The New York Giants continued to improve the defensive line, as the team poached defensive tackle Damon Harrison away from the rival Jets.
The defensive overhaul continues for the New York Giants, as the team has poached defensive tackle Damon Harrison away from the cross-town rival Jets.
According to NFL Media Insider Rand Getlin, the deal is a five-year, $46.25 million one, which goes to prove the Giants aren’t fooling around with making their defensive line better.
I’m told DL Damon Harrison has earned and agreed in principle to a five-year, $46.25M deal with the #Giants. Massive get for the G-Men.
— Rand Getlin (@RandGetlin) March 9, 2016
The signing came mere hours after the team signed cornerback Janoris Jenkins to a lucrative, multi-year deal.
Like the Jenkins deal, the Giants once again opted to overpay for the player they wanted, but that’s not necessarily a terrible thing.
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Adding Harrison makes the defensive line a whole lot better.
The man nicknamed “Snacks” was a huge part of the Jets defense in 2015. Gang Green finished as the second-best run defense, and Snacks was a big reason why. Harrison, 27, graded out as Pro Football Focus’ top-ranked defensive tackle against the run.
2015 Run Stops for DTs: 1.Damon Harrison 49, 2.Bennie Logan 42, 3t.Aaron Donald 37, 3t.Ian Williams 37
— Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) March 9, 2016
The Giants now have an absolutely terrorizing interior duo, pairing up Snacks with “Big” Johnathan Hankins. Combined, the Giants now have a defensive tackle pairing that weighs 670 lbs. That’s a whole lot of humanity to try to run against.
Harrison is one of the absolute best run-stopping tackles in the game today. He’s a rare breed, in the sense that he’s a clear-cut, run-first defensive tackle. He’s not going to generate tons of interior pressure like Aaron Donald, but he excels at clogging up holes.
Snacks is an absolute beast against the run, shedding blocks with ease and blowing up plays.
Harrison finished 2015 with 72 tackles. Additionally, Harrison has started every game over the past three seasons. The above vine showcases how talented Harrison is. He sheds Weston Richburg‘s with ease and blows up the Giants’ run play.
In the above vine against Dallas, Snacks keeps his head up, hands in good position and he’s able to shed Travis Frederick‘s block and make the play on Darren McFadden a few yards down the field.
Harrison is a consistent player in the run game, and he’s going to add an element that was clearly missing on the Giants defensive line in 2015. With Harrison now in the rotation, the Giants have the ability to sprinkle in Jay Bromley on pass-rushing downs, while utilizing Harrison’s big body on first and second downs.
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Again, like the Jenkins signing it’s pricey, but Harrison is only 27, entering the prime of his career. Jerry Reese made a point of improving the defense at the start of free agency, and he’s sticking to his guns. Brining in the underrated Harrison is a move that lacks name recognition, but oozes substance.
So just to reiterate, the Giants started free agency by bringing back Jason Pierre-Paul, signing a playmaking cornerback Janoris Jenkins and signing Damon “Snacks” Harrison. Talk about being committed to fixing the defense.
We’ll see if more moves are still to come.