One potential Dexter Lawrence replacement from each day of the 2026 NFL Draft
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One potential Dexter Lawrence replacement from each day of the 2026 NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The spring was going too well for New York Giants fans. The optimism of the Jaxson Dart era, the allure of head coach John Harbaugh, the new toys to play with. It was a nice few months in East Rutherford.
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Monday's news threatened to change that.
Adam Schefter reported that New York nose tackle Dexter Lawrence has requested a trade, taking his contract dispute public and stunting an offseason's worth of progress.
It isn't immediately clear whether the Giants will deal their superstar, and if said deal will commence before the 2026 NFL Draft. But if Lawrence is no longer in New York's long-term plans, it'll be imperative to rebuild the interior of the defensive line in April.
Defensive tackles Giants fans need to know about
Day 1: Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
As much as I would like to see Clemson star Peter Woods lining up between Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, neither his stock nor the Giants' needs align for the fifth pick. Rather, Woods seems likely to be a top-20 pick, and a Lawrence trade could recoup a late Day 1 selection.
As such, New York could opt to replace Lawrence with the draft capital from said deal, presumably toward the end of Round 1. There, Ohio State Buckeyes nose tackle Kayden McDonald makes a good amount of sense.
McDonald isn't the pass rusher that Lawrence is. That's a non-starter. But he has one of the highest floors in this class, and his ability to headline the spine of the defense is worthy of top-40 capital.
McDonald is a versatile lineman whose athleticism exceeds the expectations of his 326-pound frame. He can play anywhere between the tackles, and while he may be just a rotational piece, there's enough juice to not be a total liability on passing downs.
When he's at his best, McDonald is playing an integral role in run defense, a job made easier by his combination of size and technique. If Harbaugh is looking for instant starters on Day 1, McDonald checks the box.
Day 2: Caleb Banks, Florida
The Giants only have their second-round pick (No. 37) at their disposal on Day 2. A Lawrence deal could change that, but for now it's worth considering options for early that Friday evening.
Here, Caleb Banks comes to mind. Some supporters will have him as their DT1 and a first-round prospect based on his measurables and promising flashes as a pass rusher. Indeed, the bull rushes are fun, and Banks takes up a lot of space.
MORE: Ranking the 10 best defensive tackles in the 2026 NFL Draft
At 6'6", 327 pounds, with an 85.75-inch wingspan, 35-inch arms, and 10.875-inch hands, there isn't a physical feature of his game below the 89th percentile. Banks is massive, but he moves very well for his size, creating the momentum that knocks SEC linemen back at first contact.
With that said, Banks dealt with a foot injury in his platform season and had to cut his NFL Combine short due to another lower-leg injury. The upside is tantalizing, but the medical history is a warm-colored flag that teams will weigh differently. This keeps him in play for Round 1 and makes Round 2 a more likely option, albeit likely within the top 50.
Banks may be the class's best match of Lawrence's skill set, finding a true pass-rushing talent with more than enough size to play nose tackle. The softer factors in his profile -- like the injuries and a just one season with more than one sack (4.5, 2024) -- make him attainable on Day 2.
Day 3: Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State
Jackson has gotten some late-cycle hype, thrusting him toward the top-100 turn. On my board, he's an early Day 3 pick and someone who could viably be on the board at Nos. 105 or 145.
It goes without saying that replacing Lawrence likely won't be a one-man job. He's a multi-faceted superstar, and even a first-round pick would have a tough time living up to the peak of Lawrence's powers. The two routes to sufficiently replacing him are doing so in the aggregate and hoping a less-expensive player exceeds expectations.
Jackson could play a part in those plans.
Jackson has all the size the Giants could hope for in a mid-to-late-round nose tackle prospect, and he's the last of the bunch that has a reasonable shot to start there. At 315 pounds, he doesn't quite fill the Lawrence-sized hole in New York's defense, but a 99th-percentile wingspan helps his cause.
It's easy to see Jackson being satisfactory against the run as a rookie and growing into his pass-rushing prowess later on -- much like Lawrence, albeit to a lesser extent. Aided by Darius Alexander's Year 2 jump, the Giants could feel okay about their potential on the interior.
Jackson's lack of potency renders him a high-level backup on my board. Still, confirming that his size was as advertised gives his profile a little more credibility, and his experience comes with more production than the aforementioned Banks. His range of outcomes is the narrowest of this bunch. For a team that might need a steady hand, that's not the end of the world.