The New York Giants spent a lot of money during the first wave of free agency to upgrade multiple positions, but none of those moves addressed arguably their biggest roster hole, both literally and figuratively speaking.
Big Blue might need to take a trip to their local Arby’s because there’s a serious beef shortage in North Jersey, specifically along the defensive line. It's 6-foot-4, 340-pound Dexter "Sexy Dexy" Lawrence and a whole lotta nothing else. They missed out on guys like John Franklin-Myers, Dalvin Tomlinson, and A'Shawn Robinson, but with veterans Calais Campbell, D.J. Reader, and Shelby Harris still available, it makes you wonder what the deal is with dragging their feet on bringing in some help.
But there could be one name on the open market Big Blue is waiting on, which would justify the patience and then some: former Las Vegas defensive lineman Christian Wilkins.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Wilkins is set on playing in 2026, and as many as 26 teams are waiting to see where he’s at in his rehab before making a move on the 30-year-old run-stuffer:
Free-agent DT Christian Wilkins fully intends to play this season, but still is rehabbing his foot injury, per his agent David Mulugheta. So far 26 teams have reached out and are waiting for Wilkins to be ready, and Wilkins is expected to have a new home as soon as he wants. pic.twitter.com/RIZvd0mxA4
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 20, 2026
There’s a good chance the Giants are one of them. They almost have to be.
Giants’ patience on defensive line may come down to Christian Wilkins
Why else would Joe Schoen and John Harbaugh not bring in a defensive lineman in free agency? Everyone and their friend’s cousin’s goldfish knows Big Blue needs to address the unsexy void next to Sexy Dexy. The three-time Pro Bowler just spent all of 2025 getting double-teamed into oblivion and roasted by Giants legends. He needs help.
And who better to pair him with than Wilkins? The two go way back, dominating offensive lines at Clemson and winning two national titles together. That run turned them both into first-round picks -- Wilkins went 13th in 2019, and Lawrence followed at 19.
The 30-year-old has “Harbaugh guy” written all over him. If there’s one thing the 63-year-old understands, it’s that a good defense starts and ends with stopping the run, which just so happens to be Wilkins’ specialty. There are obvious injury concerns, but if he’s cleared to play and the drive is there, bringing him in on a prove-it deal could be a sneaky-awesome low-risk, high-reward signing that changes the tone of the season.
If Schoen really wanted to bring in a defensive lineman, he would’ve by now... right? There’s no real reason to keep ignoring a spot that’s been a problem for this long. With Wilkins sitting there and planning to play in 2026, dragging their feet might actually land them the best partner Lawrence has had since Leonard Williams.