John Harbaugh is heading to the Big Apple, and with that, the New York Giants are officially entering a new era-again. Harbaugh becomes the team’s third head coach since 2020, taking over a franchise that’s been searching for stability and relevance for much of the past decade.
With just two playoff appearances since 2010 and a string of top-five draft picks in recent years, the task ahead is massive. But if there’s a coach with the pedigree and presence to command a turnaround, it’s Harbaugh.
The first big questions now shift to what Harbaugh’s staff will look like and how he plans to reshape this roster. And while the Giants have plenty of holes to fill, one area that clearly needs immediate attention is the secondary.
That’s where Marlon Humphrey enters the conversation.
The veteran cornerback has been one of the league’s top defensive backs during his time in Baltimore, and while bringing him to New York would require a trade, the connection to Harbaugh makes the move feel more than plausible-it feels logical. The Giants need a steady presence in the back end of their defense, and Humphrey, despite a down year, still brings leadership, toughness, and a physical edge that this secondary sorely lacks.
Let’s be honest: the Giants' pass defense was a liability all season. Their pass rush got home consistently, but it often didn’t matter because the coverage couldn’t hold up.
That disconnect turned what could’ve been a solid unit into one of the league’s worst defenses. Some of that blame falls on a defensive coordinator who’s no longer in the building, but the personnel issues are real-and they’re urgent.
Deonte Banks, a promising young corner, looked lost at times. Jevon Holland and Paulson Adebo both struggled through rough first seasons in New York.
There’s talent in the room, but it’s raw and in need of direction. That’s exactly what a veteran like Humphrey could provide.
Yes, the numbers last season weren’t pretty. His Pro Football Focus grade of 49.9 ranked 105th out of 114 qualified cornerbacks, and his coverage grade (42.9) was near the bottom of the league.
But context matters. The Ravens’ defense as a whole regressed, and Humphrey was coming off injuries and inconsistencies that clearly impacted his play.
Still, his 78.9 run defense grade ranked ninth among corners, showing he hasn’t lost his physicality or willingness to get involved in the trenches.
At 29, Humphrey may not be the All-Pro lockdown corner he once was, but he’s still a valuable piece-especially for a team trying to build a defensive identity. And with his stock lower than it’s been in years, the Giants wouldn’t have to give up a war chest to get him. That’s the kind of calculated risk that makes sense for a team in transition.
Harbaugh knows what it takes to build a winning culture. He’s done it before, and now he has a chance to do it again in one of the most demanding markets in football. If he wants to bring in players who know his system, understand his expectations, and can help accelerate the culture shift, Humphrey fits that mold.
The Giants don’t just need talent-they need tone-setters. And if Harbaugh believes Humphrey can still play at a high level, don’t be surprised if he’s wearing blue next season.