Shelby Harris was the first veteran defensive lineman to take a free agent visit with the New York Giants this offseason. Now that the NFL Draft is in the rear view, Big Blue's reconstruction of their interior defensive front has begun - and Harris is back in the building.
The Giants are signing the 34-year-old Harris, and the deal should be official Wednesday morning, a source told NorthJersey.com and The Record.
Most recently with the Browns, Harris has started 18 games in the past two years. He has played at least 500 defensive snaps in four of the past five seasons and should be a good fit in the rotation the Giants are trying to put together with an emphasis of improving their run defense.
The Giants would have been challenged to add to the position with Dexter Lawrence here; now, after trading Lawrence to Cincinnati, that void is even bigger.
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 13: Jadarian Price #24 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a touchdown with Malachi Fields #0 against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half at Notre Dame Stadium on September 13, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 13: Malachi Fields #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on against the Texas A&M Aggies during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium on September 13, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - SEPTEMBER 27: Malachi Fields #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish leaps to avoid the tackle and is pushed out of bounds in the first half during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on September 27, 2025 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - OCTOBER 4: Malachi Fields #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish goes up to make a touchdown catch against Sherrod Smith #23 of the Boise State Broncos during the second half of the NCAA game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Boise State Broncos at Notre Dame Stadium on October 4, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - SEPTEMBER 27: Malachi Fields #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish attempts to make a catch during the second half of the game against Kani Walker #13 of the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on September 27, 2025 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Fighting Irish defeated the Razorbacks 56-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - OCTOBER 4: Malachi Fields #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates after a touchdown during the second half of the NCAA game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Boise State Broncos at Notre Dame Stadium on October 4, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 15: Malachi Fields #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates with Eli Raridon #9 after scoring a touchdown in the first half during the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium on November 15, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)A pass flies over Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields (0) in the first half of a NCAA football game against Syracuse at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in South Bend.Nov 15, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Malachi Fields (0) catches a touchdown pass against Pittsburgh Panthers defensive back Shawn Lee Jr. (28) during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesNotre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Malachi Fields (0) goes airborne while hauling in a pass while being covered by Pittsburgh Panthers defensive back Rashad Battle (15) during the first half at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on November 15, 2025.Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Notre Dame wideout Malachi Fields (WO20) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images1 / 11Meet Malachi Fields, NY Giants' third-round pick in NFL Draft 2026SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 13: Jadarian Price #24 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a touchdown with Malachi Fields #0 against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half at Notre Dame Stadium on September 13, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)1 / 11Meet Malachi Fields, NY Giants' third-round pick in NFL Draft 2026SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 13: Jadarian Price #24 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a touchdown with Malachi Fields #0 against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half at Notre Dame Stadium on September 13, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)2 / 11Meet Malachi Fields, NY Giants' third-round pick in NFL Draft 2026SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 13: Malachi Fields #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on against the Texas A&M Aggies during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium on September 13, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)3 / 11Meet Malachi Fields, NY Giants' third-round pick in NFL Draft 2026FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - SEPTEMBER 27: Malachi Fields #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish leaps to avoid the tackle and is pushed out of bounds in the first half during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on September 27, 2025 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)4 / 11Meet Malachi Fields, NY Giants' third-round pick in NFL Draft 2026SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - OCTOBER 4: Malachi Fields #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish goes up to make a touchdown catch against Sherrod Smith #23 of the Boise State Broncos during the second half of the NCAA game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Boise State Broncos at Notre Dame Stadium on October 4, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)5 / 11Meet Malachi Fields, NY Giants' third-round pick in NFL Draft 2026FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - SEPTEMBER 27: Malachi Fields #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish attempts to make a catch during the second half of the game against Kani Walker #13 of the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on September 27, 2025 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Fighting Irish defeated the Razorbacks 56-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)6 / 11Meet Malachi Fields, NY Giants' third-round pick in NFL Draft 2026SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - OCTOBER 4: Malachi Fields #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates after a touchdown during the second half of the NCAA game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Boise State Broncos at Notre Dame Stadium on October 4, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)7 / 11Meet Malachi Fields, NY Giants' third-round pick in NFL Draft 2026PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 15: Malachi Fields #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates with Eli Raridon #9 after scoring a touchdown in the first half during the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium on November 15, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)8 / 11Meet Malachi Fields, NY Giants' third-round pick in NFL Draft 2026A pass flies over Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields (0) in the first half of a NCAA football game against Syracuse at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in South Bend.9 / 11Meet Malachi Fields, NY Giants' third-round pick in NFL Draft 2026Nov 15, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Malachi Fields (0) catches a touchdown pass against Pittsburgh Panthers defensive back Shawn Lee Jr. (28) during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images10 / 11Meet Malachi Fields, NY Giants' third-round pick in NFL Draft 2026Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Malachi Fields (0) goes airborne while hauling in a pass while being covered by Pittsburgh Panthers defensive back Rashad Battle (15) during the first half at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on November 15, 2025.11 / 11Meet Malachi Fields, NY Giants' third-round pick in NFL Draft 2026Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Notre Dame wideout Malachi Fields (WO20) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesThe DT class was not deep in the early rounds and need never matched value for the Giants. That did not stop them from trying to find a potential rotational piece with the first of their three sixth-round pieces with Auburn's Bobby Jamison-Travis. Jamison-Travis fell to Day 3 in part to his skill set being one-dimensional as a run-down fit solely, but that spoke to the Giants and what they were looking for.
The Giants have brought in Harris and Benito Jones for visits, and the expectation is that they will sign veteran D.J. Reader. They've also talked to Austin Johnson, among others.
Now that the draft is over, expect John Harbaugh and Joe Schoen to get some clarity on the position.
"We'll continue to keep those communications open and see what happens next week, maybe have a couple more visits with some vet guys," Schoen said. "Certainly on our radar."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Shelby Harris: NY Giants sign veteran defensive lineman, what's next