NY Giants Eyeing Defensive Talent at NFL Combine

New head coach John Harbaugh seeks players who "love football" as Giants look to improve on 4-13 season.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The New York Giants are preparing for the upcoming NFL Draft with a focus on defensive talent, as the team looks to bounce back from a 4-13 season under new head coach John Harbaugh. Harbaugh emphasized the importance of finding players who "love football" in all aspects, from practices to meetings. NFL Draft expert Ric Serritella joins the Big Blue Breakdown podcast to preview the talent pool at the NFL Combine and how it could benefit the Giants.

Why it matters

The Giants underperformed on defense last season, so finding defensive talent in the draft will be crucial for Harbaugh and the team as they look to quickly turn things around. Harbaugh's emphasis on finding players who are passionate about the game aligns with the team's need to build a culture of dedication and commitment.

The details

The Giants hold the 5th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and with this year's class not considered a "powerhouse", the team will need to carefully evaluate the available talent to find impact players. Harbaugh has stressed the importance of finding players who "love football" in all aspects of the game, from practices to meetings, as the team looks to build a roster of dedicated, passionate players.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in just over 2 months, with the Giants scheduled to make the 5th overall selection.
  • The NFL Combine, where teams can closely evaluate draft prospects, is coming up soon.

The players

Roger Goodell

The Commissioner of the National Football League.

Joe Schoen

The General Manager of the New York Giants.

John Harbaugh

The new Head Coach of the New York Giants, who previously led the Baltimore Ravens to the playoffs 12 times in 18 seasons.

Ric Serritella

An NFL Draft expert who has published the NFL Draft Bible since 2002 and joins the Big Blue Breakdown podcast to preview the upcoming Combine.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Well, there are a lot of qualities that go into it. Joe has got lists and lists of qualities for all different positions and all that you'd be looking for. To me, the No. 1 thing is having guys who love football. You just have to. It's football. What are we here for? What do we do? What is this building for? It's for football.”

— John Harbaugh, Head Coach, New York Giants (Big Blue Breakdown podcast)

What’s next

The Giants will closely evaluate prospects at the upcoming NFL Combine as they look to find defensive talent to improve the team's performance on that side of the ball.

The takeaway

Under new leadership, the Giants are focused on building a roster of players who are passionate about the game of football, as they look to quickly turn the team around after a disappointing 4-13 season. Finding the right defensive talent in the draft will be crucial to this effort.