Giants expected to make room for Najee Harris by parting with JuJu Smith-Schuster

The New York Giants’ preseason roster picture is tightening, and the first notable casualty, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter as reported by Pro Football Rumors, may be wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. The report says the Giants are planning to release Smith-Schuster, framing it as a roster move driven by the cost and space required to incorporate running back Najee Harris.

In practical terms, adding a veteran playmaker at another position forces a long list of smaller decisions. NFL rosters are limited, and teams must balance starters, depth across special teams roles, and the specific needs they feel they can cover if a player is inactive for a given week. The report’s underlying premise is that, once Harris is on board, Smith-Schuster will not be able to stay on the initial roster without creating space elsewhere.

Smith-Schuster’s situation is especially sensitive because veteran receivers typically provide more than just route-running. Teams often count on experienced wideouts for pass protection responsibilities, communication in the secondary of the offense, and depth behind the primary receiver group. Whether that versatility translates into a roster spot usually comes down to how the coaching staff projects the team’s younger options and how much production and reliability it expects each receiver to deliver early in the season.

For the Giants, Harris represents a distinct priority within the team’s offense. A running back addition can change how often the offense targets short and intermediate routes, how the scheme protects the quarterback, and how the team uses play-action to generate chunk yardage. While the report does not describe what that means for Smith-Schuster’s role specifically, it does connect the move to Harris’s roster cost and the consequent need to make room.

The timing also matters. Late summer releases and trimming decisions are often shaped by the upcoming regular-season preparation arc, with coaches looking for a manageable group of players who can consistently handle both offensive duties and special teams. Veterans can offer stability, but if a team believes it can get comparable value from other receivers, or if the roster needs to prioritize other positions, veteran depth sometimes becomes the easiest lever to pull.

It is worth emphasizing that this is a reported plan, not a confirmed move from the Giants themselves in the information provided here. Roster decisions can still shift due to late camp performance, health, or how final cuts are constructed. Still, the report’s framing suggests the Giants have already evaluated the relative value of keeping Smith-Schuster on the roster once Harris is added.

What to watch next is whether the Giants follow through with the release and, if so, what they do at receiver immediately afterward. The most telling indicators will be how the team structures its wideout depth chart, who absorbs the vacated reps during the final preseason window, and whether New York’s offensive usage changes in a way that reflects a heavier investment in Harris-centric ball distribution.