The New York Giants quietly kicked off the John Harbaugh era on Thursday with a small but notable roster move, signing former Steelers defensive tackle DeMarvin Leal to a reserve/futures contract.
Now, while this isn’t the kind of headline-grabbing free agent splash that shakes up the offseason, it does mark a bit of trivia history: Leal becomes the first player signed under Harbaugh’s leadership in New York.
Leal, 25, brings size and experience to the table. At 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, he was a third-round pick by the Steelers in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Over the past four seasons, he’s appeared in 32 games and made six starts, tallying 35 tackles, one sack, and three quarterback hits. It’s not an eye-popping stat line, but it’s the kind of résumé that suggests untapped potential - especially in the right system.
And here’s where things get interesting: Harbaugh, coming over from Baltimore, has had a front-row seat to Leal’s development. As the Ravens' longtime head coach, he’s seen the Steelers twice a year, meaning he’s had plenty of chances to evaluate Leal up close. That familiarity likely played a role in bringing him aboard.
For the Giants, this is a depth move - plain and simple. But it’s also a reminder that roster construction doesn’t stop when the season ends.
These reserve/futures deals are about building the back end of the roster, finding potential contributors, and creating competition heading into camp. You’re not looking for stars here; you’re looking for guys who can step in and fill a role when called upon.
Leal has the physical tools and just enough NFL experience to make him worth a closer look. Whether he sticks through camp and earns a spot on the 53-man roster remains to be seen, but for now, he’s part of the foundation being laid in what promises to be a transformative offseason for the Giants.
The bigger moves - the ones that reshape the roster and define the Harbaugh era - are still to come. But every journey starts somewhere, and for the Giants, it starts with DeMarvin Leal.