The New York Giants have quietly reshaped their defensive front this offseason, but there’s still work to do if they want to unlock the full potential of Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence in 2025.
They’ve already added veterans Roy Robertson-Harris, Jeremiah Ledbetter, and Chauncey Golston to the rotation, but none of them scream “true difference-maker.” Now, with the NFL Draft looming and visits piling up, the G-Men have made it clear they’re not done. They’ve already hosted top prospects like Penn State’s Abdul Carter and Florida State’s Joshua Farmer—both of whom could be early-round targets.
And now, another familiar name is in the mix: DeMarcus Walker. A veteran pass rusher with a productive history under new Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen.
DeMarcus Walker visits Giants, could reunite with Shane Bowen
According to ESPN’s newest analyst Peter Schrager, the Giants are hosting Walker for a free-agent visit on Wednesday. The 29-year-old vet has carved out a solid eight-year career across four teams, but his most productive stretch? That came under Bowen in Tennessee. They seemingly have a good relationship and Bowen has spoken highly of Walker in the past:
#Titans DC Shane Bowen on Demarcus Walker and how he's impacting the QB, playing with energy and being consistent. pic.twitter.com/f6fTdAaacG
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) December 21, 2022
In 2022, playing for the Titans and working directly under Bowen’s scheme, Walker recorded career highs in sacks (7.0), tackles for loss (10), and quarterback hits (16). He was consistently disruptive, playing both on the edge and inside on passing downs, giving Bowen a versatile chess piece that could crash the pocket from anywhere. That kind of role sounds awfully appealing in New York.
Since then, Walker’s numbers have dipped slightly in Chicago, but he did post a career-high 47 tackles and 23 pressures last season. He started all 17 games and remained a steady presence up front. He’s not a splashy name (he’s no Abdul Carter) but he’s the type of guy who knows how to produce in Bowen’s system and can immediately factor into the Giants’ rotation.
With the draft just over two weeks away, this visit could hint at how Big Blue might approach the No. 3 pick. They’re still heavily linked to Carter, and bringing in Walker wouldn’t necessarily change that, but it could give them breathing room. If they land Walker on a short-term deal, it opens up more flexibility for Joe Schoen to go in a different direction on Day 1.
Walker had his best year under Bowen once. A reunion could bring out that version again—and for a Giants team that desperately needs more production from everywhere, that’s worth betting on.