The New York Giants officially unveiled John Harbaugh as their head coach on Tuesday. Harbaugh met with reporters and discussed his team-building philosophies. The excitement is tantalizing as the Giants prepare to embark on a promising journey overseen by one of the NFL's winningest head coaches.
Harbaugh and Giants general manager Joe Schoen will begin building the roster in their shared vision. Free agency will undoubtedly play a significant role in their offseason plans. Harbaugh is expected to target several ex-Baltimore Ravens, according to a report by Connor Hughes.
The Ravens are currently scheduled to have 19 pending unrestricted free agents, per Over The Cap. It's easy to envision Harbaugh pursuing several of them. We've identified three in particular.
Tyler Linderbaum, C
Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum is the big offensive line target multiple teams would trip over themselves to pursue if he reaches the open market. One of the premier interior blockers in the entire league, Linderbaum appears positioned to command a multi-year contract in the neighborhood of $20 million per season. That would make him the highest-paid player in the NFL at his position.
The Giants must invest in Jaxson Dart’s development by improving his surroundings this offseason. Current starting center John Michael Schmitz finished the year on IR and will be entering a contract year in 2026. Linderbaum would represent an upgrade as Dart's center, while perhaps Schmitz could consider a move to guard in the offseason.
Chidobe Awuzie, CB
One of the Ravens' most shrewd performers this past season was cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. He signed a low-cost one-year deal in Baltimore after being released from an expensive contract by the Tennessee Titans. Awuzie rehabilitated his reputation while playing for Harbaugh in 2025, and now he's set to cash in on the market once again.
Cornerback Cor’Dale Flott is among the Giants' pending free agents. If Harbaugh is going to promote change in the defensive backfield, Awuzie would qualify as a potential like-for-like replacement. The Giants need more leadership and aggressiveness at corner, and Awuzie would help instill the right mindset and approach.
Kyle Van Noy, EDGE
Veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy might continue playing in 2026 despite his advancing age. The Giants are obviously loaded at the pass-rushing spot with Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux all under contract. At Van Noy's age, he's better suited to being a deep rotational player on a limited snap count.
Signing Van Noy wouldn't strictly be performance-based. Harbaugh needs to install his leadership style and culture in a brand-new locker room. The best way to successfully achieve that is to bring in veteran players who understand the approach while not being afraid to hold teammates accountable. That describes Van Noy to a T.