Giants’ Jim Harbaugh has excessive reward for Ohio State security
Did John Harbaugh clue the world into who the Giants will take with the No. 5 decide within the draft?
After all not.
However he might need offered an itty-bitty trace.
His glowing endorsement of Ohio State security Caleb Downs and his admitted appreciation for what a star at that place can do can’t be dismissed, however must also not be taken as something near gospel.
Greater than something, Harbaugh’s willingness to really speak about any draft-eligible participant greater than two months earlier than the primary spherical arrives is additional proof that he involves the Giants as a ready-made teaching icon. He can say what he desires, when he desires, with out feeling as if he wants to carry his tongue.
But, Harbaugh, 63, has not completed all of it in his almost three many years within the NFL.
What he’s about to embark on in his first draft with the Giants might be a slight departure from his earlier 28 years within the league.
“This would be the highest decide for me ever as a head coach,’’ Harbaugh mentioned lately on the “Mike Francesa Podcast.” “I feel the one decide this excessive as an assistant coach was Donovan McNabb with Andy [Reid] in Andy’s first yr. So that is fairly thrilling to have a decide this excessive.’’
Harbaugh’s reminiscence is on the cash.
As an assistant and particular groups coordinator on Reid’s Eagles workers for 10 years (1998-2007), the very best draft decide Harbaugh was related to was McNabb, the Syracuse quarterback, taken No. 2 total in 1999. The following-highest decide for the Eagles in Harbaugh’s time in Philadelphia was defensive sort out Corey Simon at No. 6 in 2000.
In his 18 years with the Ravens, Harbaugh made the playoffs 12 instances and was a part of simply three shedding seasons, the worst being 5-11 in 2015. That gave the Ravens the No. 6 decide in 2016, and so they used it on offensive sort out Ronnie Stanley.
That was an excessive outlier for Harbaugh. The Ravens had been so incessantly an upper-division staff that they picked no larger than No. 14 in some other draft in Harbaugh’s tenure.
That decide, in 2022, was used on Kyle Hamilton, a security from Notre Dame, and what a decide that turned out to be. Hamilton is a three-time Professional Bowler and a two-time first-team All Professional.
So, there’s a monitor document with Harbaugh taking a security within the first spherical of a draft.
There’s additionally a monitor document of Harbaugh having first-hand information of what a difference-maker on the again finish can do for a protection.
With the Eagles, Harbaugh was the defensive backs coach in 2007, towards the top of Brian Dawkins’ sensible run in Philly — he was nine-time Professional Bowler and a four-time first-team All-Professional.
When Harbaugh took over in Baltimore, Ed Reed was effectively into his sensible profession — 9 Professional Bowls and 5 first-team All-Professional choices.
If Downs is projected to have the ability to replicate what Dawkins, Reed or Hamilton produced, the Giants and Harbaugh would in all probability be able to determine on him proper right here and now.
“Large fan, huge fan,’’ Harbaugh mentioned of Downs. “We favor Corridor of Fame safeties, so if now we have an opportunity to draft a possible future Corridor of Fame security in Caleb Downs, that may be simply positive with me.
“We’ll take the most effective participant. While you draft that prime, you’re taking the most effective participant. It’s not a necessity decide, it’s the best-player decide since you’re going for the man that’s going to be that form of participant. You’re speaking a couple of man that you just wish to see sometime carrying a gold jacket, if potential. That’s what the objective is with that decide.’’
It doesn’t harm the case for Downs that security is a necessity for the Giants.
They’ve Jevon Holland, who was signed to a three-year, $45.3 million contract and didn’t make a huge impact in his 14 begins in 2025. Tyler Nubin, the 2024 second-round decide, is coming off a lukewarm second season, and Dane Belton is a soon-to-be free agent.
It stays to be seen who the Giants determine is the most effective participant out there to them at No. 5. Normal supervisor Joe Schoen, personnel executives and the scouting division are engaged in draft conferences, which is able to conclude when the staff’s draft board will get finalized.
The Giants aren’t within the quarterback market this yr, so scratch Fernando Mendoza off the record.
They’re in all probability not available in the market for an additional edge rusher, which means Rueben Bain Jr. doesn’t determine to be a precedence for them.
They undoubtedly want a large receiver — placing Jordyn Tyson, Makai Lemon and Carnell Tate in play — and so they actually have a spot for linebacker Avrell Reese of their protection.
If Jermaine Eluemunor will not be re-signed in free company, offensive sort out Spencer Fano is sensible. Downs might be within the high 5 in lots of projected first rounds.
“That man can be simply positive with me,’’ Harbaugh mentioned. “I’d take him in a second.’’
