John Harbaugh is wasting no time putting his own stamp on the New York Giants, at least based on the team “seriously looking at” a specific position group featuring a Super Bowl winner, ahead of 2026 NFL free agency.
That’s according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, who reported from the annual Scouting Combine on Friday, February 27. Raanan revealed “Something you hear about Giants at combine: They’re seriously looking at some of the top running backs, both in draft + free agency. Players like Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, Travis Etienne and Kenneth Walker. There seems to be a clear focus on becoming a more physical run-heavy team.”
The last line about remaking the Giants into “a more physical run-heavy team” is classic Harbaugh. It’s lifted directly from his 18 seasons in charge of the Baltimore Ravens, during which Harbaugh’s team often attacked with power on the ground.
If the Giants are going to do the same, then they should zero in on the biggest name on Raanan’s list, Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III. The Seattle Seahawks star won’t get the franchise tag and is headed to the veteran market, so he’s somebody Harbaugh and Giants general manager Joe Schoen can make an offer.
Signing Walker would be a major coup for Harbaugh and Schoen, but their focus on landing a marquee running back raises questions about how this regime views two young playmakers on the depth chart.
Kenneth Walker III a Major Prize in Free Agency
Being able to put Walker into a Giants uniform would be close to the perfect way for Harbaugh to kickstart a new era for the franchise. One more closely resembling the franchise’s glorious past.
The Giants have a long and storied history of being powered by elite running backs. Players like Joe Morris, Ottis Anderson, Rodney Hampton, Tiki Barber, Brandon Jacobs and, yes, even Saquon Barkley, were all members of this tradition.
Walker is not a power-back like many of the names on this list, but he’s patience personified. A clever, stop-start and zone-style runner who can produce a breakaway run at any moment.
The 25-year-old used the Super Bowl to give an ample demonstration of those skills. Walker cut through the New England Patriots for 135 yards on 27 carries.
Most of those yards were gained on cutback runs, highlighting Walker’s elusiveness and acceleration.
Adding these talents to their offense wouldn’t come cheap for the Giants. Especially when several teams from a neighbouring conference are already showing interest in Walker.
Schoen would need to get creative with the $7,773,627 worth of space the Giants are projected by Spotrac.com to have under the salary cap. That’s a difficult enough task, but one the Giants could avoid, both by turning their attention to running backs in this draft class or doubling down on their investment in two young runners already on the roster.
Giants Have More Cost-Effective Strategies at RB
Among the more cost-effective strategies the Giants have for getting better at running back, Raanan mentioned Notre Dame stud Jeremiyah Love. He’s widely regarded as the best back in this class, and somebody sure to be within reach of the Giants and the fifth-overall pick.
Love has already attracted attention from one of Big Blue’s NFC East rivals, so the Giants would need to firm up their own interest if they were serious about using first-round value at the position.
That would be a big ask when the team also has glaring needs at wide receiver, cornerback, linebacker and along both sides of the trenches. A smarter alternative might be for Harbaugh and his staff to concentrate on getting the most out of youthful duo Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Cam Skattebo.
Last year’s fourth-round pick Skattebo can provide the power element Harbaugh loves, provided he recovers fully from the fractured ankle he suffered last season. Meanwhile, 2024 fifth-rounder Tracy has the versatility to manufacture big plays on all three downs.
If the Giants can force their way to the front of the queue for Walker, all the better. If not, Tracy and Skattebo give Harbaugh and longtime run-game coordinator Greg Roman a strong enough platform to still redefine the Giants’ offense.
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