Will Giants' Darius Alexander cash 'winning lottery ticket' learning from Dexter Lawrence?

Yahoo

9 hours ago

EAST RUTHERFORD - NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah kept coming back to three letters in his notes as he ripped through video highlights of Darius Alexander.
V-E-T.
He had just finished watching the Eagles do what they did to the Chiefs' offensive line in the Super Bowl, and when his film study for the NFL Draft turned to Alexander, the evaluation struck a championship-level dominant tone.
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Violent. Explosive. Twitchy.
That was the essence of Jeremiah's scouting report for Alexander, and those undeniable traits jumped out for the New York Giants as well when they opted to select Alexander at the top of the third round.
In what promised to be such a deep class of defensive linemen rich with talent, it was beyond time that the Giants find someone to complement Dexter Lawrence while magnifying the production of a player considered by many to be the best of his generation at the position.
That chance to attack single blocks because of opponents' "four hands" approach in trying to slow down Lawrence will be in play this summer with the Giants seeking the right complement to their best player, especially with what they have added to the defensive front with the addition of Abdul Carter to a group that already included Lawrence, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
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And as the rookies report for training camp Tuesday, one week before the rest of the team arrives, it's Alexander who can seize the opportunity to prove to the Giants he is ready to cash in.
"It can be winning lottery ticket playing next to Dex," one league source told NorthJersey.com and The Record during this year's NFL Draft. "So what it comes down to: are you good enough to cash it? And [Alexander] has a chance to be that kind of player."
Eat Rutherford, NJ -- May 9, 2025 -- Darius Alexander loosens up during warm ups at Giants Rookie Minicamp.
The true impact of Alexander won't be felt until the pads come on, and we missed seeing much of the 6-foot-X, 3XX-pounder in the spring, as he was relegated to individual drills if not rehabbing with the training staff as he worked through an undisclosed injury.
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The Giants were seemingly playing it smart with a player they believe can have an important role up front, and with that expectation as the backdrop, the sight of Alexander and Lawrence working out together with renowned private defensive line coach Mark Hall was significant.
Unlike Russell Wilson with the presence of Jaxson Dart, Lawrence won't be getting many questions about being a mentor to Alexander, nor should he. There is another level for a player of Lawrence's caliber to reach, and while it's not a straight-up student-teacher relationship, any secrets he can share to speed up the learning curve could impact the entire defense - including where Lawrence winds up taking his already exceptional game.
When Lawrence first connected with Hall, he was the ascending player hoping to follow in the footsteps of proven star defensive linemen DeForest Buckner and Kenny Clark, among others.
Today, Lawrence sets the standard - and his newest Giants teammate, Alexander, is the one training alongside the All-Pro doing whatever he can to ultimately follow that path.
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"Every chance I get, I'm telling Dex in his ear: 'Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame,' because that's the next step for him," Hall told NorthJersey.com and The Record in a recent phone interview. "Dex never talks about that kind of stuff, but I know he hears me, it's definitely there. But he's motivated by what's in front of him: dominating play to play, day to day, week to week, and he's just so dynamic. To get to where he can go, there's another level most players can't think of going. The challenge is raising his game and doing that for everyone around him."
Oct 6, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) sacks Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the second half at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Alexander's performance in practice during the week at the Senior Bowl during the pre-draft process helped him prove his talent was not limited to smaller school competition. His versatility was on display and ESPN analyst Jordan Reid said he was 'unblockable' in one-on-one drills with strong hands and surprising quickness against top offensive line prospects.
"You have to be a technician," Giants defensive line coach Andre Patterson said. "You gotta have a quest to master your technique. That's what makes you play as a d-lineman long in this league. If you're just basing your game off of, 'I got great talent,' it's gonna catch up to you and you're not gonna be around very long. So, they hear that message from the time they walk in the room. To have a guy like Dex sitting in the room and they can see what he became once I got here, because he became a great technician and that took his God given talent to another level."
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Much of Alexander's work with the Giants so far has been in the classroom, and ultimately how fast he can learn how offensive lines in the NFL attack schematically will determine not just his playing time, but his production.
"He's long, explosive, quick - he's a smooth athlete," Hall said of Alexander. "If you're a 3-tech, you're licking your chops to play next to someone like Dex with those 1-on-1 situations. This is Darius' first year, so I'd expect a lot of quick, vertical moves playing off of that attention. He's going to make mistakes, he's a rookie, but I'm guessing they're going to want to see those mistakes at full speed. His defensive line IQ will be everything - that's the key."
More attention to Lawrence creates lanes to the quarterback, obviously, and when that happens, if the Giants can flash their potential, it'll create near-impossible scenarios for the opposition.
"They've got pieces, that's for sure," Hall said. "If everything comes together, the Giants are going to be fun to watch."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Darius Alexander, Dexter Lawrence together is 'winning lottery ticket'