The New York Giants needed help on the defensive line, and they made a smart, low-risk move to address it. They signed Roy Robertson-Harris to a two-year, $10 million deal, adding a veteran depth piece without overpaying. He’s not a splashy name, but that’s not the point—he’s an experienced rotational piece who strengthens a defensive front that needed reinforcements.
Veteran DT Roy Robertson-Harris to the #Giants. Two-year, $10 million deal, sources tell The Insiders. Released by Seattle last week, now headed to East Rutherford.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 10, 2025
Meanwhile, the Washington Commanders decided to light $45 million on fire with one of the worst contracts in league history. The Commanders cut Jonathan Allen to save money, then immediately overpaid for a downgrade. Javon Kinlaw has been inconsistent for five years, and yet, Washington just gave him starter money. You hate to see it...
Fortunately, the Giants avoided the 45 million reasons to overspend, opting for a sneaky, smart, calculated move to reinforce their defensive line. Meanwhile, Washington self-manufactured a problem by cutting an eight-year franchise veteran, only to overpay for a worse option while committing to more contract years as well. The difference in approach is wild.
Robertson-Harris is a depth signing for the NY Giants
The Giants aren’t signing Robertson-Harris to be a game-changer. They’re signing him to fill a pretty minor role.
He’s a journeyman who's played 117 career games, recorded 19 sacks and 27 tackles for loss, and brings versatility to a unit that needs experience. For what it's worth, Robertson-Harris averages just about the exact same sacks per game (0.162) as Kinlaw (0.163), yet Kinlaw is getting paid nearly three times more per season for essentially the same production. Huh. Interesting.
At 31, Robertson-Harris is a solid rotational lineman who can slide inside or play on the edge in a pinch. For $10 million over two years, it could be much worse.
Some fans were frustrated general manager Joe Schoen used Day 1 of free agency to sign a depth piece like Robertson-Harris instead of waiting to see what the market had to offer after the free agency carnage settled. This move clearly isn’t some franchise-altering decision. It’s a relatively necessary addition to the rotation, not a long-term fix.
The draft still gives the Giants plenty of options. The 2025 class is stacked with defensive tackle talent, including Walter Nolen (Ole Miss), Deone Walker (Kentucky), and Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M). If Schoen wants to find a true difference-maker, he’ll have plenty of chances to do so in April.
This isn’t some earth-shattering signing, but it’s exactly what the Giants needed. It keeps the defensive front from being a mess heading into April while leaving the door open for bigger moves.