The 1st free agency cycle with head coach John Harbaugh on the New York Giants yielded not 1 but 2 starters coming to him from his old team, with the Baltimore Ravens losing tight end Isaiah Likely to the Giants early in the day, then safety Ar’Darius Washington later in the day.
“Sources: The #Giants are expected to sign former Ravens (safety) Ar’Darius Washington to a 1-year deal,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote on his official X account on Monday. “Washington has been in Baltimore since 2021 and now follows John Harbaugh to New York … Safety Ar’Darius Washington started 10 games for Baltimore in 2024 before suffering a torn Achilles. He returned late last season to appear in four games and is prepared for a full offseason to get ready for the 2026 season.”
Spotrac projected Washington’s market value as a 1-year, $1.8 million contract in free agency — a deal he far exceeded.
“BREAKING: The Giants are signing Ravens S Ar’Darius Washington,” SNY’s Connor Hughes wrote on his official X account. “That’s now officially done. It’s a 1-year deal worth $3 million, per sources.”
Through his first 5 seasons with the Ravens, Washington has approximately $6.7 million in career earnings.
Washington Went From Undrafted to NFL Starter
Washington moved from cornerback to safety during a redshirt year at TCU in 2018, earned Freshman All-American honors in 2019, then left school with 2 years of eligibility remaining to enter the NFL draft.
Checking in at just 5-foot-8 and 176 pounds at TCU’s Pro Day — along with running the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds — kept Washington from being selected in the 2021 NFL draft.
Not everyone was scared off by Washington’s size and lack of speed.
NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein had Washington projected as a 6th or 7th round pick in his pre-draft evaluation.
“Very undersized college safety with low-end size and high-end play traits,” Zierlein wrote. “Washington falls well below the desired measurables for a safety, but he plays with outstanding instincts and aggression in everything he does. He has good foot quickness and really reads play development and quarterback intentions with clear eyes. He’s quicker than fast and there is some concern about how he will match up down the field against NFL size. He’s a physical striker when he plays near the line, but can be pushed around by big bodies at times. Several teams will scratch him from their boards based on his size, but a move to nickel cornerback with man or zone talent could help him find NFL snaps regardless of stature.”
Washington Made Roster as Undrafted Free Agent
Despite the odds, Washington made the Ravens roster as an undrafted free agent each of his first 3 seasons while bouncing in and out of the roster an going on injured reserve twice — for a foot injury as a rookie in 2021 and a shoulder injury in 2023.
After playing just 7 regular-season games over his first 3 seasons, Washington had a breakout year in 2024 when he started 10 games and played in all 17 regular-season games for the 1st time.
That season, Washington had 65 tackles, 2 interceptions, 8 pass deflections and 5 TFL.
Giants Head Coach John Harbaugh Signs Second Starter Away From Ravens