John Harbaugh
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The New York Giants are predicted to sign an All-Pro John Harbaugh favorite in 2026 NFL free agency.
John Harbaugh getting his tenure as head coach of the New York Giants started the right way by loading up on some of his former Baltimore Ravens players would hardly be a surprise, and one senior reporter believes Harbs could target an All-Pro favorite once 2026 NFL free agency gets underway.
The prediction comes from Dan Duggan of The Athletic. He thinks that if Harbaugh signs a former Raven “it would be Ricard or TE Charlie Kolar. Coaches always dig into their past and these are the types of players they might pay more for just to help import the culture.”
If I had to predict an individual player signing it would be Ricard or TE Charlie Kolar. Coaches always dig into their past and these are the types of players they might pay more for just to help import the culture https://t.co/zZkGIVF0VS
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) March 8, 2026
Obviously, Pat Ricard is the standout name as a six-time Pro Bowler at fullback. His presence in the backfield would go a long way toward Harbaugh transforming the Giants into a more physical, run-first team.
That process could also involve the Giants making an MVP-level signing in free agency, but Ricard would be a more cost-effective addition. Cost may matter to Big Blue, with the team already being ruled out of adding another, more expensive Harbaugh favorite from his days in Baltimore.
John Harbaugh Needs the Right Building Blocks
Neither Ricard nor tight end Charlie Kolar would be marquee, headline-making signings. Yet, they both represent the kind of tough and savvy building blocks Harbaugh needs to help remodel the Giants.
Ricard could be the ideal symbol of the toughness that underpinned many of Harbaugh’s best Ravens teams. The 6-foot-3, 300-pounder defined the brute-force style of offense those Ravens ran.
Lead blocks like this one by No. 42 against the New England Patriots and edge-rusher K’Lavon Chaisson (44) to spring Derrick Henry for a touchdown in Week 16, sum up Ricard’s value.
Putting Ricard in the lineup with a free-agent running back or even last year’s bruising rookie Cam Skattebo would immediately make the Giants a smash-mouth team. One better able to support the dual-threat skills of bullish second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Ricard’s experience as a tight end may also appeal to the Giants at a position of need, but the 31-year-old is probably not the only ex-Raven set to draw interest from Harbaugh.
Giants Likely to Be Keen on Ravens Free Agents
Perhaps Kolar or Ricard can be the tight end the Giants need, but SNY.tv’s Connor Hughes reported the team is more interested in another Raven at the position. Dynamic move target Isaiah Likely is on Harbaugh’s radar, but so is a different versatile Ravens player on the other side of the ball.
That’s according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, who reported safety Ar’Darius Washington “is a name to watch in that regard.” Washington is getting over a torn Achilles that cost him all of last season, but he’s somebody Harbaugh knows would add flexibility to what the Giants can do on the back end in new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson’s system.
Maybe Harbaugh will also want to reunite with 370-pound guard Daniel Faalele as another way of adding beef to the Giants’ offense. Bolstering the guard spots would make sense when 36-year-old Greg Van Roten and draft flop Evan Neal are free agents.
There are ample options on the veteran market for a coach who has a strong say in recruitment matters and likely wants some familiar faces around to provide the right foundation for his new job.