The New York Giants struggled in the trenches throughout the 2025 season. The Giants’ defense was second-worst in the NFL at stopping the run, allowing 145.3 rushing yards per game. Their critical vulnerability became completely exploitable whenever the Giants gave Dexter Lawrence a breather. As both Joe Schoen and John Harbaugh echoed at the Combine, the run defense is a massive priority, and the defensive line is critical to the fix.
An already weak defensive line room may lose Rakeem Nunez-Roches and D.J. Davidson to free agency; the former played 246 snaps for the Giants’ defense in 2025, and the latter 256. Both players were rotational assets for Shane Bowen and Charlie Bullen, but neither anchored the defensive front next to Dexter Lawrence.
Dennard Wilson will likely run more odd fronts, meaning there will be an emphasis on three-man fronts between the tackles in base personnel. Lawrence will likely anchor the nose, with Roy Robertson-Harris and Darius Alexander on the inside as 4i-shades. Starters and depth are necessary for the unit, and the Giants only have two picks in the first two rounds — will they look to beef up their defensive front in free agency? Here are five names to consider.
John Franklin-Myers, Broncos
The 29-year-old stands at 6-foot-4, 288 pounds, and figures to be more of a pass-rushing defensive lineman, who is a competent enough run defender. He had 43 pressures and 7.5 sacks in Vance Joseph’s system in 2025 and 53 pressures and seven sacks in the year prior with Denver and Joseph. He was also a dominant defensive line asset with the New York Jets from 2020 to 2023, where he had over 50 pressures in each season.
Franklin-Myers figures to be an ideal 4i-shade in BASE that can kick inside in even fronts to a three-technique postion. Franklin-Myers is a versatile player with pass-rushing upside and a constant motor, who is consistent against the run. He fits what John Harbaugh and Joe Schoen are looking for to bolster their defensive line unit behind Dexter Lawrence.
Calais Campbell, Cardinals
The Giants could benefit greatly from adding a respected veteran leader like Calais Campbell. At 39 years old, he remains remarkably physical and is still one of the longer defensive linemen in the league — standing 6-8, 282 pounds, with 35⅛-inch arms and a wingspan exceeding 86 inches. He is one of the league’s most fundamentally sound defensive linemen, possessing a skill set that allows him to disrupt passing attacks while anchoring the defense against the run.
Campbell had 33 pressures last year and 39 pressures in 2024, while accruing 61 STOPs over that time frame, with 11 sacks. Campbell spent 2020-2022 with John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens. He was very productive for every team he’s played for, and he’s still playing at a high level. If he’s willing to move again, Campbell should rejoin Harbaugh and help usher in the turnaround. His leadership and experience would go a long way for the Giants.
A reunion? It’s possible! Jihad Ward left the Giants after the 2023 season and spent 2024 with Minnesota and 2025 with Wilson and the Titans. Ward had his best career with Wilson, as a 30-year old journeyman who perfectly complemented Jeffrey Simmons. Ward is a big-bodied EDGE who can kick inside. He’s 6-5, 287 pounds, and he was an effective hammer and looper in Wilson’s twist game four-man pressures.
Ward earned 48 pressures and six sacks with 18 STOPS in 2025 after pressureing the quarterback 31 times with Brian Flores in Minnesota during the 2024 season. He played a career high 708 snaps last year for the Titans. Not only did Ward play under Wilson in Tennessee, but Harbaugh as well for half of the 2019 season and the entire 2020 season, when he was with Wink Martindale.
Sebastian Joseph-Day, Titans
The former Rutgers star is 30-years old and stands at 6-5, 310 pounds. He, too, played under Wilson with Tennessee. He played 483 snaps in 2025 and had an impressive 28 STOPs with 19 pressures and a sack. He had 16 pressures and 29 STOPs in 2024 under Wilson. Joseph-Day would be a quality depth piece who could reliably start. He provides a level of toughness to the trenches while anchoring against the run well.
James Lynch, Titans
Yes, three former Titans in a row. Football is a people business; Joseph-Day and Lynch spent the last two seasons playing under Wilson, and Lynch thrived under Wilson in his lone season. There are opportunities to be earned behind Lawrence, Robertson-Harris, and Darius Alexander, and competition along the defensive line remains open.
There would be no guarantee that Lynch makes the team if the Giants sign him. However, his 576 snaps over the past two seasons are not insignificant and could justify an initial spot on the 90-man roster. From there, the 6-4, 295-pound Lynch would have to earn his place on the 53-man roster. Lynch had 10 pressures and 18 tackles, with 12 STOPs and a sack in 2025.
The 27-year-old did not cross over with Dennis Johnson, the Giants’ defensive line coach, while he was at Baylor, but he missed him by one season. Lynch was drafted in 2020, and Johnson accepted the defensive line coach role under Dave Aranda in 2020, so there could be some crossover between the two, which could help the 27-year-old earn an opportunity.
