change of direction.”

There were linebacker bargains available on Day 2 of free agency. The Saints reportedly agreed to sign Kaden Elliss to a three-year, $33 million contract, while the Commanders reportedly agreed to sign Leo Chenal to a three-year, $24.75 million contract.

The Giants brought back inside linebacker Micah McFadden on a one-year contract reportedly worth $3.75 million with another $2 million available in unspecified incentives. Re-signing McFadden was an obvious move; his market was depressed by the Lisfranc foot injury he suffered in last season’s opener. Forced to settle for a prove-it deal to rebuild his value, it made sense for McFadden to remain in a familiar setting.

Keeping McFadden on a cheap contract gives the Giants flexibility. They know he’s capable of starting next to Edmunds, but they can still pursue an upgrade. McFadden’s one-year contract will have no impact on the team’s desire to potentially take Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles with the No. 5 pick. If the Giants do take Styles, they’d be able to put the dynamic rookie next to Edmunds and have McFadden as a quality backup/special teamer.

Newsome in, Flott out, and more secondary questions

The Giants’ most notable addition Tuesday was cornerback Greg Newsome, who agreed to a one-year contract reportedly worth $8 million (with another $2 million available in unspecified incentives). That’s a prove-it deal for the 25-year-old whose career trajectory is heading in the wrong direction. Newsome played on the $14.4 million fifth-year option last season, which was picked up by the Browns before the 2024 season.

A first-round pick by the Browns in 2021, Newsome was a starter for his first three seasons. He was demoted to No. 3 corner early in the 2024 season and then was dealt along with a sixth-round pick to the Jaguars for cornerback Tyson Campbell and a seventh-round pick at last season’s trade deadline. The change in scenery didn’t benefit Newsome, who struggled while splitting snaps in Jacksonville.

Newsome split time between perimeter corner and the slot for his first four seasons before shifting outside exclusively last season. The Giants have a glaring hole at the outside corner spot opposite Paulson Adebo, so Newsome is penciled into that spot. But his versatility could give them options if they add another corner in free agency or the draft. Newsome is at his best playing zone coverage, so that will fit with new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson’s scheme.

Newsome replaces Cor’Dale Flott, who agreed to a three-year, $45 million contract with the Titans. The Giants wanted to retain Flott, but the Titans lured the 24-year-old away with a stronger offer.

The Giants also re-signed Art Green, a special teams standout who provides depth at corner. The special teams took a hit on Monday when safety Dane Belton agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract with the Jets. Belton developed into a special-teams ace and had an uncanny nose for the ball (six interceptions, four forced fumbles, four recoveries) as a part-time defensive player during his four seasons. Belton was inconsistent when he got opportunities as an every-down safety, but he is seeking more playing time on defense.

The Giants agreed to sign Ar’Darius Washington to a one-year, $3 million contract to replace Belton as the third safety. Washington spent his first five seasons playing for Harbaugh in Baltimore. The 5-foot-8, 180-pounder hits hard for his size and performed well while starting 10 games in 2024. But his career has otherwise been plagued by injuries, and he was limited to four games last season after tearing his Achilles in the offseason. The Giants still could stand to upgrade on Tyler Nubin at a starting safety spot.

A special-teams investment

It’s not a surprise that Harbaugh is overhauling the Giants’ specialists based on his roots. Kicker Graham Gano, who has battled injuries the past three seasons, and punter Jamie Gillan, who had a dreadful 2025 season, are out. They have been replaced by former Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders and former Ravens punter Jordan Stout.

The Giants reportedly agreed to sign Sanders to a one-year contract (the financial details haven’t been reported yet). The Dolphins released Sanders last week to create $3.9 million cap savings after the 30-year-old missed last season with a hip injury. Sanders didn’t miss a game in his first seven seasons, making the sixth-most field goals in the NFL from 2018 to 2024. He made 90.2 percent of his field goals in 2024, including 12-of-14 from 50-plus yards.

The expected release of Gano will create $4.5 million in cap savings. The Giants already have Ben Sauls under contract. An undrafted rookie signed midway through last season, Sauls went 8-for-8 on field goals over the final three games. Depending on the financial commitment to Sanders, the Giants could hold an open kicking competition during the offseason.

Stout is yet another Raven migrating to New York. The Giants will reportedly sign him to a three-year, $12.3 million contract that will make him the highest-paid punter in the league. A fourth-round pick by the Ravens in 2022, Stout excelled in his contract year, leading the NFL in net punt average to earn an All-Pro selection. Gillan flopped in the first year of a three-year, $9 million extension. Cutting him leaves $2.1 million in dead money while creating just $1.2 million in cap savings.