The New York Giants have ended their prolonged silence at the defensive tackle position, signing veteran Shelby Harris to a one-year contract in a move that addresses one of the team’s most glaring roster weaknesses, sources confirmed to multiple outlets on Wednesday.

The deal, first reported by Aaron Wilson, brings the 34-year-old Harris to East Rutherford after a free agency visit on March 24 that included a physical and extensive evaluation. The contract is expected to be modest, with sources indicating a base value in the range of $3 million to $5 million, with potential incentives that could increase the total based on playing time and performance.

Harris, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive lineman, has been in the NFL since 2014, when he entered the league as a seventh-round pick of the then-Oakland Raiders. His career has included stops with the Denver Broncos from 2017 to 2021, a brief stint with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, and the last three seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Over the past five years, Harris has consistently ranked among the top 32 defensive tackles in Pro Football Focus run defense grade, a testament to his durability and effectiveness against the run.

In 2025, Harris posted a PFF run defense grade of 64.4, which would have ranked 28th among defensive tackles league-wide. His performance in 2024 was even stronger, with an 18th-place ranking, and he has been a top-32 performer in each of the last five seasons when factoring in minimum snap thresholds. He has played roughly 50 to 60 percent of defensive snaps over the past four years, including 49 percent in 2025, 59 percent in 2024, and 42 percent in 2023.

The Giants’ defensive tackle room has been a source of concern for years, with the team allowing the most rushing yards and the most yards per carry in the NFL since general manager Joe Schoen took over in 2022. The unit currently features Darius Alexander and Roy Robertson-Harris as potential starters, but neither has the track record of Harris, who immediately becomes the most accomplished and likely the best player in the group.

Harris is not expected to transform the defensive tackle room into a strength, but his addition provides a veteran presence and a reliable run-stuffer. He has lined up primarily in the B gap throughout his career, with 379 snaps there in 2025, along with 52 snaps in the A gap and 73 snaps over the tackle. His versatility allows defensive coordinator Shane Bowen to move him around the line, though his pass-rush production has declined in recent years. He has not recorded a pass-rush win rate that would rank in the top 60 among defensive tackles over the last two seasons.

The signing comes after the Giants failed to address the defensive tackle position in the 2026 NFL draft until the sixth round, a decision that drew criticism from analysts and fans alike. The team had been linked to several free agents, including DJ Reader, who visited the facility before the draft, and Calais Campbell, a 39-year-old veteran who has been one of the most productive interior linemen in the league over the past four seasons.

Connor Hughes, a reporter covering the Giants, quote-tweeted Wilson’s announcement with a significant update: “Won’t be the only interior defensive lineman the New York Giants sign.” This suggests that Schoen and the front office are not finished reshaping the position group, which has been a focal point of offseason discussions.

Reader, a 6-foot-3, 335-pound nose tackle, has been a dominant force against the run for the Cincinnati Bengals and has drawn interest from multiple teams. He visited the Giants before the draft, and Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reported that Reader was expected to sign with the team once the draft concluded. Reader has missed time due to injury in recent years, but when healthy, he is considered one of the best interior defenders in the league.

Campbell, at 6-foot-8 and 315 pounds, has been remarkably productive despite his age. He recorded 6.5 sacks in 2025, 5 sacks in 2024, 6.5 sacks in 2023, and 5.5 sacks in 2022, totaling 23.5 sacks over the last four seasons. That production would rank among the top on the Giants’ roster, rivaling even edge rusher Brian Burns. Campbell has a relationship with head coach Brian Daboll from their time together in Baltimore, where Campbell played under John Harbaugh.

Another name to watch is Da’Quan Jones, a veteran who spent time with the Buffalo Bills and has connections to Schoen from their shared tenure in Buffalo. Jones is a 6-foot-4, 320-pound run-stuffer who could provide additional depth.

The Giants’ defensive tackle room has been a liability for years, and the team’s struggles against the run have been well-documented. Since 2022, the Giants have allowed the most rushing yards in the NFL, and their yards-per-carry average is the worst in the league. Harris’s addition is a step toward addressing that issue, but he is not a savior. The team will need additional reinforcements to climb out of the bottom tier of defensive tackle talent.

Harris’s career began in 2014 with the Raiders, where he played two seasons before moving to Denver. With the Broncos, he established himself as a reliable interior defender, starting 57 games over five seasons. His best statistical year came in 2021, when he recorded 6 sacks and 10 tackles for loss. After a one-year stop in Seattle, he signed with Cleveland in 2023 and has been a steady presence on a Browns defense that has been among the league’s best.

The Giants’ decision to sign Harris now, after the draft, reflects a deliberate approach. The team hosted him for a visit in late March, and the delay between that visit and the signing suggests that the Giants wanted to evaluate their options in the draft before committing to a veteran. With no defensive tackle selected until the sixth round, the front office pivoted to free agency.

Harris’s contract is expected to be team-friendly, with a base salary that allows the Giants to maintain cap flexibility for additional moves. The team currently has approximately $15 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap, which could be used to sign Reader, Campbell, or another veteran.

The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. The Giants’ defense, which ranked 27th in total yards allowed in 2025, needs significant improvement against the run. Opponents averaged 4.8 yards per carry against the Giants last season, the worst mark in the league. Harris, with his consistent run-defense grades, should help lower that number, but he cannot do it alone.

The Giants are expected to continue their pursuit of interior defensive linemen in the coming days. The team has been linked to several players, and the front office is reportedly working the phones to bring in additional talent. The addition of Harris is a positive step, but it is only the beginning of what must be a broader overhaul of the defensive tackle position.

For now, Harris is a Giant, and his presence in the locker room will provide a veteran voice for a young defensive line. He has played in 148 career games, starting 101, and has accumulated 24 sacks, 42 tackles for loss, and 68 quarterback hits. His experience and leadership will be valuable for a team that is looking to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season.

The Giants’ schedule in 2026 includes matchups against several run-heavy offenses, including the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Commanders. Strengthening the interior defensive line is critical to competing in the NFC East, where teams often rely on physical running games.

The signing of Harris is a clear signal that the Giants recognize the need to address their defensive line issues. The question now is whether the team will make additional moves to truly transform the position group. With Reader, Campbell, and Jones still available, the Giants have options.

Fans should expect more news in the coming days as the front office continues to work. The Giants have made a move, but they are not done yet. The defensive tackle room is still a work in progress, and the team is determined to build a unit that can stop the run and pressure the quarterback.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates as the Giants continue to reshape their roster.