John Harbaugh’s fingerprints are already all over the Giants’ roster decisions, but not in the simplest way.
When a new coach walks into a building, there’s always a temptation to clear the decks and lean hard on familiar faces. Harbaugh had plenty of those available in New York, thanks to the large Ravens connection around him.
But the Giants’ inherited players didn’t get shoved aside just because they weren’t part of that Baltimore circle. For the most part, they were given a real chance to prove they belonged.
That mattered immediately for players like Kayvon Thibodeaux and Deonte Banks. It would have been easy for Harbaugh to move on from either one, yet both stayed in the mix and had opportunities to show they fit.
The Giants reportedly turned down a Saints trade offer for Thibodeaux, who is playing on the fifth-year option. Thibodeaux and Banks are expected to come off the bench for now, but both should still see first-team snaps in Week 1.
The team recently listed Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter as co-starters at SAM, while Banks is projected as a rotational cornerback. For both players, the path is clear: produce now, and a bigger payday could follow.
Not every former Harbaugh player was treated as untouchable, either. The Giants signed veteran lineman Daniel Faalele, who spent his first four seasons with Harbaugh in Baltimore, but then traded him to Jacksonville during the preseason.
The backfield has been a different kind of test. Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Cam Skattebo both saw their standing come under scrutiny this summer, even if those questions only really heated up in preseason.
Tracy’s missed block that led to Jaxson Dart being evaluated for a concussion brought immediate attention to his role. Skattebo’s viral backflip split fans, and while Harbaugh and Skattebo have made a point of praising each other, the Giants still added Najee Harris in August.
Harris missed almost all of last season with a torn left Achilles tendon, but he climbed quickly up the depth chart and even got on the field in the final preseason game. He looks positioned to be part of the offensive plan against the Cowboys, and it would not be a surprise if he leads the team in carries.
The interesting part is that the questions around Tracy and Skattebo mostly surfaced during the preseason. There were no credible rumors about either player losing his spot during free agency or after the draft. The only notable running back move before Harris arrived was Devin Singletary restructuring his contract.
So yes, Harbaugh wants his guys. But that doesn’t just mean the Ravens guys. It means the players who fit what he and Joe Schoen are building and the ones who stand out for the right reasons.
That approach will be tested right away. Giants fans will take the mindset if it leads to wins, and the opener won’t be easy: Dallas has won 16 of the last 18 meetings.
In Other News...
Giants Week 1 Depth Chart Just Raised Big Questions Before Cowboys
The Giants unofficial Week 1 depth chart offered an early look at how Brian Dabolls staff plans to line up against the Cowboys, and it came with a few notable wrinkles. Deonte Banks is now listed as a starting cornerback next to Greg Newsome II after moving up the chart, while Chauncey Golston is shown as the starting defensive end with Darius Alexander behind him. Cam Skattebo also appears as the starting running back, with several others stacked behind him, giving the backfield a layered look heading into the opener.
One of the more interesting details is what the Giants left off the chart altogether: there is no primary slot receiver listed, a sign they may rotate multiple players through that role. Depth charts this early can still shift before kickoff, but they can also hint at how a coaching staff sees its personnel after camp and the preseason. For a Giants team trying to settle key spots before facing Dallas, the chart raised as many questions as it answered. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Just Answered A Growing Concern On Their Defensive Line
The Giants added some needed experience up front by signing veteran defensive tackle Dean Lowry, a 32-year-old who has spent time with both the Packers and Steelers. He is expected to begin on the practice squad, but the move gives New York another seasoned body in a defensive line group that has been looking for more reliable depth and a steadier presence around the younger tackles.
Lowrys appeal is as much about what he can bring off the field as what he can do on it. The Giants view him as a versatile piece who can help against the run and offer the kind of leadership that can speed up the development of younger players, and in a room that has been under scrutiny, that sort of addition can matter as the season wears on. [Read more 🡒]
John Michael Schmitz Just Got A Quiet Giants Vote Of Confidence
The Giants made a subtle but telling choice at backup center, sticking with Bryan Hudson behind John Michael Schmitz instead of turning to Lucas Patrick. On paper, Patrick offered the more established resume, with more career experience and stronger preseason performance grades, but Hudson brings youth and a cleaner injury history to the job.
For Schmitz, the move reads like a quiet vote of confidence heading into the season. If the team felt uneasy about where the second-year center stands, it could have leaned on Patricks steadier track record. Instead, New York appears comfortable enough to keep the depth chart geared toward Schmitzs continued development. [Read more 🡒]