The New York Giants lost one of their more reliable under-the-radar contributors when safety Dane Belton agreed to a one-year deal with the crosstown New York Jets.
Belton had carved out an elite role on special teams and was a solid player in the secondary when given the chance, even finishing the 2025 season with a career-best 120 tackles. His efforts hardly got recognized, but that's what makes the 25-year-old the kind of guy winning teams prioritize keeping.
But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about this new John Harbaugh's in charge thing, it’s that the Giants aren’t exactly waiting around to patch holes. Within hours of Belton heading across town, Big Blue already had a replacement lined up -- and it just so happened to be another familiar face from Harbaugh’s Baltimore days, because, of course he did.
Giants reunite John Harbaugh with Ar’Darius Washington after Dane Belton leaves
The G-Men reportedly agreed to terms with former Ravens defensive back Ar’Darius Washington on a one-year deal worth $3 million on Monday, giving new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson a versatile new piece for his revamped secondary:
Sources: #Ravens safety Ar'Darius Washington, who was expected to play a key role in Baltimore’s defense next season, has torn his Achilles, the MRI has confirmed.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 13, 2025
The injury, which occurred during conditioning, will cause him to miss most or all of the 2025 season. pic.twitter.com/yzzHbcqLT9
At just 5-foot-8, Washington doesn’t exactly look like your traditional NFL safety, but the guy plays much bigger than the number on his physical. He had a surprising breakout in 2024 while starting alongside Kyle Hamilton, finishing the season with 64 tackles, two interceptions, and eight pass defenses while earning a top-five coverage grade (84.2) from Pro Football Focus.
Of course, there’s a reason this deal comes in at a modest one-year prove-it price. Washington’s 2025 season was essentially wiped out by a torn Achilles, limiting him to just the last four games of the season after expectations he'd build on his 2024 season.
But if he can stay healthy, the G-Men might have landed one of the more intriguing defensive back depth pieces in all of free agency.
For a defense that just lost Belton -- a do-it-all third safety who thrived in sub-packages and on special teams -- Washington fits the mold about as perfectly as you could ask. He can line up deep, slide into the slot, blitz off the edge, and be a demon for quarterbacks who underestimate him. Don't let his size fool you. Guy's the human embodiment of a honey badger.
The coolest part about the whole thing is that there’s almost no learning curve. Washington already played under both Harbaugh and Wilson, meaning he should slide into the system without much of a transition period. It actually gives him a leg up on Jevón Holland and Tyler Nubin -- two guys in need of a bounce-back 2026.
Belton leaving definitely isn't great (I wanted him back), but give Big Blue credit for replacing him ASAP, albeit in smaller form. If Washington can carve out a role, New York may have already found its next under-the-radar difference-maker.