When Dexter Lawrence speaks, people listen. Being 6-foot-4 and 340 pounds probably helps. The New York Giants star has become the unquestioned leader of the defense, letting his play and work ethic do most of the talking. He’s not a vocal leader by nature, but there are always exceptions.
The 27-year-old superstar has needed help in the trenches for years. The middle of the Giants’ defensive line has struggled to consistently stop the run, and it’s been a glaring issue. Finally, help is on the way. Big Blue used the 65th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Darius Alexander — a powerful, disruptive force who’s expected to line up right next to him.
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And rather than wait to see if the 24-year-old has what it takes, Lawrence has already stepped in and taken him under his wing, which is the best news Giants fans could hear.
Dexter Lawrence isn’t wasting time welcoming his new running mate
Football fans hear it all the time from star players: “It’s not my job to mentor the rookies.” And for the most part, they’re absolutely right. There’s no obligation. But it can do a lot for the locker room if they do. And Lawrence clearly understands that if the Giants are going to do anything real this season, he’s going to need all the help he can get.
Meeting with the media after the first day of training camp, Lawrence spoke about his offseason work with Alexander. He said they trained together at Clemson and made a point to praise the rookie’s college tape: “His tape at Toledo is very impressive.”
Dexter Lawrence says he trained with #Giants rookie Darius Alexander in the offseason, “his tape at Toledo is very impressive”
— Madelyn Burke (@MadelynBurke) July 23, 2025
That’s not nothing. Lawrence doesn’t hand out compliments often, especially unprompted. If he’s already putting in time with Alexander and talking him up publicly, it speaks volumes about how seriously he views the rookie’s potential.
That should mean something. Joe Schoen didn’t draft him to sit on the sideline. They don’t need him to start Week 1, but that's the goal. The veterans in front of him are fine, but that’s not why they left the 65th pick off the table in the Jaxson Dart trade. If Alexander can follow Lawrence’s lead, he’s going to play. And if he holds his own, this defense gets a lot harder to deal with. And Lawrence isn't leaving anything to chance.
That’s the hope. And working with No. 97 all offseason gives him the best shot at getting there — because if there’s one thing Giants fans wanted to hear, it’s that one of their most promising rookies is already learning from their most dominant player.