The New York Giants added a wealth of talent to both sides of the ball during free agency this offseason.
New York signed former Baltimore Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard to a two-year, $7.6 million deal in March. The nine-year veteran is expected to provide a significant boost to the Giants’ backfield in 2026 and will reunite with head coach John Harbaugh in New York after spending nine seasons together in Baltimore.
Ricard has long been regarded as one of the NFL’s top fullbacks throughout his nine-year career. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound star represents a major addition for the Giants, and he should make an immediate impact in New York as early as Week 1.
Ricard recently shared his first impressions of Giants quarterback Jaxon Dart, noting that the young passer already displays the traits of a true leader both on and off the field.
“Year 2, I feel like he thinks he has a lot to prove,” Ricard said. “He’s very hungry. For me, he sat down and talked with me for like 10 minutes just to get to know me, like my second day there. He’s very accessible. He’s in the locker room after workouts playing pool for an hour.
“I think that’s really important for building the culture of the team and getting guys to play for you. It’s very important for quarterbacks to bring the team together. You definitely see it. And having Jameis Winston in the room, Dart will learn from him as well in terms of leadership and team morale—trying to eat W’s and whatnot.”
Ricard should also provide a much-needed boost in protection for Dart next season. The young quarterback absorbed unnecessary hits on multiple occasions in 2025, and Ricard is expected to help both Dart and the Giants’ backfield as a whole.
Both Dart and Ricard are poised to play critical roles on New York’s offense in 2026, with the duo likely contributing directly to each other’s success throughout the season.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants’ Patrick Ricard: Jaxson Dart a ‘hungry’ leader ready for Year 2
Reporting by Jake Boico, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
