Giants’ Harbaugh Says Odell Beckham Jr. Deserves NFL Roster Spot After Preseason Finale

New York Giants coach John Harbaugh offered a measured endorsement of Odell Beckham Jr. following Friday’s preseason finale against the New York Jets, stopping just short of guaranteeing the veteran receiver a roster spot. The coach praised Beckham’s training camp trajectory while acknowledging the wide receiver’s performance warrants consideration for an NFL roster. The Giants now face a critical decision ahead of Sunday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline to trim their roster to 53 players.

Beckham closed the preseason with three catches for 53 yards on six targets during the Giants’ 23-6 victory over their crosstown rivals at MetLife Stadium. He nearly added a spectacular 73-yard touchdown after breaking free on a deep route from quarterback Jameis Winston, though the pass sailed incomplete. The performance represented the culmination of a comeback attempt that began when the Giants signed Beckham in June, bringing the former star back to the franchise where he established himself as one of the league’s elite receivers.

“I think he has done enough to make an NFL roster for sure,” Harbaugh said Friday. “He’s played well. He’s gotten better as camp’s gone along, and I think he deserves credit for that.”

A Comeback Story Taking Shape

Beckham, who will turn 34 in November, played three Pro Bowl seasons with the Giants between 2014 and 2016 before injuries derailed his trajectory. The wide receiver last appeared in NFL action during the 2024 season, when he logged nine games with the Miami Dolphins but saw minimal usage. He went unsigned throughout the entire 2025 season, a year that began with him serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy.

Harbaugh noted Wednesday that Beckham had experienced his best week of training camp heading into the preseason finale. The receiver validated that assessment with his Friday performance, demonstrating the route-running ability and field awareness that once made him one of football’s most dynamic playmakers. For Beckham, the opportunity to rejoin the organization where his career began carries profound emotional weight beyond the competitive considerations.

“It would mean everything,” Beckham said about potentially making the Giants roster. “It would be my dream. This is where I started. There’s no place I want to give my whole heart to, more than anything else in the world, is this place right here.”

Roster Dynamics Shift After Injury

The Giants receiver room underwent a significant change when Calvin Austin III suffered a season-ending torn right ACL. The injury altered the team’s depth chart calculations and potentially opened additional roster space for Beckham’s comeback bid. Harbaugh addressed the injury’s impact on Wednesday, emphasizing the organization’s need to adjust its plans and redistribute responsibilities across the receiving corps.

“It just means that the next guy steps up and fills that role. We have to readjust,” Harbaugh said Wednesday about Austin’s injury.

The timing of Austin’s injury coincided with Beckham’s strongest training camp stretch, creating a scenario where the veteran’s experience and football IQ could provide immediate value. Harbaugh must now weigh Beckham’s demonstrated training camp progress, his preseason production, and the roster flexibility created by Austin’s absence against the long-term considerations of building a receiver room. The coach’s public praise for Beckham suggests the veteran has made a compelling case, though roster decisions often involve factors beyond individual performance.

Kicker Competition Yields Clear Winner

Dominic Zvada secured the Giants’ kicking job with a flawless three-field-goal performance in Friday’s game. The undrafted rookie converted attempts from 23, 53, and 46 yards while also connecting on two extra point tries. Harbaugh confirmed Zvada won the competition with fellow contender Ben Sauls, who did not play in the preseason finale but earned the coach’s respect throughout the evaluation process.

“He did great. He’ll win the job,” coach John Harbaugh said of Zvada. “He’ll be the kicker. That was the last step when we gave him a chance to prove he could do a whole game.”

Zvada demonstrated both distance and accuracy during training camp, outperforming Sauls in consistency while displaying a powerful leg capable of handling long-range attempts. The 53-yard field goal Friday provided tangible evidence of his range, particularly notable when contrasted with Jason Sanders-the kicker the Giants released in June-who missed a 53-yard attempt and an extra point while playing for the Jets.

Final Roster Decisions Loom

Harbaugh faces critical choices across multiple position groups as the Sunday deadline approaches. Beckham’s status remains uncertain despite the coach’s positive assessment, and the organization must balance sentiment and nostalgia against competitive realities. The receiver expressed gratitude for the opportunity while acknowledging the decision now rests beyond his control, emphasizing his faith and confidence in his preparation.

“I’m super grateful for the opportunity, and at this point, it’s in God’s hands,” Beckham said after the game. “I know that I have a good feeling about myself. I feel like there’s ball to be played, there’s plays to be made.”

The Giants organization will announce their final roster decisions by 6 p.m. ET Sunday, concluding a preseason that provided Beckham one more opportunity to showcase his abilities on the same field where he began his NFL journey. Whether that opportunity extends into the regular season depends on Harbaugh’s evaluation of the veteran’s fit within the team’s broader roster construction and competitive timeline. The coach’s public comments suggest Beckham has earned consideration, though the final determination will weigh multiple factors beyond Friday’s preseason performance.