New York Giants DT Darius Alexander named a 2026 breakout candidate

The New York Giants have been drafting well the past several seasons, and they are now seen as one of the NFL's ascending teams of 2026 by many experts.

>Quarterback Jaxson Dart, wide receiver Malik Nabers, running back Cam Skattebo and linebacker Abdul Carter have been identified by many as future stars of the league, but the Giants have quite a few others who could break out as well.

>One of those players is defensive lineman Darius Alexander, who the Giants took with the 65th overall pick in the third round of last year's draft. NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks sees Alexander as a potential breakout player for 2026. He also has Carter on the list.

New York's trade of decorated defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati creates a huge opportunity for Alexander to flex his muscles as a disruptive force between the tackles. The 2025 third-round pick not only has a clear path to a starting role, but Roy Robertson-Harris' season-ending injury will lead to more playmaking opportunities for the youngster on a sack-obsessed front line. After notching three sacks and three tackles for loss over his final six games in 2025, the 6-4, 310-pounder is primed for a breakout season as a key piece of the Giants' rejiggered defensive puzzle.

The Giants added a load of defensive tackles after the Dexter Lawrence trade, including veterans D.J. Reader and Shelby Harris, so there will be competition for Alexander in camp, for sure.

>The Giants' aim under new head coach John Harbaugh is to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. With players such as Alexander on defense, they are off to a solid start.

>This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants DT Darius Alexander named a 2026 breakout candidate