New York Giants Free Agent Spotlight: Dwayne Harris

Get blockers! I have a feeling they're going for the Iowa guard. :)

fills a huge need on the Giants as a special teams player both as a returner and in coverage. As a WR, he may not get more than one or two snaps a game, but if the defense is not used to defending him, he might make a occasional big play. Sort of fall through a defensive crack, if you will.

Yikes.

His draft write-up from NFL.com:

OVERVIEW
Harris has enough ability and a polished skill set needed to succeed as a slot receiver in the NFL who can also contribute as a returner. Hard-working player who was productive in college. He can beat man coverage underneath and find openings in zones but doesn't possess the pure explosion to beat tight coverage. Not a threat to beat you deep but can create some big plays evading the first defender. His willingness to go over the middle and his effort while run blocking demonstrate his great toughness. Harris should come off the board in the middle rounds of April's draft.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS Harris is a crisp, refined route-runner. Gets in and out of his breaks in a hurry. Can find soft spots in zone coverage. Plucks and snatches the ball away from his frame. Almost built like a running back - can break tackles in the secondary and make the first man miss. Willing to catch the ball in traffic and productive doing so.
WEAKNESSES Doesn't have impressive height or top-end speed. Can struggle to separate from quicker, faster corners. Won't consistently challenge the defense vertically and won't take the short pass for six. Doesn't catch the ball over his shoulder naturally. Sustained a season-ending foot injury in college.

Graded out at: 6.45 (should become instant starter)
Link - ( New Window )

for specials this year if their return game isn't better this year then there is only one direction to point->Quinn.

Paying that much for a ST'er.....what's really sad is in the write up, Eric has to bring up , 2012 and 2013 to sell this guy....his numbers dropped in 2014......

To justify those cap numbers, he has to significantly overshadow the stats we put up last year on ST's....as for being a 3rd receiver, he's Jernigan height.....when will this front office learn?

have been looking for someone to competently fill this role (without risking a player in a starting position) for what seems like forever.

If he can finish in the top 10 returning punts and kickoffs, make some big stops in coverage and chip in as a receiver it's money very well spent.

Not sure how big an "if" that is though.

I guess he plays faster than timed

In comment 12201702 Doomster said:

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Paying that much for a ST'er.....what's really sad is in the write up, Eric has to bring up , 2012 and 2013 to sell this guy....his numbers dropped in 2014...... To justify those cap numbers, he has to significantly overshadow the stats we put up last year on ST's....as for being a 3rd receiver, he's Jernigan height.....when will this front office learn?

He has two inches in height on Jernigan.

Harris has flashed in several areas of ST's, plus has accomplished more as a receiver. Did they overpay? Perhaps, but it could work out in the end. We have zero idea if Cruz will be okay and Randle is a pending FA.

but it seems wasteful. Our great returners never do anything under the guidance of the HAIR, Tom Quinn

Let's keep OBJ on specials and risk him tearing apart his knee

but it seems like we have significantly overpaid. my only issue with the signing is the contract, not the player.

I think it's a big part of his appeal. He might eat into Donnell's snaps and Hynoski's as much as any of the WRs. Obviously he won't line up at TE or FB. But a WR who can block a DE or LB makes the run much more credible out of 10 and 11 personnel groupings.

In comment 12201983 Big Blue Blogger said:

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I think it's a big part of his appeal. He might eat into Donnell's snaps and Hynoski's as much as any of the WRs. Obviously he won't line up at TE or FB. But a WR who can block a DE or LB makes the run much more credible out of 10 and 11 personnel groupings.

With his after the catch ability, I'm excited to see his impact on the screen game as well. Or bubble screens to Cruz/Beckham behind him, with Harris charged with making the seal block to spring them.

you have to prepare that way. Harris is Cruz insurance, in addition to his ST play.

He brings toughness and has the most important football measurement that doesn't register at the combine. Heart.

Great addition in multiple areas and will be looked at as a great signing and worth every penny IMO.

A hard worker he'll have positive affects on the others during practice and while training during the week too. Its important to build a culture of hard work and dedication within your locker room and a big part of that starts with the type of players you add to your team. Seems like the Giants grade free agents much higher when they have those qualities

In comment 12201902 Rory said:

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Let's keep OBJ on specials and risk him tearing apart his knee

I know its only been about 17 years but...at some point we really need to stop assuming every star player will endure the same fate on kick returns as Jason Sehorn. How often has it happened in the 17 years since?

that "we overpaid" on a player who we have no idea what was happening behind the scenes, the Giants evaluation of him, if several teams were interested, etc and so forth is mind-numbing.

The Giants decided they wanted a big addition to their STs. So they found and excellent returner and gunner and 3rd/4th WR. And we took away from Dallas.

They paid what they needed to. Can we watch him play on our team before we condemn the terms with our massive cap knowledge--you know, versus the amateurs on the Giants?

without cap difficulty, who cares what they pay?

of this guy can give is quality play as a KO/PR, be the gunner he's reputed to be, be a solid 4th WR who can block AND keep OBJ from return duties, he's be worth every penny he's paid imv

.

Harris was a constant spark last season for Dallas. They'll coach him up to protect the rock better, and he's dynamic making defenders miss in small spaces. Good burst and elusive, and protects OB from having to return punts.

Strengthen NYG's specials and depth, and weaken Dallas' in one fell swoop.

....that last year they led the league in 80-yard + drives because they had no return game to speak of whatsoever.

...."excellent" the year before though.

Dallas has a tendency to not spread the ball around to different receiving options as much as the Giants like to. We also saw how differently we used Martellus compared to how they used him.

apparent in the highlight film. If he was a little faster some of those catches and punts are TDs instead of long gainers. I like this dude though, reminds me a bit of a smaller Marion Barber if he had played WR...Harris is a beast.

In comment 12202584 yungdeeks said:

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Dallas has a tendency to not spread the ball around to different receiving options as much as the Giants like to. We also saw how differently we used Martellus compared to how they used him.

Bennet had Witten in front of him, a pro bowl two-way tight end.

In comment 12202584 yungdeeks said:

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Dallas has a tendency to not spread the ball around to different receiving options as much as the Giants like to. We also saw how differently we used Martellus compared to how they used him.

I expect the Giants to find some creative ways to get him the ball, but unlike MB, he wasn't stuck behind a future HOF (Witten). Many (legitimately) question his ability as a WR due to the fact that the Cole Beasley passed him on the depth chart and the Cowboys chose to pay Beasley over him.

The Cowboys like Beasley a lot, and Romo raves about him.

To us, it looks pretty bad for Harris, because Beasley seems closer to Phil McConkey than Wes Welker or Randall Cobb. But the truth is, he's a good slot receiver. Harris does more things, but Beasley is younger and does one important thing quite well.

There's also a trace of nepotism, and pandering to the fans, who buy a lot of Beasley merchandise: the spunky little Texan from SMU gets the $7MM guarantee although he's an RFA; his rival from Georgia by way of ECU does the dirty work for four years, then gets a handshake and a wave goodbye.

Among active Cowboys, Beasley's jersey ranks as follows:
Men: #5 (Bryant, Witten, Romo, Martin)
Women: #4 (Bryant, Witten, Romo)
Youth: #4 (Bryant, Witten, Romo)

On a strictly statistical basis, that's roughly comparable to Preston Parker placing fourth behind Beckham, Cruz and Manning.

"Where can I get a Preston Parker jersey?"
- No Giants fan, ever.

In comment 12203827 Big Blue Blogger said:

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Among active Cowboys, Beasley's jersey ranks as follows: Men: #5 (Bryant, Witten, Romo, Martin) Women: #4 (Bryant, Witten, Romo) Youth: #4 (Bryant, Witten, Romo) On a strictly statistical basis, that's roughly comparable to Preston Parker placing fourth behind Beckham, Cruz and Manning. "Where can I get a Preston Parker jersey?" - No Giants fan, ever.

I doubt Randle even ranks that high in jersey sales.

Beasley is a poor man's Steve Smith (Giants).

Kill the spotlight until we have a star to shine the light on. Don't see one free agent that was sign worth a spotlight. Knowing how the Giants draft, more bling best talented player on the board and not drafting based on needs and the strength of the draft I'm a bit worried. Now it all come down to the draft.

I'm with you...anything that keep OBJ off specials is a great move by me.

Aside from being enormously popular, he has the advantage of a "green field" with no prior sales. Manning and Cruz are #2 and #3 - not bad considering that most of their die-hard fans bought jerseys years ago. After that, there's a big drop to the next level - e.g. Pierre-Paul, who was a big seller a few years ago. The steep slope continues through various lesser players before you finally get to Rueben Randle. Despite his 900+ receiving yards - about twice the production of fellow third-year receiver Cole Beasley - Randle suffers the indignity of ranking right behind the punter.