The New York Giants defensive line was a problem for them all year. Bad technique and lack of depth caused the problem.
The New York Giants had a bad year — HOT TAKE! In August, it was obvious that the defensive line and the run defense, in general, could significantly hold the team back — that’s exactly what happened, among other things, of course. The Giants were bullied up front, and the run fits from the second level were a problem, while the back-side holes remained way too wide and unoccupied.
The end result of the issue was the firing of the head coach and defensive coordinator, and a sieve-like run defense that opposing offenses exploited. Dexter Lawerence did not seem like himself after recovering from a 2024 elbow injury, and the depth on the roster was not sufficient. Let’s take a regrettable trip down recent memory lane.
2025 in review
The roster
Dexter Lawrence, Darius Alexander, Roy Robertson-Harris, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Elijah Chatman, D.J. Davidson, Elijah Garcia
The Giants’ run defense was predictably abysmal in 2025. The same mistakes kept plaguing the defense: poor leverage, over-pursuit, a lack of continuity, back-side integrity, and, to be frank, an inability to hold up at the point of attack on the defensive line. The run struggles of the Giants’ defense were not solely on the defensive line, but the line was among the issues at fault.
The Giants finished 31st in yards allowed, surrendering 145 yards on the ground per game. Lawrence took a big statistical step back in play. He had just 16 STOPs in 2025; for reference, he had 25 last season and 35 in 2023, and Lawrence was the furthest thing from the problem with the position group. Lawrence led the position group with 754 snaps.
Robertson-Harris (627snaps) was a quality addition for the Giants if his role wasn’t the clear-cut number two defensive tackle in the rotation. Alexander (394 snaps) started behind the eight-ball and struggled to anchor down all year against the run, although his pass-rushing ability flashed bright toward the end of the year. At least Alexander’s quickness at the line of scrimmage allowed him to win one-on-one matchups in the run game (he finished the year with 12 STOPs).
Nunez-Roches (242snaps) was hurt for much of the season and is not the run defender he used to be, while Davidson (256 snaps) and Chatman (83 snaps) both had flashes as pass rushers, but shouldn’t be relied on as assets in run defense. Garcia played 44 snaps in the first four games, but was signed off the Giants’ practice squad by Atlanta.
The lack of strength in the run game was one issue, but the lack of dynamism from the interior pass rush hindered the overall skill of a talented pass-rushing group. Lawrence was off all season. Was he still solid — sure — but not nearly the player Giants’ fans were accustomed to celebrating, and fans could have done without his off-putting post-game comments throughout the season.
Lawrence had 34 pressures, Robertson-Harris had 21, and Alexander had 15 pressures. No other Giants’ defensive linemen cracked double-digits. Alexander was, though, third on the team in sacks with four, behind Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, and Nunez-Roches got home three times and celebrated extensively every time, even if the Giants were down double-digit points.
The Giants’ defensive line was disappointing, which, again, was predictable. New York has done little to fortify the line behind Lawrence after trading Leonard Williams and allowing A’Shawn Robinson to walk in free agency. The third-round selection of Alexander was not going to fix the line, nor was the singing of Robertson-Harris, who was a solid contributor.
Joe Schoen botched the defensive line group to the point where Lawrence not performing at peak Lawrence rendered the group as one of the weakest in the league. The Giants must make investments to strengthen the spine of their defense, and that starts up front on the line.
2025 Grade: D
2026 outlook
A new defensive system can address some of the issues, but depth and another starter remain a priority. The Giants were ill-prepared too often throughout the 2025 season, and the same mistakes kept compounding. New York could look to free agency to patch up the problem. 29-year-old John Franklin-Myers or 32-year-old D.J. Reader could be veteran options for the Giants to explore. Nunez-Roches is set to be a free agent, and I have to imagine the Giants will allow the veteran to walk.
I would like to see Schoen invest in the free agent market and take the best player available in the draft. Again, the personnel will be contingent on the defensive coordinator’s vision, but talent must be infused into the defensive line unit.
New York needs both strength to anchor against DUO double-teams in the run game and a bit more juice and a deeper rotation for pass rushers. I like what I saw from Alexander regarding the latter, but the former remains a question. It’s also plausible that the Giants receive a better version of Lawrence in 2026, which would be more than welcome. Overall, this is a position group the Giants must address.
Category: General Sports
