The New York Giants may be heading into the 2026 season with a more complete roster than they've had in recent years, but that doesn't mean they're without weaknesses.
The depth chart still has a few glaring holes, especially on defense. The cornerback room is full of question marks, and the interior of the defensive line is a major concern. While offseason investments may be enough to patch the cornerback need, the defensive interior has only become worse in recent months.
Trading Dexter Lawrence away was absolutely the right decision for the Giants. The move brought back significant value for an aging player, potentially on the decline. But Lawrence left a massive gap in the middle of the defense that the G-Men still haven't been able to fill.
Giants' biggest need is the one they created
In a recent article, Josh Edwards of CBS Sports named the biggest remaining need for every team in the NFC. The choice for the Giants was obvious.
Edwards said, "Defensive line is the biggest need after Dexter Lawrence's trade to Cincinnati left the team thin at the position. Roy Robertson-Harris, Shelby Harris and DJ Reader will average roughly 33.5 years of age during the regular season and Darius Alexander has yet to break out in his young NFL career."Â
New York's strategy after trading Lawrence was clear: Replace the former All-Pro in the aggregate. No one player could take on the role he held, so the Giants added multiple free agents in hopes of building a more complete unit.
As Edwards mentions, the unit skews heavily toward veterans. Robertson-Harris will likely miss the season with his torn Achilles, so he shouldn't factor in, but Reader and Harris are both over 30 years old. The Giants are hoping for Reader to play a run-stuffing role on early downs, while Harris will line up as a 3-technique defensive tackle.
Alexander is the wild card here. The second-year defender showed signs of promise late in his rookie season, producing three sacks and four run stops in his final six games. He'll step into a bigger role this year, potentially overtaking Harris for the starting 3-technique spot.
The Giants didn't walk into the Lawrence trade blindly. Clearly, they had a plan to replace his production. But if their various defensive line gambles don't pay off, this lingering weakness could be enough to end their playoff dreams in 2026.
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