New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh hasn't been shy about adding his former Baltimore Ravens players this offseason. Isaiah Likely, Patrick Ricard, Daniel Faalele, and Ar'Darius Washington have already joined the squad, just to name a few.
Linebacker Chandler Martin is the newest addition to the list. Per Adam Schefter, the Giants signed the second-year pro on Monday.
Martin joins an already crowded linebacker room in New York. While his chances to make the final roster are slim, his familiarity with Harbaugh and his special teams impact give him a unique advantage.
Giants sign former Ravens LB Chandler Martin after preseason opener
Martin isn't exactly a household name. He joined the Ravens as an undrafted free agent last offseason but failed to make the initial 53-man roster. He was later called up to the active roster, playing a total of 34 snaps across three games late in the season. The linebacker played exclusively on special teams, never logging a snap on defense.
Just as his career was getting started, Martin suffered a torn ACL that ended his season. According to Schefter, he has now been fully cleared to play.
The Philadelphia Eagles signed Martin earlier this offseason, but he was released before training camp. New York is the latest team to take a chance on him. He'll have an uphill climb ahead of him if he hopes to make the final roster, though, as the Giants already have solid depth at linebacker.
Behind starters Tremaine Edmunds and Arvell Reese, Micah McFadden and rookie standout Jack Kelly are holding down the backup spots. Even Darius Muasau, who started in 11 games last season for the G-Men, isn't guaranteed to make the cut. With Zaire Barnes and Anfernee Orji rounding out the group, it's hard to see Martin rising quickly enough to earn a roster spot.
He should make an immediate impact on special teams, though. A former special teams coach, Harbaugh values players who can contribute in the third phase of the game.
Signing Martin wasn't the only move that the Giants made in the wake of their preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Big Blue signed quarterback Jake Haener and brought running back Najee Harris in for a visit on Monday. Running back Dante Miller was released as part of the effort to make room for the newcomers.
Clearly, Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen aren't finished shaking up the roster during the preseason.
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