The New York Giants had been one of many NFL‘s worst groups at stopping the run final season, and there’s no proof they need to be higher in 2026.
But if they’re, Darius Alexander could have to be an enormous presence, which is why he was named the team’s breakout player to watch by ESPN’s Ben Solak.
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Alexander was a third-round decide within the 2025 NFL Draft who had 20 tackles and three.5 sacks for the Giants final season. He performed 16 video games, and began two, whereas the Giants ranked thirty first within the NFL in run protection, forward of solely the Cincinnati Bengals.
But Alexander will probably be thrust into motion for the Giants. D-tackle Roy Robertson-Harris sustained a torn Achilles tendon throughout offseason actions, and New York after all traded Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals for the No. 10 total decide.
Darius Alexander Named Giants’ Breakout Player to Watch
The Giants have an elite pass rush, named their greatest unit getting into the 2026 season. But it’s going to be up to Alexander, and companions D.J. Reader and Shelby Harris, to occupy inside offensive linemen.
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“The departure of Lawrence creates quite the black hole in the Giants’ defensive tackle rotation,” Solak wrote, “one far too big for DJ Reader to fill himself.”
So Alexander stands to be an important determine to change Lawrence, though stylistically he’s no Lawrence substitute in any respect.
“Lawrence is a squatty nose tackle with run-stopping prowess. Alexander is long and linear and wants to play upfield,” Solak wrote. “Alexander is an important player in pass-rush situations. For as deep and dangerous as the Giants’ room of edge rushers is, quarterbacks will far too easily climb the pocket without an interior presence.
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“It truly helps Alexander that he is so stylistically totally different from Lawrence, as he ought to keep away from unfair one-to-one comparisons this season.”
Darius Alexander is a Converted O-Lineman
Alexander came to Toledo as an offensive lineman but switched to defense during his redshirt season. So even though he played four years of D-line, earning second-team All-MAC honors, he is still a work in progress in the NFL.
“Alexander began his school profession on the offensive line, so he was all the time projected for extra 2026 affect than 2025,” Solak wrote. “Still, he had three sacks and three tackles for loss over the past six video games of his rookie season.”
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But Alexander’s offensive historical past could possibly be a profit too. He can exploit his data of O-line strategies whereas placing strain on rival quarterbacks’ faces.
This story was initially revealed by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2026, the place it first appeared within the NFL part. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.