![\"Brian](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2244652547-e1776757373677.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Brian Burns #0 of the New York Giants looks on against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter in the game at MetLife Stadium.<\/p>\n
After trading away Dexter Lawrence<\/a>, the New York Giants<\/a> have a new weakness on their hands.<\/p>\n Defensive tackle wasn\u2019t necessarily a strength before the deal with the Cincinnati Bengals<\/a>, but it\u2019s an even bigger hole now.<\/p>\n Currently on the roster, they have some rotational pieces, but no surefire starters.<\/p>\n 2025 third-round pick\u00a0Darius Alexander<\/a> recorded 3.5 sacks and four tackles for loss in 16 games throughout his rookie season, and showed some promise.<\/p>\n Ninth-year veteran\u00a0Roy Robertson-Harris<\/a> is nice veteran depth, but his play left a bit to be desired.<\/p>\n They did make one addition, bringing former Atlanta Falcons<\/a> defensive tackle Sam Roberts<\/a> on a one-year deal. But similar to the others, he\u2019s not exactly starter material.<\/p>\n New York has to make a meaningful addition to the interior of their defensive line at some point, and even one of their best players knows it.<\/p>\n Brian Burns Wants Giants to Add Veteran DT<\/p>\n All-Pro edge rusher Brian Burns<\/a> recognizes the massive hole at the teeth of the New York Giants defense, and said in an interview with NFL<\/a> insider Josina Anderson that he would like to see the team make a veteran addition to their defensive tackle room.<\/p>\n \u201cI would like to see a veteran. Somebody who has done it before, somebody who has been in the paint,\u201d Burns told<\/a> Anderson.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not really in the position where we need to mold a bunch of young d-tackles, a veteran presence would be great in the middle of our defense, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Luckily for Burns and the Giants<\/a> fans out there, hoping for the team to make the same move, they\u2019ve already been doing their homework on a few veteran options.<\/p>\n New York has already hosted veteran defensive tackles D.J. Reader<\/a> and Shelby Harris<\/a> on free agent visits, and it\u2019s possible one or both could be signed after the draft.<\/p>\n Reader would be the real exciting add. He was Pro Football Focus\u2019s<\/a> 30th-ranked defensive tackle in football last year, and could play a major part in turning around the Giants<\/a>\u2018 poor run defense.<\/p>\n Spotrac<\/a> projects the former Detroit Lions<\/a> defensive lineman to receive a two-year $7.7 million contract, something New York could afford.<\/p>\n 2026 NFL Draft Defensive Tackle Prospects<\/p>\n Of course, several prospects in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft could pique the New York Giants\u2019 interest.<\/p>\n There isn\u2019t a good enough defensive tackle for New York to target with the No. 5 or No. 10 overall picks, but the sweet spot for the position may be with their second-round pick, at No. 37.<\/p>\n Clemson\u2019s Peter Woods<\/a> and Ohio State\u2019s Kayden McDonald<\/a> headline the class, according to ESPN\u2019s Mel Kiper Jr.,<\/a> and have a chance of slipping towards the back of the first round, and possibly into the early second.<\/p>\n The Giants also hosted Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter<\/a> on a Top 30 pre-draft visit last week, and he has an even better chance to be available at No. 37.<\/p>\n