The Giants’ defensive tackle search has already shifted from stopgap thinking to long-term planning.
With Dexter Lawrence no longer in the picture after his offseason departure, New York has pieced together the middle of its defensive front with short-term veterans. That setup can only hold for so long, and the 2027 NFL Draft looks like the cleanest path to a real solution. There’s no shortage of interior linemen who could work their way into first-round territory once the college season gets rolling, and the Giants should already have a few names circled.
Miami’s Justin Scott is one of the first. He usually plays as a three-technique and wins with burst, exploding off the line and getting into blockers before they can settle in.
His production last season was limited, but the athletic traits are obvious, and a breakout in 2026 wouldn’t be a surprise. New York is counting on Darius Alexander in that role for now, but Scott would make plenty of sense if Alexander doesn’t deliver.
Will Echoles brings a very different look. The Ole Miss tackle is built like a wall and plays that way, too, rarely giving ground in the run game.
He spent most of last season as a three-technique, but he has the frame to handle nose tackle work if a team needs him there. He’s not just a run-stuffer, either.
Echoles posted 33 pressures and five sacks last season, and another strong year could push him into the first round.
Another Miami defender, Ahmad Moten Sr., is more of a wrecking ball on the interior. He lived in the backfield last season, finishing with nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
At 325 pounds, he has the size to fit as a nose tackle in the NFL. The concern is his run defense, where too many missed tackles kept him from looking like a dependable anchor.
If he cleans that up this season, he could become one of the Giants’ most attractive options.
Oklahoma’s David Stone is already a familiar name for Giants draft watchers. He’s shown up in multiple early mock drafts tied to Big Blue, and the fit is easy to see.
His run defense could be exactly what New York needs next season, particularly if the team moves on from DJ Reader. Stone can hold his ground against double teams and still has the lateral quickness to chase plays to the outside, which makes him a strong first-round candidate.
Then there’s Oregon’s A'Mauri Washington, who might have been a first-round pick had he entered the 2026 NFL Draft. Instead, another year in college could push him into top-ten territory.
Washington affects both the run game and the passing game, and he can line up anywhere on the interior. His strength and quick get-off make him a problem for blockers, and if the Giants want him, they may need to trade up to get him.
In Other News...
Giants Turn To Familiar Ravens Pipeline As Linebacker Need Grows
The Giants added a familiar face to their linebacker room by signing veteran Malik Harrison to the practice squad, a move that gives them another experienced option as they look to stabilize the position. Harrison arrives with five seasons of familiarity from his time under John Harbaugh in Baltimore, then spent a year with the Steelers before landing in New York, giving the Giants a veteran who knows the league and the kind of system demands that come with it.
New York will need to clear space on its 17-player practice squad to make the addition official, but Harrison is expected to be in the mix quickly. For a defense that can always use more depth in the middle of the field, the appeal is obvious, and the Giants are leaning once again on a Ravens-connected pipeline to patch a need before it becomes a bigger problem. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Still Have One Unsettled Roster Issue Before Week 1
The Giants have spent the late stages of the summer still surveying the market for help along the defensive front, with general manager Joe Schoen making it clear he wants to upgrade at defensive tackle. New York has also brought in several defensive linemen for workouts, a sign the team is keeping the door open to adding depth before Week 1.
Practice-squad options are already in place, but the search has not produced a confirmed trade or signing yet, leaving one roster spot on the interior line very much unsettled. For a team trying to get the defense ready for opening weekend, it is the kind of lingering issue that can still shape how the first few games look once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Have One Linebacker Decision Still Hanging Over Roster Cuts
The Giants trimmed their linebacker room as part of roster cuts, and most of the names that hit the wire have already landed somewhere else, either on active rosters or practice squads. One holdover remains in a more uncertain spot: Anfernee Orji, the late-July addition who arrived with some NFL experience from the Saints and Titans and was still working back after a torn ACL.
Orjis situation is a reminder that roster cutdowns are rarely the end of the story in late August, especially for players trying to re-establish themselves after injury. NFL rosters are still shifting, which leaves open the possibility that his next stop could come soon, but for now he is the lone Giants linebacker from that group still waiting for a new opportunity. [Read more 🡒]