The New York Giants added depth to their linebacker room by signing veteran off-ball linebacker Malik Harrison to their practice squad. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the expectation is that Harrison will contribute early for the team.

Free agent LB Malik Harrison is signing with the Giants practice squad with the goal to contribute early, per sources.

The seven-year vet, released by Pittsburgh on Sunday, has 215 career tackles and 43 starts. pic.twitter.com/DyHBZSQBw3

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 3, 2026

Harrison, a former third-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2020, spent his first five NFL seasons in Baltimore with head coach John Harbaugh before playing last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was with Pittsburgh throughout training camp, but was released ahead of final roster cuts earlier this week. Harrison was owed $4.75 million this year, which partially drove the Steelers’ decision to move on.

What Harrison can and can’t do at this point of his career

The important context for this signing is that Harrison arrives as a depth piece rather than a potential starter. Throughout his career, he has been a deficient coverage player, and that created limitations to his game as an off-ball linebacker. However, he is a viable run defender and a solid pass rusher as a blitzer.

Last season, Harrison generated seven pressures for the Steelers. He had generated six pressures for the Ravens in 2024, and that area of his game has progressed throughout his career. As a run defender, he has had strong moments. Harrison has never posted a PFF run defense grade below the 60s, which confirms his floor as a capable defender against the run.

The coverage limitations remain real. Last season, Harrison allowed a 107.5 passer rating when targeted. But because he projects as a role player for the Giants, defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson can build his usage to circumvent that problem. Wilson can deploy Harrison in run-heavy packages and blitz situations where his skill set fits, keeping him off the field in obvious passing downs.

The Giants currently have linebacker Arvell Reese, the fifth overall pick in this year’s draft, and free agent addition Tremaine Edmunds as the projected starting off-ball linebackers. They also have Jack Kelly, Micah McFadden, and Zaire Barnes as depth options. Because of his abilities as a run defender and pass rusher, Harrison can represent a realistic improvement in terms of depth quality for that group.

The Harbaugh connection and the cost

Harrison is a player Giants head coach John Harbaugh knows well from their time together in Baltimore. That familiarity accelerates the onboarding process and reduces the risk of a poor fit.

The financial commitment is minimal. Harrison will initially sit on the practice squad. The Giants can elevate him to the game-day roster a maximum of three times throughout the regular season before they would need to promote him to the 53-man roster.

At this stage, the cost is limited to a practice squad salary, with the potential for a veteran minimum deal down the line. There is no trade compensation involved, so it’s essentially a free addition of a veteran player who, at 28 years old, still possesses the physical tools to perform at a reasonable level.

Why the Steelers decided to move on from Harrison

Malik Harrison was always on the outside looking in for the 2026 Pittsburgh Steelers. In an ironic way, he was Elandon Roberts replacement for 2025, only to see him be replaced by Roberts in training camp this year, with neither making the team.

At his core, and during his time in Pittsburgh, Harrison is an old school thumper. He was never supposed to start for the Steelers, but some lackluster play from the starting unit thrust him into the lineup, and Harrison finished the year with nine starts and 41 total tackles. 

He’s a solid depth piece at this stage of his career and probably best suited for when a team is in a pinch.

Grade: B+