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John Harbaugh's roster philosophy has influenced the Giants' NFL Draft, steering them towards a more aggressive and physical team identity. The Giants focused on selecting bigger, heavy-handed players to compete effectively in the NFC East.
Some teams pick players in the NFL Draft like theyâre throwing darts. The Giants have been one of them under GMs Dave Gettleman and Joe Schoen.
But John Harbaugh refreshingly brought a defined roster philosophy to this weekendâs process that guided the Giants in a specific direction toward a clear identity of being a bigger, more physical, more aggressive and in-your-face team.
âItâs definitely a priority, and itâs important,â Harbaugh said Friday after the Giants wrapped up their seven-pick draft class. âThe fact that theyâre bigger, heavy-handed type guys is important. Especially in this division, youâve got to play that way.â
Especially in the NFC East.
âLook at the size of the players theyâre drafting,â a league source noted.
Linebacker Arvell Reese is 6-4, 243 pounds. Right tackle Francis Mauigoa is 6-6, 329 pounds. Wide receiver Malachi Fields is 6-4, 222 pounds. Thatâs on top of free agent signings like 6-3, 300-pound fullback Patrick Ricard, 6-8, 380-pound guard Daniel Faalele and 6-4, 241-pound tight end Isaiah Likely.
Harbaugh said the Giants this weekend had a âclear visionâ for every player they targeted and picked.
He was describing the vision of how the Giants intend to use each player on the field, but he also meant the vision of how those players will help the Giants push around and beat the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders.
Thatâs the goal, right?
He said âyou try to paint a pictureâ of what the team needs to look like. Then itâs about adding players to fit that identity while playing to the talent on the roster, as well.
âYou want to have the type of guys that play the way you want to play, but you want to play the way your guys play, too,â he said.
Harbaugh noted that the Giants recognize their job has only just begun. He said âdefensive tackle is something we have to continue to addressâ given the Giantsâ recent trade of Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Veteran 6-3, 330-pound defensive tackle D.J. Reader could end up signing in the coming days on the interior.
Harbaugh also pointed out that the Giants always have the ability to continuously âchurn the roster,â a reminder for all his players currently in the building that they should be reporting to work every day ready to compete for their spot.
So the process is still early. This rebuild wonât happen overnight. Still, Harbaughâs clear vision for the team he wants, and his ability to put his money where his mouth is on draft weekend to drag the Giants toward that identity, is an encouraging start.
âA bunch of Giants,â Harbaugh said of his first draft class in the Big Apple. âFiguratively and literally.â
Harbaugh said Odell Beckham Jr. âlooked goodâ in his recent Giants workout, and the coach planned to speak with OBJ again Tuesday night.
âIf we do anything it has to make sense for the Giants, it has to make sense for him,â Harbaugh said. âWeâre not decided on that yet. Heâs not decided on that yet.â
The coach also did not come down hard on wideout Malik Nabers at all for his Night 1 criticism of the Giantsâ draft decisions.
âWe donât get too worried about stuff as long as the personâs heart is in the right place,â Harbaugh said. âSay what you think.â
He even said he told Nabers exactly how Reese would fit into the Giantsâ defense, something Nabers had questioned when the team picked him at No. 5 overall.
John Harbaugh introduced a defined roster philosophy that guided the Giants towards selecting bigger and more aggressive players.
The Giants focused on drafting bigger, heavy-handed players to establish a more physical team identity.
Physicality is crucial in the NFC East due to the competitive nature and size of the teams in the division.
The Giants wrapped up their draft with a seven-pick class.
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