Ravens' Daniel Faalele makes sense for Giants in NFL free agency rumors
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Recent Baltimore Ravens right guard Daniel Faalele is still available for the New York Giants in NFL free agency.
The New York Giants have built up their roster depth in free agency since turning over the organization to head coach John Harbaugh, but there are still a few veteran moves to be made either before or after the NFL draft, and the latest NYG news and rumors point to late additions at positions like guard, defensive tackle, and wide receiver.
Now, there’s a good chance that at least one or two of these problems will be prioritized on the first two nights of draft weekend. But the others will likely be fortified by buy-low signings.
According to Over the Cap, the Giants only have a little over $3.028 million in available space. However, the organization’s dead money total is low, meaning there are plenty of creative ways to free up more cap space, should Big Blue need it.
Below are five potential free agent targets who fit positional need and budget.
5. Giants Should Sign Cooper Rush for Quarterback Depth & Experience
The Giants have a very minor need at quarterback, and it would make much more sense for a veteran to fill the open QB3 role than a rookie, considering Jaxson Dart’s age.
Most of the veteran quarterback market has already signed with new teams, but there are a few potential fits that are still out there. One being journeyman backup Cooper Rush, who shouldn’t cost much.
Rush may get a better offer where he’d be competing for a QB2 role, which would likely take him out of the running for the Giants, but he does have a connection to Harbaugh if his alternative options fall through.
The experienced signal-caller was Lamar Jackson’s immediate backup in Baltimore last season, but was eventually overtaken by Tyler Huntley. Still, he knows Harbaugh’s way of doing things, and he’d make for an overqualified QB3 behind Jameis Winston, adding both depth and knowledge to a QB room centered around helping Dart succeed.
Theoretically, another option would be a Russell Wilson reunion, although it’s unclear if the former Super Bowl champion would willingly accept a QB3 role again.
4. JuJu Smith-Schuster Would Add Another Element to the WR Room
Giants OC Matt Nagy could reunite with JuJu Smith-Schuster ahead of NFL draft
GettyCould New York Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy reunite with veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster?
The next affordable free agent target on our list is wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. This would be yet another Matt Nagy reunion in the WR room (Darnell Mooney was with Nagy in Chicago), except Smith-Schuster would add a different element to the position.
With the Kansas City Chiefs and Nagy, Smith-Schuster transitioned into more of a gritty run-blocker and safety blanket. He’d actually profile as quality Isaiah Likely insurance, despite Likely playing tight end.
Both operate well in the slot, playing with the physicality and tenacity that Harbaugh is looking for in a run-first system. Smith-Schuster is also very different from what the Giants have in Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Mooney, Calvin Austin, Jalin Hyatt, and Beaux Collins, so he’d fill an underrated void.
Smith-Schuster signed for less than $1.5 million in each of the past two offseasons.
3. Giants Should Circle Back to DT Shelby Harris After the NFL Draft Following Visit News
The Giants hosted 11-year defensive tackle Shelby Harris last week, on March 24, and this type of signing could be more of a formality after the NFL draft.
There are comp pick benefits to waiting until May to sign free agents, and that could be the plan for Harris if he enjoyed his Giants visit. The long-time starter and rotational D-tackle is still playing at a very high level, teaming with Myles Garrett in Cleveland in recent seasons.
He’s a well-rounded big man who would fit nicely next to Dexter Lawrence and Roy Robertson-Harris on the interior of the Giants’ interior defensive line.
2. Ex-Ravens RG Daniel Faalele is an IOL Option Not Often Talked About for Big Blue
Daniel Faalele (pictured above) is a right guard option who comes with an obvious disclaimer. If Harbaugh wanted the recent Baltimore Ravens starter, why wouldn’t he have signed already?
Faalele logged over 1,000 offensive snaps at right guard for the Ravens in each of the past two seasons. But he’s been more adequate than good.
Pro Football Focus gave him sub-60.0 run-blocking marks in 2024 and 2025, and his pass protection wasn’t much better.
Still, he’d be a clear upgrade on the Giants’ current right guard options, and he has a no-brainer connection to Harbaugh as a former Ravens fourth-round pick and starter.
1. Kevin Zeitler Still Makes the Most Sense at Right Guard
Kevin Zeitler free agency news would solve Giants' right guard problem
GettyKevin Zeitler should be the top New York Giants’ target at right guard.
More than any other position on the roster, the Giants need a right guard. Faalele and Greg Van Roten feel like the more affordable candidates, but Kevin Zeitler would be a slightly more expensive target.
Zeitler is a former Giant and Raven, so there’s a two-pronged connection here. He just turned 36 years old, so retirement is on the table, but Zeitler has given no word that he’s not returning for the 2026 season.
Per Over the Cap, the veteran signed a one-year deal worth $9 million in 2025. And his level of play hasn’t really dipped all that much, according to Pro Football Focus.
A Zeitler signing would shore up the biggest Giants’ weakness ahead of the NFL draft.