The New York Giants’ defensive interior went from a position of relative security to a state of emergency after defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris suffered a season-ending Achilles injury at OTAs. This blow arrives right on the heels of the front office trading away Dexter Lawrence, effectively leaving two huge holes to fill on the defensive line ahead of training camp.
Adding to the anxiety, offseason additions D.J. Reader, Shelby Harris, and Sam Roberts, all missed last week's OTA practices.
While those absences aren't a long-term crisis yet, the empty practice field clearly sparked internal panic. To address the shortfall, New York has basically started building a time machine. On Tuesday, the team hosted 32-year-old veteran Eddie Goldman for a workout, before pivoting on Wednesday to sign 350-pound nose tackle Josh Tupou, according to Giants insider Art Stapleton:
Giants have signed NT Josh Tupou, per source. Tupou, 32, spent parts of the last two seasons with the Ravens. Seeking more depth on the defensive line with the Achilles injury to Roy Robertson-Harris. He's an 8-year vet listed at 6-foot-3, 350. Time on PSQ in Balt last year
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) May 27, 2026
The problem with this sudden spending spree is that the G-Men are chasing ghosts. Neither Goldman nor Tupou has been an effective run-stuffer since 2019, exposing a stark reality: Big Blue is desperate, and they are shopping in the bargain bin of yesteryear.
Josh Tupou signing says everything about Giants’ current defensive line situation
At 6-foot-3 and 350 pounds, Tupou is an undeniably massive human being, but his recent production tells a story of steady decline.
While he earned elite Pro Football Focus run-defense grades of 72.0 in 2018 and 76.6 in 2019 with the Cincinnati Bengals, he hasn't cracked a 58.0 run-defense grade in any season since. Furthermore, he offers virtually zero utility in the passing game, boasting a mere 3.0 career sacks across 71 games over his eight-year NFL career.
What he does offer is a reunion with new head coach John Harbaugh, spending the last two years in Baltimore mostly relegated to the practice squad. While some -- me, it was me -- originally anticipated a reunion with another former Raven like Broderick Washington, New York would've had to wait for a roster cut to make that happen.
This signing joins an offseason overhaul where the G-Men did their best impression of throw everything at the wall and see what sticks, completely overhauling the room, including signing D.J. Reader, Shelby Harris, Zacch Pickens, and Leki Fotu in free agency, drafting Bobby Jamison-Travis, and signing undrafted free agents Anquin Barnes Jr. and Ben Barten. At this rate, general manager Joe Schoen might literally only roster 53 defensive linemen in 2026.
Because of this logjam, Tupou's path to the eventual 53-man roster seems very unlikely. But what he lacks as a roster lock, he could make up for as the ultimate on-field coach for the summer.
His massive veteran frame can serve as a human textbook during training camp, teaching the young Padawans like Jamison-Travis, Barnes, and Barten how to properly manipulate their size against NFL talent. The rookies are likely much closer to a 53-man spot than Tupou, but with Harbaugh's affinity for reuniting with former players, you can't count Tupou out.
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