Pat Leonard: John Harbaugh’s roster philosophy guides Giants’ NFL draft in clear direction
NEW YORK — Some teams pick players in the NFL draft like they’re 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 weekend’s 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.
“It’s definitely a priority, and it’s important,” Harbaugh said after the Giants wrapped up their seven-pick draft class. “The fact that they’re bigger, heavy-handed type guys is important. Especially in this division, you’ve got to play that way.
” Especially in the NFC East. “Look at the size of the players they’re drafting,” 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. That’s 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 “clear vision” 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. That’s the goal, right?