The Giants’ Harbaugh-esque draft leans toward big, physical players

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — Here’s how John Harbaugh felt about the first draft with John Harbaugh as head coach of the New York Giants:

• They drafted a physical player at linebacker Bill Rees No. 5 overall. He’s 20 years old, 6-foot-4, 241 pounds, runs a 4.46-second 40-yard dash and describes his own game as “violent.”

• They nabbed a massive 6-5, 329-pound road-grading offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa With their second pick, No. 10 overall.

• The cornerback they selected early in Round 2 at No. 37, Colton HoodHarbaugh is called a “pit bull” because of the way he plays and competes.

• Third round pick Malachi field A big-bodied pass catcher at 6-4, 223 pounds, who general manager Joe Schoen said could be their “power forward” in the wide receiver room. Fields said he prides himself on his blocking, and it’s one of his strengths.

It’s a draft haul that feels Harbaugh’s influence. And that doesn’t even account for three sixth-round selections who followed the same trend — a huge nose tackle in Bobby Jamison-TravisAnother physical offensive lineman in Jesse Davis And Jack KellyWhat Scouts Inc. called “a densely built linebacker.”

It was the latest move for Harbaugh to rebuild the roster this offseason with bigger and more physical players.

“Definitely a priority,” he said later 2026 draft. “It’s important.”

Harbaugh said New York added a bunch of players this offseason who are literally and figuratively giants. Which is essential for a team that wants to dominate the offense and impose their will on the defense. Not way around.

They are not added yet.

They signed the veteran DL Shelby Harris on Thursday And plan to sign another veteran defensive lineman next week with the idea of ​​bolstering the front. Focus has been 330-lb DJ ReaderWith whom he spent the last two seasons Detroit LionsBut Schoen said after the draft, there may even be a few more visits for some unsigned veterans.

“Definitely on our radar,” he said.

It’s not uncommon for a new coach and regime to want guys who fit their mold. And that has been the case with the Giants so far this offseason. They brought in players that fit what Harbaugh wants to do on the field. It’s a process that could take another full offseason to complete.

But that process continued in this year’s draft. The Giants ran what Harbaugh said was, hyperbolically, a million mock drafts in first-round leadups and none could take Reese at No. 5 pick and Mauigoa at No. 10. It was a pleasant surprise that the Giants would have taken Mauigo with the fifth pick if Reese had been off the board.

The thought is that adding Reese won’t just be an asset as a pass rusher. He will start as an inside, weakside linebacker, helping their run defense with his rare skill and physicality.

Mawigoa, meanwhile, will slide inside right guard where the Giants didn’t have a clear starter last season. He played tackle in college at Miami and will be an immediate force as a run blocker.

The Giants later quipped about landing two of the top five players on their board. Reese was New York’s top non-quarterback in this year’s draft.

“We want guys that fit the way we want to play, and some of these guys, they really fit the way we want to play,” Harbaugh said. “Those big players, tall, heavy-handed type guys are important, because especially in this division, you have to play that way. Your interior offensive line has to be physical. Look at the defensive tackles in this league. Especially down the road.”

Harbaugh was specifically referring to the reigning NFC East champions, Philadelphia EaglesAlong with those are 650 pound interior defensive linemen Jalen Carter And Jordan Davis In the middle he is clearly building a team with them in mind.

Schoen has been Harbaugh’s trusted sidekick throughout the process since then The Giants hired Harbaugh In January, however, that didn’t stop talk around the league about whether Schoen would stay. He is in the final year of his current contract.

But Harbaugh has been complimentary, at least publicly.

“Joe and I are working together every day, I mean, after hours, whether it’s planning or organizing or just talking about players or watching tape over and over on these guys,” Harbaugh said. “I think it turned out pretty well.”

With Harbaugh having more say in the staff than past Giants coaches, they finally seem to have an identity. The draft was the latest step in putting the pieces in place for Harbaugh and his newly installed staff.

“On the surface now, I feel great about it. I don’t think we could have done better,” he said. “I think we made the most of the draft, made the most of the resources we had. I’m really happy with how it went.

I hope Joe feels the same.”