The New York Giants need to make this move as soon as possible.
The New York Giants entered the NFL Draft with some glaring needs, and they actually did address most of them.
They landed a big offensive lineman in Francis Mauigoa with the 10th overall pick. They selected cornerback Colton Hood in the second round. They traded up to snatch wide receiver Malachi Fields in Round 3.
The problem, though, is defensive tackle.
Yes, the Giants netted Auburn's Bobby Jamison-Travis in the sixth round, and his size and measurables are intriguing. He could very well make New York's 53-man roster and actually contribute in 2026. But he absolutely cannot be the answer.
Right now, Darius Alexander is the Giants' top interior defender, and while he flashed some potential during his rookie campaign, having him as your top defensive tackle is unacceptable. And surely, John Harbaugh and Joe Schoen know this.
New York seemed to want Ohio State star Kayden McDonald at No. 37, only to watch the Houston Texans trade up to steal him one spot earlier. It could have taken Lee Hunter or Christen Miller, but opted to just roll with Hood.
Calais Campbell. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.That tells me the Giants already planned on signing a veteran defensive tackle after the draft, and while everyone is assuming it will be DJ Reader (which would be fine), the most obvious solution to me is Calais Campbell.
Campbell may be 39 years old, but he is still productive, which he showed when he registered 43 tackles and 6.5 sacks with the Arizona Cardinals this past season.
The likely future Hall-of-Famer also spent three years playing for Harbaugh during his time with the Baltimore Ravens between 2020 and 2022, making a Pro Bowl appearance in his first season with the club.
Campbell is adept at defending both the run and the pass, and since 2022, he has finished with no less than five sacks in any one individual campaign. Now that Dexter Lawrence is gone, the Giants not only need help against the run, but they also need someone who can rush the passer up the middle. Campbell fills both needs.
Currently, New York owns a tick over $18 million in cap space. While the Giants do need to sign their draft picks, they should be able to dole out $5 million to Campbell and still be relatively comfortable.
Again, Reader would be nice, but Campbell should be Plan A. Big Blue has to get this problem solved, or else its defense will have a massive chasm next fall.
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