Giants Should Already Be Targeting This 333-Pound Hidden Gem

The New York Giants struck out on adding a defensive tackle at the NFL trade deadline, but that's perfectly fine: they'll have plenty of opportunities to find one in the spring.

That includes the NFL Draft, where the Giants currently hold just three picks in the first five rounds, but also own a pair of sixth-round picks as well as a likely fourth-rounder through a compensatory selection.

Ergo, New York should still have enough draft capital to find a defensive tackle somewhere in the draft, and it should already have its eyes on one hidden gem in particular: Texas Longhorns monster Maraad Watson.

Outside of Oregon's A'Mauri Washington, who might be a first-round pick, this upcoming draft class does not have a whole lot of behemoths in the middle. Watson is one of the few.

It's hard to hide at 6-foot-3 and 333 pounds, but Watson is definitely flying under the radar with April's draft inching closer and closer, and that's great news for the Giants.

In fact, some projections have Watson falling to Round 6, where New York could have multiple chances to nab him.

Watson may be one of the best tacklers in this draft class, and he has also shown surprising pass-rushing potential this season, having registered three sacks to go along with 22 tackles, a couple of passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

The Giants still need help defending the run, and that's where Watson would come into play. The Texas standout is one of the better run defenders in the country and would form a wall alongside of DJ Reader up front.

New York also has a budding contributor in rookie Bobby Jamison-Travis on the interior, as well, so Watson would provide the Big Blue with yet another massive body in the trenches.

Watson actually began his collegiate career at Kent State, but immediately flipped his commitment to Syracuse in 2023. He then spent one year with the Orange and earned Freshman All-American honors before transferring to Texas after 2024.

Now, the Irvington, N.J. native is one of the most underrated defensive players heading into the 2027 draft class, and assuming he foregoes his senior season and enters the draft (he almost certainly will), the Giants should have him near the top of their Day 3 board.

Of course, there is also a chance that Watson's stock rises between now and then, but for now, the G-Men can plan for him to be available. And they should pounce.