It quickly became clear that former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh wasn't going to fully leave his Ravens ties behind him with the New York Giants. In addition to being the Giants' head coach, he has significant say in the front office, and he swooped up several key Ravens free agents throughout the offseason.
The Giants' 53-man roster highlights his Baltimore ties as seven former Ravens made the cut.
- Patrick Ricard
- Odell Beckham Jr.
- Isaiah Likely
- Jermaine Eluemunor
- C.J. Okoye
- Ar'Darius Washington
- Jordan Stout
Chandler Martin also landed on New York's practice squad.
Most of these weren't too surprising, as Likely, Ricard, Washington, and Stout all jumped from Baltimore to New York in free agency. Furthermore, Eluemunor, who was with the Ravens from 2017 to 2018, has been with New York since 2024. Beckham's connection with the Giants is, of course, what's most discussed. Still, it's worth noting that he was out of the league last year, and Harbaugh is rolling the dice with OBJ after coaching him in 2023. Finally, Okoye was a late addition as the Giants traded for him on Saturday, giving Baltimore a 2028 seventh-round pick.
Whether it's established or unproven players, Harbaugh clearly has loyalty to players he coached. Giving a roster spot to Beckham and trading for Okoye, in particular, underscore Harbaugh's loyalty to players that might not have been given a chance elsewhere. And considering that Harbaugh was known for his loyalty throughout his Ravens tenure, this shouldn't be too surprising.
Still, as the Los Angeles Chargers have become Ravens West thanks to general manager Joe Hortiz's connection to Baltimore, Harbaugh has now made the Giants, Ravens North.
Several former Baltimore Ravens players could have a big role with the New York Giants
While it was time to move on from Harbaugh after 18 generally successful seasons with the Ravens, there shouldn't be any bad blood. At the very least, Ravens fans should be rooting for some of these players in New York; I am at least.
Out of all the former Ravens, Likely is primed for the biggest role. The Giants lack a clear-cut No. 2 pass catcher alongside Malik Nabers, and Likely has reportedly built strong chemistry with Jaxson Dart over camp. This could be the Likely breakout season that Ravens fans have long waited for. Beckham could have a career resurgence for a similar reason, especially with Calvin Austin's injury.
Ricard should continue to provide strong blocking as a fullback. Eluemunor will remain the Giants' starting right tackle. Likewise, Stout will remain an elite punter.
The Giants' shaky secondary could open up some opportunities for Washington. Even Okoye, who wouldn't have made the Ravens' final roster, could carve out a role given the Giants' need for extra interior defensive line play. Of course, Harbaugh's willingness to give these unproven players another chance is a key reason behind some of these possibilities.
Harbaugh could help this rebuilding Giants' team rise from the NFL's cellar, and these former Ravens could be a big part of their success. Keeping tabs on Harbaugh and former players certainly gives Ravens fans a reason to tune into Giants games this season.
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