The New York Giants are leveling up. They opened the 2025 NFL Draft by landing Penn State's Abdul Carter with the third overall pick, giving themselves the game-wrecking defender they’ve been missing for years. Oh, but they weren’t done there.
General Manager Joe Schoen stayed aggressive, trading back into the first round to select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart at No. 25. One dominant pass rusher. One high-upside quarterback. It was exactly the kind of first night the Giants and their fans needed.
Big Blue sent their second-round pick to the Houston Texans in the trade for Dart, making them sit out the round.
However, as soon as the third round opened, Schoen kept the momentum and good times rolling. With the 65th overall pick, the Giants selected Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander, adding more firepower to the defensive front they’re clearly prioritizing. It’s a pick that could end up being exactly what the doctor ordered.
After investing in Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and now Abdul Carter, finding another physical, disruptive body to line up next to Dexter Lawrence was the smart move. Alexander is a developmental prospect with real upside, and this is the perfect situation for him.
Darius Alexander fits what the Giants are building up front
Alexander might not be a household name coming out of Toledo, but the traits are there. He checks in at 6-foot-4, 310 pounds with a 4.80 forty time—a rare combination of size and movement ability. He made Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks List” for a reason. Alexander anchored Toledo’s defensive line the past five seasons and brings legitimate pop off the ball with the ability to disrupt both the run and the pass.
For those interested in a fun fact, this is the first time Schoen has used a top-three-round pick on a non-Power Five player as Giants general manager. He was 13-for-13 on Power Five prospects before this. And it makes sense to break from tradition here. Alexander isn’t a finished product by any means, but he has the raw tools to develop into a rotational piece who can take pressure off Lawrence—and potentially be more.
Shane Bowen’s defense is built from the inside out, and the G-Men now have the depth to rotate bodies and stay aggressive without wearing Lawrence down. They needed more functional strength and athleticism next to their franchise defensive tackle, and Alexander brings both.
When it comes to the mid-rounds, teams are just looking for value. On the surface, this pick does exactly that. And who knows, maybe Lawrence can rub some Sexy Dex magic off on him and he can be a contributor right away.