The New York Giants have parted ways with a defensive tackle.
The New York Giants made their first round of roster cuts on Thursday, and among them was a fan favorite: defensive tackle Elijah Chatman.
Chatman was signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and ended up playing in all 17 games that season, registering 21 tackles and a sack in a surprisingly strong performance.
Last year, however, Chatman appeared in just five contests, logging just three sacks in spite of New York having a clear need at the position.
The fact that the Giants parted ways with Chatman should not come as much of a surprise considering what they did at the defensive tackle position this offseason.
New York signed veterans DJ Reader, Shelby Harris and Leki Fotu, and it also selected Bobby Jamison-Travis in the sixth round of the NFL Draft last month.
Yes, the Giants traded Dexter Lawrence shortly before the draft, but they should now have enough bodies to compete at the position. Remember: they also have Darius Alexander returning for his sophomore campaign.
Elijah Chatman. Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images.Chatman was loved by the fans because he was an underdog, and while he did show decent production in 2024, he was just far too undersized to stick long term.
The SMU product stands six feet tall and weighs just 278 pounds, so not only does he lack adequate height for the position, but he simply does not have the bulk needed to consistently play on the interior.
New York's run defense was horrendous last season, and it certainly isn't going to help having an edge rusher-sized defensive tackle trying to stop it.
The Giants probably would have preferred to nab an interior defender a bit earlier in the draft, but there were none worth taking in the top 10, and the G-Men watched as the Houston Texans traded up right in front of them to nab Kayden McDonald with the 36th overall pick in the second round.
Regardless, New York seemed to have a clear plan at defensive tackle all along, as it met with Reader and Harris before the draft and ended up signing both.
The Giants also seem to have some faith in Alexander, who displayed some promise during the second half of 2025.
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