Latest news with #DariusAlexander
New York Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Giants left with one more rookie to sign after Darius Alexander inks deal
And then there was one. Third-round pick Darius Alexander became the sixth member of the Giants' seven-man draft class to sign his rookie contract Monday, leaving only fourth-rounder Cam Skattebo unsigned. As the No. 65 pick, Alexander's contract is expected to be worth about $6.75 million over four years under the NFL rookie wage scale, according to Advertisement Giants defensive tackle Darius Alexander (91) signed his rookie contract on Monday. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Like all Giants draft picks, Alexander competed in rookie minicamp and has participated in OTAs without signing because of a waiver protecting him against injury. Defensive tackle arguably is the most upgraded position on the roster, but Alexander is fighting for a starting spot alongside Dexter Lawrence. Advertisement Free agents Roy Robertson-Harris and Jeremiah Ledbetter also were added to the position where Rakeem Nunez-Roches, D.J. Davidson and Jordon Riley are returning. Running back Cam Skattebo (44) when the Giants held Rookie Minicamp Saturday, May 10, 2025 Robert Sabo for NY Post 'Trusting my coaches and the veteran guys out there believing in them, taking coaching from them while they're helping me,' Alexander said after his first practice in the NFL. 'So next thing after that, it'd be just effort, just going out there running fast to the ball everywhere it goes. So, I'd say that's the key to success right there.' Advertisement Alexander, 24, spent six seasons at Toledo and was one of the stars of the Senior Bowl. The Giants refused to trade the No. 65 pick in the deal that allowed them to move from No. 34 to No. 25 to land quarterback Jaxson Dart.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
New York Giants sign Darius Alexander to his rookie deal
New York Giants sign Darius Alexander to his rookie deal The New York Giants signed their third-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft on Monday, inking defensive lineman Darius Alexander to a four-year deal worth a reported $6.7 million. Alexander was the 65th overall selection in Round 3 out of Toledo and was high on the team's radar. He was mocked as early as the second round by several top draft analysts. "A 3-technique that we did a lot of work on. He came in on a 30 visit as well, was down at the Senior Bowl, and just where we are, we felt we needed to add some youth to the defensive line, and this kid is just under 6'4", 315 pounds, 34-inch arms and freaky athletic," said Giants general manager Joe Schoen after drafting Alexander. "Down at the Senior Bowl and he had a really good week, and (defensive line coach) Dre Patterson, thinks the world of him and (assistant defensive line coach) Bryan Cox and getting a guy like this that can come in and develop with the depth that we have. Again, a high ceiling for this player, so we're excited to add another player to our front seven." Alexander is expected to see extensive playing time as a rookie next to All-Pro Dexter Lawrence. "I love taking my opponents' will and just watching them go to the sideline and I know what to say to the coach. I feel like that's something they do well here, too," Alexander said in his introductory press conference. "That's a great group of d-line guys, and I feel like I come in and do that, as well." The signing leaves just fourth-round pick Cam Skattebo as the lone unsigned player from the Giants' draft class.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New York Giants Draft Pick Named Defensive X-Factor
New York Giants Draft Pick Named Defensive X-Factor originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Giants made seven selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, including a pair of first-round selections. Three of the seven Giants draftees were on the defensive side of the ball, headlined by No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter. Advertisement Carter is obviously expected to make an immediate impact, but he might not be the only Giants rookie to make an impact on day one from that side of the ball. Last Word on Sports' Joe Freer examined which Giants' rookie could be the team's X-factor on defense, and he decided that third-round defensive tackle Darius Alexander is the man. "The team's true x-factor on defense this year is third-round pick Darius Alexander." Freer wrote. "Alexander has the potential to help stop the run, which has been the defense's Achilles heel for years. If he can do this, mixed with his ability as a pass-rusher, Alexander could help make the Giants' defense elite." Alexander was a five-year player at Toledo. Across 58 games and three uniform numbers, Alexander largely anchored a Toledo defense that appeared in four-straight Bowl games. Advertisement His final two seasons at Toledo established him as a legit NFL prospect. In 2023, Alexander had 36 tackles, six for loss, four sacks, and broke up four passes. In 2024, he logged a career-high 40 tackles and eight tackles for loss, while picking up 3.5 sacks and his only career interception, which he took 58 yards for a touchdown. He also broke up an additional four passes that year. Freer believes that Alexander's ability in the run game will truly establish the Giants' defense as one the NFL's elite units. "Where Alexander can make the Giant's defense elite is in the run game." Freer wrote. "In 2024, the New York Giants' run defense ranked near the bottom of the league. They allowed an average of 143.7 rushing yards per game, good for 31st out of 32 teams. Additionally, opposing running backs averaged 5.24 yards per carry, the second-worst mark in the NFL." With Alexander and all of the other defensive additions the Giants made, Freer thinks the Giants' run defense will be stifling, with contributions all over the field. Advertisement "Now, the Giants' run defense issues extend beyond the interior defensive line. Their edge rushers, cornerbacks, and linebackers were often out of place, especially on extended or stretch runs." Freer noted. "However, a suitable second defensive lineman like Alexander can plug up the middle. Theoretically, teams will have to consider at least removing double teams from Lawrence in the interior or risk leaving Alexander one, as well. In either situation, there's a chance the Giants have a capable interior defensive lineman left one-on-one in most running situations." Related: Eli Pokes Fun at Peyton After Golf Gaffe Related: Edge Rusher Rankings Set High Bar for Giants This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Giants Rookie Reveals First Impression of Jaxson Dart
The NFL Draft, to some extent, is a crapshoot. And if the New York Giants are fortunate enough, they might find a handful of starters. Picked third overall, edge rusher Abdul Carter shouldn't have any problem cracking the starting lineup and making an impact. It's only a matter of time before first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart gets his chance to play. On Day 2, the Giants picked Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander to fill the vacancy next to Dexter Lawrence. Advertisement They might find some value on Day 3, too, namely with fourth-round running back Cam Skattebo. He isn't expected to start for Week 1 festivities, but there's real upside to be unpacked, meaning he's going to get lots of time with Jaxson Dart, both in and out of the starting lineup. At rookie camp, the Giants running back revealed his first impressions of Dart. 'Yeah, I mean he's incredibly smart,' Skattebo said. 'You guys will talk to him soon, but I mean, I've talked to him the last 24 hours and the kid is incredibly smart. He's one of the smartest I've been around, and he did a great job today with the seven-on-seven play calls, snap counts and all of that, and making sure everybody was in line. I can't wait to see what he does and what he's capable of.' Advertisement For now, Skattebo projects to be the complement to running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., using his contact balance and motor in short-yardage and red-zone situations. Dart, meanwhile, won't see much time in Year 1. He's stuck behind Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, veteran mentors whose presence allows Dart to have the redshirt season New York feels is necessary for his development. He could change those plans with enough progress in practice, but his rookie counterpart in the backfield is bound to get a head start on NFL snaps. There's only so much progress Dart can make this summer. According to Skattebo, he's gotten off to quite the start. 'I mean coaches say things and if you answer it fast and right, that's hard to do, especially with the nerves and everything that rack up as a rookie,' Skattebo continued. 'The head coach asks you a question and you know the answer like that, you're into your books and you're very smart and just talking to him about football and certain routes and play calls and just hearing him hear a call one time and being able to call it multiple times back to back, it's just something that he does well and I can't wait to continue to see what he does.' Advertisement The Giants are a long way from wielding the full potential of this rookie class, but in making several good-process selections, they've set themselves up for success. For the first time since 2019, optimism in East Rutherford feels warranted. Related: 3 Stats Define Giants' Newest Running Back Related: Jaxson Dart Reacts to Being Picked By Giants
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Abdul Carter named a 'virtual lock' to start for New York Giants in Week 1
The New York Giants believe they have another impactful draft class that they hope will help them become winners again. All six of their 2024 picks played significant roles as rookies. This year's seven-man class has a little bit of everything, including a possible franchise quarterback in Jaxson Dart. While Dart isn't expected to start this year, some of the others could start right away, or early on in the season. Advertisement Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus recently compiled a list of rookies who are poised to start in Week 1. For the Giants, first round pick Abdul Carter was identified as an immediate starter, a "virtual lock." Top-five selections Abdul Carter and Mason Graham were brought in to New York and Cleveland, respectively, to change the dynamic of those teams' defensive lines. The same can be said, at least in run defense, for Mykel Williams in San Francisco and Kenneth Grant in Miami. That's a bold choice considering we don't know how the Giants will deploy Carter. Will he play defensive end or outside linebacker? Will he play ahead of Kayvon Thibodeaux or Brian Burns or will they find him his own spit on the field? Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen will have to find a place for Carter somewhere. It may not come with a starting role right away, however. Another player identified under the "could win a competition" category was defensive lineman Darius Alexander, who many believe has Pro Bowl talent. Alexander is seen as a perfect complement to Dexter Lawrence II but he will likely be used in a rotation as first to get his feet wet. Advertisement On offense, running back Cam Skattebo, a virtual jack of all trades who thrives on contact, could also win additional snaps as a rookie. Fantasy owners will be sure to keep a keen eye on the running back situations in Pittsburgh and New York, where Kaleb Johnson and Cam Skattebo, respectively, could feature prominently in the backfield very soon. Johnson is a nice fit in Arthur Smith's zone running scheme. Skattebo's ability to break tackles should appeal to Brian Daboll and the Giants early on. The Giants hope Skattebo develops into a three-down back. He'll have plenty of company in the backfield with Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary. This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Abdul Carter named a 'virtual lock' to start for Giants in Week 1
