The New York Giants made it pretty clear what they’re trying to build on offense when they brought in John Harbaugh as head coach and Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator. This is about developing franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart behind a dominant ground game.
So when the idea of adding running back Najee Harris starts making the rounds, it feels like we’re trying to solve a problem that doesn’t necessarily exist. Or worse, creating one.
The G-Men already have a crowded backfield they should like. Cam Skattebo was undoubtedly electric before his gruesome season-ending ankle injury, Tyrone Tracy Jr. has proven he can handle the starting workload, topping 1,000 all-purpose yards in both of his professional seasons, and Devin Singletary is still here doing his thing as the savvy vet. It’s not perfect, but it works.
Harris, on the other hand, feels like a throwback move for a team that’s trying to move forward, which is why it’s a no for me, despite The Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer predicting the 28-year-old will sign with Big Blue in free agency:
"Harris was showing some promise in the Greg Roman offense before he went down in his lone season with the Chargers. Roman now works for the Giants, where they need some power contingency for Cam Skattebo."
Matt Nagy has enough in the backfield without adding Najee Harris
The appeal is easy to understand. Harris has four 1,000-yard seasons in five years (4,373 career rushing yards), runs hard, and gives Harby the downhill presence he's seemingly looking for in the ground game. His frame is built for punishing defenders -- 6-foot-1, 240 pounds -- but after that, it's a lot of talking yourself into the idea he'd be a good fit... which is rarely a good thing.
The reality is, Nagy doesn’t need Harris to get the most out of the running game.
The 47-year-old just struggled with Isaiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt in Kansas City as "one-dimensional bruising backs." There needs to be versatility in the backfield, something he already has plenty of in Skatt and Tracy. Even Singletary can catch the occasional pass.
Dropping Harris -- a career 3.9-yard-per-carry runner -- into that mix doesn’t really give the unit anything new. It just makes things busier.
The biggest issue might be the season-ending Achilles injury he suffered in Week 3 last year. A physical runner coming off an injury like that isn’t exactly a bet you feel great about taking, even on a cheap deal. You’re not getting peak Harris, you’re getting the let's-see-what-still-works Harris.
If anything, Big Blue should be doubling down on what they’ve already built. Young backs on cheap deals, rotating roles, and an offense that leans into what the personnel does well. That’s the path forward.
Harris might have over 4,300 career rushing yards, but that doesn’t mean Nagy and Co. should get sucked into trying to force the offense into being something it's not. They can add another back in the draft if the team feels compelled to bring in a fourth.