Shelby Harris, the 34-year-old defensive lineman who played every game of the 2025 season for the Cleveland Browns, visited the New York Giants on Tuesday as a free agent looking for his next contract.
The Giants, now under first-year head coach John Harbaugh, signed defensive tackle Sam Roberts just the day before. They appear to be actively building depth along their interior defensive line as the draft approaches.
What Harris brings to a Giants defensive line in need of depth
In all 17 games last season for Cleveland, Harris recorded 32 combined tackles, seven tackles for loss, one sack, and four pass deflections. He started five of those 17 games.
Pro Football Focus graded Harris 56th among interior defensive linemen in 2025, out of 127 qualified players. His pass deflections tell a more compelling story over time.
Veteran DL Shelby Harris is visiting the #Giants today, sources say. The 11-year veteran, still going strong after playing all 17 games for the #Browns last season, is an option for John Harbaugh & Co. to add experience up front on defense. pic.twitter.com/0tuceG1w3o
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 24, 2026
Sep 7, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Sep 7, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Since 2017, Harris has batted down 40 passes at the line of scrimmage, trailing only All-Pro Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward’s 46 among all interior D-linemen across that span.
The Giants already have two-time second-team All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence anchoring their defensive line. Adding Harris would give New York a rotational piece with genuine experience.
Harris also has 146 regular-season games and 89 career starts to his name. Durability at 34, on a short-term deal, is not easy to find.
Harris’s long road to free agency and what the Giants need most
Harris was a seventh-round pick of the then-Oakland Raiders in 2014 before developing into a legitimate starter during five seasons with the Denver Broncos, where he tallied at least 5.5 sacks three times.
Denver signed him to a three-year, $27 million deal in 2021, then included him in the blockbuster Russell Wilson deal to Seattle. The Seahawks released him, and he joined Cleveland in 2023.
He played 48 games over three seasons with the Browns and remained a reliable piece of their front four throughout Jim Schwartz’s tenure as defensive coordinator.
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Browns defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) celebrates with defensive tackle Mason Graham after a second-half stop, Dec. 28, 2025, in Cleveland.
New York had earlier shown interest in defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, who ended up signing with the Tennessee Titans. That left the Giants still searching for interior defensive line depth.
Giants defensive line depth is a real concern entering 2026, and Harris gives them an affordable, experienced option to address it before the draft.
If Harbaugh’s staff comes away from the visit impressed, a deal could come together quickly. The April 23 draft will also shape how much urgency New York feels to add at the position before then.