Headlined by an aggressive move for Jaxson Dart, the New York Giants had a stellar weekend at the 2025 NFL Draft. Abdul Carter is a blue-chip player; Darius Alexander and Marcus Mbow can be starters in the trenches. Cam Skattebo is a great RB to add to the stable, Thomas Fidone is a quality TE2, and Korie Black is good depth.
While Dart’s development will ultimately decide the success of this class, players like Carter and Alexander also have the potential to impact the franchise in a positive way far past any quarterback transition, and the latter is emerging as the top rookie to watch in New York’s minicamp.
Darius Alexander Named Top Giants Rookie to Watch At Minicamp
Alexander is a versatile and explosive defensive lineman known for his power profile and elite production in the MAC. He consistently disrupted blocks with his quick first step and heavy hands, enabling him to penetrate and stack-and-shed. Alexander’s versatility allowed him to play from multiple alignments, from 1-tech to 3-tech and 4i, making him an intriguing pair with Dexter Lawrence.
#Giants newly drafted DT Darius Alexander pic.twitter.com/fgLKYiEMko
— Madelyn Burke (@MadelynBurke) April 26, 2025
PFSN’s Brandon Austin picked Alexander as the most exciting rookie to watch in the Giants’ minicamp, arguing he could be a perfect running mate for Lawrence, whose absence heavily exposed the interior defensive line last season.
“A Second-Team All-MAC selection and a name featured on Bruce Feldman’s annual ‘Freaks List,’ Alexander backed up the hype with elite testing numbers that point to serious upside,” Austin wrote.
“On tape, Alexander consistently imposes his will at the line of scrimmage. His explosive get-off and natural strength allow him to shoot gaps and collapse the pocket from the interior. He’s also shown positional flexibility, with the ability to line up across the defensive front and impact both the run and pass game.
“The Giants’ lack of depth on the interior of their defensive line got exposed when Dexter Lawrence went down last season. In Alexander, the Pro Bowl defensive tackle will have a talented running mate to take under his wing.”
Alexander was deemed a top-40 talent but slipped to Day 3 because of his age (he’ll turn 25 in August) and small-school pedigree. However, at around 6’4″, 305 pounds, with 34″ arms, he is well-leveraged and long-levered, with the elite explosive capacity to channel that length and mass into awesome point-of-attack power. He can overwhelm with his power element, and he can build off of it, too.
The 24-year-old was found not participating in the OTA practices last week, and while head coach Brian Daboll refused to provide any clarity over his absence, there’s no indication yet that it was injury-related or serious. Either way, everything will be clear at the minicamp, and if he’s healthy, watching Alexander and Lawrence in tandem should certainly be exciting.