In previous seasons, the Giants have lacked a true identity. Teams would see New York on the schedule and take that week as a “get-right” game. With John Harbaugh as head coach, the Giants are expected to be physical and tough. Ahead of the 2026 NFL draft, New York traded away veteran defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals. He was one of their key defensive pieces.
Since parting ways with Lawrence, the team has been working hard to rebuild their interior defensive line. At his best, Lawrence was one of the top defensive tackles in the league. It will not be easy for the Giants to replace his production with just one player. Through the draft and free agency, the Giants have added depth to their interior defensive line for 2026.
The Giants are reconstructing their interior defensive line for the 2026 season
Who have the Giants signed as free agents to add depth to the interior defensive line?
Ahead of the 2026 season, New York is rebuilding the interior of their defensive line. Dexter Lawrence used to be their centerpeice. He is no longer with the Giants. Instead, the team is adding players who can be effective in the system New York wants to build. As of late April, the team has signed several free agent defensive linemen. First off, the Giants signed veteran Shelby Harris to a one-year deal. He spent the past three seasons with the Browns. Harris appeared in 48 games for Cleveland and made 25 starts.
Additionally, the team signed Leki Fotu to a one-year deal. He was a fourth-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2022. During his 2025 campaign, Fotu was with the Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans. Over six professional seasons, Fotu has appeared in 66 games and made 26 starts. New York also added Sam Roberts to the roster on a one-year deal. He was a sixth-round pick by the New England Patriots. Roberts was with the Atlanta Falcons in 2025 and appeared in five games.
Marlon Tuipulotu was signed by the Giants this offseason on a reserve/futures contract. This only applies to players who are not on the 53-man roster. It’s a way for New York to secure his rights for the 2026 season without making a financial commitment. The Giants are still in the running to sign defensive tackle D.J. Reader. However, New York is not the only team interested in his services.
What interior defensive linemen were already on New York’s roster?
In 2025, Roy Robertson-Harris started all 17 games for the Giants. He was on the field for 56% of New York’s defensive snaps last season. Ahead of 2025, Roberston-Harris signed a two-year, $10 million deal. The 32-year-old is entering the final season of his contract with the Giants. Darius Alexander is another interior defensive lineman New York needs to step up in 2026. Alexander was a third-round pick by the Giants out of Toledo in 2025. He appeared in 16 of their 17 games as a rookie and made two starts.
Elijah Chatman is another depth piece for New York’s interior defensive line. Chatman was undrafted out of SMU in 2024 and has been with the Giants for two seasons. As a rookie, he played in all 17 games and made three starts. However, Chatman was released by the team ahead of the 2025 season and later signed back to the practice squad. Eventually, he was called up and played five games for the Giants between November and December.
One player who just recently joined the roster is rookie Bobby Jamison-Travis. He was a sixth-round pick by New York in 2026 out of Auburn. Jamison-Travis is an older player coming out of the NFL draft at 25. Regardless, the Giants saw something they could work with and took a chance. Scouts noted that Jamison-Travis was enthusiastic and had a great work ethic. Those traits could earn him playing time as a rookie. The Giants have rebuilt the interior defensive line for 2026. How effective can that unit be in stopping the run and rushing the passer effectively?
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