John Harbaugh didn’t take long to replace injured defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris, and not for the first time this offseason, the head coach of the New York Giants turned to his former team the Baltimore Ravens for help.
Harbaugh and the Giants officially added yet another former Raven when they “signed NT Josh Tupou on Wednesday, May 27,” per NorthJersey.com’s Art Stapleton. The latter detailed how “Tupou, 32, spent parts of the last two seasons with the Ravens. Seeking more depth on the defensive line with the Achilles injury to Roy Robertson-Harris. He’s an 8-year vet listed at 6-foot-3, 350. Time on PSQ in Balt last year.”
Tupou joins tight end Isaiah Likely, fullback Patrick Ricard, guard Daniel Faalele, safety Ar’Darius Washington and punter Jordan Stout as former Ravenns acquired by Harbaugh.
A reunion with Tupou represents a safe, low-cost way for Harbaugh to at least keep the numbers strong at the heart of Big Blue’s defensive front. Something that became a pressing need after versatile veteran Robertson-Harris tore his Achilles early during OTAs.
The Giants choosing Tupou as a replacement also represents a pivot away from showing interest in swiping a natural nose tackle from one of their NFC East rivals.
Josh Tupou Reunion Makes Sense for John Harbaugh
Bringing Tupou on board is a quick and easy fix for Harbaugh, who knows how effectively the experienced zero technique can play over the ball. Harbaugh got a close look at how Tupou moves the pile when the Ravens turned to the former undrafted free agent amid similar injury issues in Baltimore during the 2024 season.
Tupou’s game isn’t as nuanced as the skill-set boasted by Robertson-Harris. The latter can line up at end or D-tackle and generate pressure from both spots.
There’s something more streamlined about the way Tupou plays. Head-up over centers, clogging running lanes and trying to draw and occupy double teams along the line of scrimmage.
Each of these traits may not be the most fashionable aspects of defensive line play, but the Giants have chased these solid traits for most of this offseason. Ever since they traded three-time Pro Bowl nose guard Dexter Lawrence II to Tupou’s first team, the Cincinnati Bengals.
Giants Have Pursued Same Profile Along Defensive Line
Tupou is another body for the quantity over quality approach the Giants have taken to replacing Lawrence. Yet, the newcomer’s chances of getting off the practice squad in his new home don’t look good when the Giants have already loaded up with big-bodied nose tackles.
The best of the additions is 335-pounder D.J. Reader, who remains one of the premier run-stuffers in football. Reader is likely to command the starting role, but the Giants aren’t short of depth at the spot where Lawrence dominated.
Further beef is provided by 6-foot-3, 328-pound rookie Bobby Jamison-Travis, the team’s sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft. His talent for filling gaps along the front and wrecking blocking schemes has already been highlighted by two-time Super Bowl-winning legend Carl Banks.
He revealed telling Jamison-Travis “at the Town Hall, that after breaking down his college film. ‘You are now BTJ aka (BOBBY TRAFFIC JAM) instead of BJT.’ Don’t make me eat those words, You cause a lot of pile-ups.”
Jamison-Travis can defy his draft status, but the Giants also added plenty of veteran insurance, including an ex-Las Vegas Raiders nose tackle. He and Tupou now share space within an increasingly crowded rotation Harbaugh and new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson need to collectively compensate for the loss of Lawrence’s dynamic talents.
Giants Add 350-Pounder Known to John Harbaugh At Key Position