NFL Draft: John Harbaugh's optimism fuels Giants' renewed energy in pre-draft phase

For a team that won just four games last season, the Giants aren’t showing desperation, even when their best player demanded a trade the day before voluntary workouts started this month.

Coach John Harbaugh kept things even-keeled when talking about Dexter Lawrence's trade demand last week and general manager Joe Schoen kept the same temperature during his pre-draft conference Tuesday.

Talks with Lawrence’s agent, Joel Segal, have been good. Those talks included Schoen, Harbaugh and Dawn Aponte, senior VP of football operations and strategy. Nothing has changed, but good communication is better than none.

“We'd like for Dexter to be here, and at some point we'll come to a resolution here, whatever that may be,” Schoen said Tuesday. “We’ll see. But conversations have been really good. They've been productive. Again, we'll see what happens here down the road.”

Those comments suggest there’s no sign of an unraveling relationship with Lawrence, who has two years left on his contract. It’s a good place to be, but it has to stay there given Lawrence’s value to the team.

Harbaugh can be credited for the calm strength around the Giants heading into next week’s NFL Draft that wasn’t there last season. The lack of apparent worry shows confidence in the direction of a team that must improve next season.

A week into voluntary workouts, Harbaugh's positive energy is changing the mood inside a building that’s been beaten down by too many defeats.

“That definitely is at the heart of what we're going to try to do,” Harbaugh said. “Try to be excited about every single day, try to approach the day, as my dad would say, with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”

That attitude carried over when Schoen discussed the draft, which starts next Thursday. Most teams with the No. 5 pick are concerned about finding a savior. Not the Giants.

Their savior, for now, came last year with quarterback Jaxson Dart. There’s enough belief entering Dart’s second season that there’s less worry about the offense with it in his hands. Add in Abdul Carter plus a healthy Malik Nabers, and that’s three first-round cornerstones to share the pressure of high expectations.

Which brings us to this year’s prospects. Whoever is available at No. 5 won’t need to elevate their position room on the Giants. Schoen pointed out that the team drafted Carter last year despite having Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux set at linebacker. It worked out alright.

So let’s play what if with Schoen. Could the Giants take Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love?

“We like our running back room now,” said Schoen, before rattling off what Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary did last season. “We’ll see what happens on draft night, but like the room the way it’s constructed right now.”

He then said Love is “an offensive weapon” that can play all three downs and catch out of the backfield. That doesn’t sound like a team desperate for a No. 1 running back. It’s a team that won’t mind adding a back to a unit that was fifth in rushing last season.

What about Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles or safety Caleb Downs? Schoen called them “really good football players” that the front office thinks highly of.

There’s no concern about adding Styles to a linebacker room led by free agent signee Tremaine Edmunds. Downs could join a room with Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin. So what? As Schoen said, draft the best player available and figure it out.

It’s a position of strength the Giants haven’t displayed in a while, despite the Lawrence uncertainty. 

The Giants just have to back that up with sound decisions. Taking care of Lawrence and drafting the right players next week will keep fans trusting that confidence as Harbaugh and the Giants work to fix the franchise.

By Evan Barnes

evan.barnes@newsday.comevan_b

Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.