Well, it didn't take long for the New York Giants to completely overhaul their defensive line unit after trading away star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. Out of the 10 defensive linemen on the 90-man roster, only two were with the team last year: Darius Alexander and Roy Robertson-Harris.
Alexander is in line for a breakout Year 2, while RRH's 2026 status is up in the air, following a torn Achilles suffered earlier in the offseason. Veteran additions Shelby Harris and DJ Reader will likely start alongside Alexander, but the rest of the rotation is anyone's guess.
It wasn’t two years ago that the G-Men had an unknown depth gem waiting to be unearthed. But now Cory Durden plays for the ever-icky New England Patriots, and his contributions are becoming tougher to ignore. It’s likely why ESPN’s Bill Barnwell included the 27-year-old on his NFL All-Backup Team.
Giants could really use a player like Cory Durden right now
If New York’s defensive line wasn’t such a question mark entering 2026, Barnwell’s recognition of Durden probably wouldn’t matter much. But relying on a Year 2 breakout from Alexander while asking Reader and Harris to take on roles that are likely bigger than where they’re at in their careers makes the situation feel like a risky gamble for a team with playoff aspirations.
Keeping a youngish, inexpensive depth piece with untapped potential like Durden could have made this transition along the defensive line a little smoother. Instead, the G-Men released him during 53-man roster cuts last offseason, setting the stage for a complete overhaul of the position group this year.
After getting cut, Durden didn't waste much time making the most of his new opportunity with the Pats. He ended up playing a decent role for the Super Bowl runners-up, logging over 500 snaps and earning a strong 81.4 pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking eighth out of 134 eligible players.
With Lawrence now gone, Robertson-Harris shelved, and Rakeem Nuñez-Roches off to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there is a severe lack of continuity along Big Blue’s defensive front. Having an ascending player like Durden still in the mix would’ve given the Giants another reliable option as they head into training camp, even if only as a high-end rotational piece.
Meanwhile, back in East Rutherford, the G-Men are entering camp with a pretty top-heavy, veteran-laden group. Beyond the presumed starters -- Alexander, Reader, and Harris -- the rest of the depth chart is a minefield of relatively unproven flyers (including the other vets).
In hindsight, it’s frustrating to see the Giants enter a highly anticipated season with a totally overhauled -- and semi-unproven -- group while a player like Durden has continued to develop elsewhere. His presence wouldn’t have solved everything, but it certainly would’ve made the depth chart entering camp feel a little more stable.
Durden wasn’t the only player with Big Blue ties to make Barnwell’s second-string squad. The list also included current Giants backup quarterback Jameis Winston and pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.
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