Days after moving on from Dexter Lawrence, the New York Giants have added veteran defensive tackle Shelby Harris with a hope to soften up the blow caused due to losing their star player.
The team had a challenging 2025 NFL season while finishing with a 4-13 record. With this new addition a big question arises: how good is Harris, and what exactly does he bring to the table?
How Good is Shelby Harris?
The Giants haven’t added Harris as a direct replacement for Lawrence. What he does offer is experience and reliability.
Entering his 12th NFL season, he has appeared in over 140 games. This kind of durability matters for the team’s defensive line as it is clearly in transition at the moment.
Harris has totaled over 358 touchdowns and just under 28.5 sacks in his career. One of Harris’ biggest strengths is his versatility. He has logged snaps across the defensive front.
This kind of flexibility is valuable for a Giants defense that is trying to piece together to form a new identity.
We have seen that the Giants struggled heavily against the run last season. While bringing in Harris alone won’t fix that, what he does bring to the table is a disciplined, and sound presence that can stabilize early downs.
The team’s roster right now doesn’t need any flashy players, rather it’s looking for someone who can be reliable as John Harbaugh looks to make a Super Bowl run in the upcoming season.
Did the Giants Make a Right Call?
Harris is 34 years old now and he is no longer in his prime. His most productive years came during his time with the Denver Broncos, where he recorded multiple seasons with six sacks.
In 2025, he finished with just one sack despite playing all 17 games. That drop-off highlights how he can be a supporting complementary player rather than a game-changer.
For a team that just lost a player like Lawrence, that limitation is significant. The Giants aren’t asking Harris to be their main player, they’re asking him to be part of a roster rebuild. Alongside younger players and other veterans, he can help create a team that can handle the workload collectively.
The team has already added rookie Bobby Jamison-Travis as the 186th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and could still bring in another veteran to add more experience.
Right now Harris may not dominate headlines, but he fills an important role in a rebuild along the defensive line.
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