The New York Giants are heading into the 2026 NFL Combine with a theoretically dominant defensive front, and then a bunch of question marks just about everywhere else.
The linebacker room needs an overhaul, the secondary could use a lift, and the group in general just needs more playmakers who can force turnovers and show up in big moments. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson now gets his shot to shape the unit after Shane Bowen failed tremendously. He’s a defensive backs guy, so expect plenty of eyes on the DBs when they hit the field for on-field work Friday.
Related: 4 franchise-altering questions Giants must answer before the NFL Combine
The G-Men need a "green dot" leader in the middle, another interior presence to keep Lawrence from getting double-teamed into oblivion, and defensive backs who don't get burned all the time and play hard. Those are the boxes that have to get checked come draft night, and this week in Indianapolis will give fans a first look at the prospects who might be trusted to do it.
5 defensive players Giants should be watching closely at the combine
Caleb Downs, SAF - Ohio State
Let's start things off with the obvious one. Caleb Downs isn't just considered the best safety prospect in his class; he's also considered the best player overall. Indianapolis will feel the stare from East Rutherford when Downs hits the drills. In three of Harbaugh's last four drafts, he's taken a defensive back, meaning the 6-foot, 205-pounder is very much in play.
Downs is the kind of safety who runs the defense, and with Harby's history coaching elite safeties like Ed Reed and Kyle Hamilton, the pick practically makes itself. Be on the lookout for what life could look like with one of the best pure football players the league has seen in a minute.
Zxavian Harris, DT - Mississippi
Size. Zxavian Harris’ inclusion here is in large part due to his massive 6-foot-8, 330-pound frame. He’s not much of a pass-rusher, but his 77.9 Pro Football Focus run-defense grade suggests he’d be the perfect fit next to Dexter Lawrence in the interior. Sexy Dexy was double-teamed into irrelevance last year, and that just can’t fly in 2026.
Harris is built to literally eat space and demand attention, which is exactly what this front has been missing. He moves better than someone that size should and produced against the run, and if he tests well enough in the short-area drills, he won’t last long on Day 3. For a defense that needs someone to keep Lawrence clean and finally stiffen up the middle, this one writes itself.
Eric Gentry, LB - USC
Gentry looks like he was built in a lab. 6-foot-6, arms that feel like they stretch across the tri-state area, and the kind of range that jumps off the screen. Dennard Wilson wants length and versatility at linebacker, and Gentry checks both boxes in a way most prospects just don’t. He sees over the line, gets hands into passing lanes, and led USC in forced fumbles last season while bouncing between off-ball duties and some pass-rushing work.
The big question is whether 221 pounds holds up on Sundays, and that’s where the combine comes in. If he tests well and shows he can carry a little more weight without losing that movement, he’s not just a Day 3 flier anymore. For a Giants defense that desperately needs an LB overhaul, Gentry feels like the type of high-upside swing that could age really well.
Christen Miller, DT - Georgia
At 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, there’s nothing subtle about what Miller brings to the table. The G-Men have been begging for someone who can hold the line next to Sexy Dexy, and an 88.1 run-defense grade isn’t an accident. He plays with power, absorbs contact, and still has enough burst off the snap to jolt guards before they settle in.
The pass-rush production isn’t eye-popping yet, but the potential is there. He’s played multiple positions, holds up through double teams, and doesn’t get knocked off his spot. If New York addresses another need like WR, OT, or DB in Round 1, circling back for someone like Miller on Day 2 feels like a smart move to finally give Lawrence legitimate help instead of hoping another failed rotation figures itself out... which they inevitably won't.
Brandon Cisse, CB - South Carolina
Speed changes everything in the secondary, and that’s exactly what this defense doesn’t have enough of. At 6-foot and 190 pounds, Cisse brings track speed that could dip into the 4.2s, along with the kind of recovery burst that lets him survive on an island. Wilson needs a corner who can run with vertical threats instead of giving a 10-yard cushion all the time, and Cisse thrives in press-man looks while still flying downhill against the run.
The tools are obvious, which is why Indy matters so much for him. If the 40 and the jumps pop the way scouts expect, he’s not hanging around long on Day 2 -- if he makes it out of the Round 1. The technique still needs polishing, and he can get grabby when he’s flustered, but the upside is there for a true man-coverage piece. For a secondary that’s been searching for any bit of consistency, betting on traits like this makes a lot of sense.