Big Blue View mailbag: Defensive tackle, Caleb Downs, Kayvon Thibodeaux

Doug Mollin asks: As of Thursday, Calais Campbell signed with the Ravens ($5.5M) and Reader is still a free agent although it seems we are in the mix still.

Two questions:

1. Why has it been so hard to get a quality DT signed? We have lots of warm bodies but I’d have thought this would be a higher priority.

2. If we don’t add Reader, do we have enough anyway? Seems like we may only be playing 2 or 3 DTs at a time anyway with the roster we have:

Adebo, Newsome/Hood, Nubin, Holland
Alexander, Jamison-Travis

Ed says: Doug, first of all let’s remember that having to trade Dexter Lawrence was a late complication that the Giants had hoped would not be necessary. At the beginning of free agency, when most of the top players sign, I’m sure they did not believe they would be trying to replace him.

As things have developed, it was clear that D.J. Reader was Plan A. They were pursuing Reader even before trading Lawrence. Let’s remember that Reader is a good player who is a FREE AGENT with options. He can make his own choice about who he wants to play with, and knowing the situation a team like the Giants are in he and his representatives cannot be blamed if they makes interested teams sweat while trying to squeeze every last dollar out of a deal that they can.

Do the Giants have enough without Reader? Whether it is Reader or another experienced nose tackle, even someone they pick up when roster cuts are made at the end of August, I would say no. They don’t have someone on the roster who has been a successful nose tackle at the NFL level, and I think they would want to find one before Week 1.

Paul Oliveira asks: My question centers around why Darius Alexander seldom seems to be in the conversation about defensive tackle. I realize he is not THE Dexter Lawrence replacement at tackle, it just seems he is not discussed much regarding the position. His play last year seemed to kick up a notch when Charlie Bullen stepped in for the dismissed Shane Bowen. Is it a question of talent, size, coaching that he seems to be an afterthought? He’s only a 2nd year player and many players step up their game after a somewhat questionable rookie year. Andrew Thomas comes to mind. Just curious.

Ed says: Paul, I don’t think Darius Alexander is being overlooked. He is just already there and not part of the equation of replacing Lawrence. Alexander is not a nose tackle. The Giants need development from him because they need to be better across the board, but replacing Lawrence won’t be his job.

David Gray asks: With Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin, Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields, Isaiah Hodgins, Gunner Olszewski, which is already seven receivers, and the rumor that the Giants may sign Odell, is there room on the roster for Jalin Hyatt?

Ed says: Davis, I don’t think so. He is going to training camp and getting a chance. John Harbaugh has given clean slates to Evan Neal, Josh Ezeudu, and Deonte Banks. While Harbaugh has not been asked directly about Hyatt, I believe that also applies to him. I don’t see Hyatt getting a “scholarship” roster spot just because he was a Schoen draft pick. He is going to have to earn it, and I’m not sure he has a path. Your list of receivers did not included Dalen Cambre or Ryan Miller, two quality special teams players who might appeal to Harbaugh.

John Brazel asks: With all the chatter about Joe Schoen and his job security, I thought it was important to note how good he and coach Harbaugh seem to get along and work together. Watching their press conferences during and after the draft, they look like two buddies who hang out together. They clearly have the same vision and understand one another. Schoen ran that draft and did amazing in my opinion. Did he look like a GM who is worried about his job security? The GM isn’t coaching the players, that’s the coaching staff’s responsibility so once they are in the building it’s on them to get them ready. Evan Neal, Banks, Hyatt, were all praised when drafted and for whatever reason they haven’t produced, that’s not Schoen’s fault.

I loved our draft, I’m drooling over the thought of Burns, Thibodeaux, Carter, and Reese lining up in the NASCAR package and wreaking havoc. Our O-Line looks really strong now and we have depth for a change. Being a big Notre Dame fan, I was thrilled we took Fields, I watch every ND game and he can play. This was the first draft where I watched every Giants pick, normally after day 2 I turn it off. That speaks to the excitement that I feel about the future of this team. I think all of the talk about Schoen being on the hot seat is just noise. What are your thoughts?

Ed says: John, I think my thoughts are expressed quite clearly in this post. I will also say this — Schoen did a round of media on national radio shows and a town hall event with fans on Thursday. If the Giants were about to fire him there’s no chance they would have allowed him to do those things.

Robert Goodman asks: Why do you think the Giants drafted Mauigoa instead of Caleb Downs and Hood instead of Christen Miller? I could ask about Fields vs. other wide receivers that you and your colleagues had discussed but clearly Harbaugh had a body type in mind. Do you agree with the selections?

Ed says: Robert, the direct and most truthful answer is because those are the players they decided they wanted most.

I am amazed by a lot of the complaints about drafting Francis Mauigoa. After all the years of struggle we have watched with the Giants offensive line, they use a top 10 pick on a guy who was arguably the best offensive lineman in the draft, and people are complaining? I don’t get it. Sometimes, I think people just need to complain about something.

Yes, Caleb Downs will probably be a very good player. After getting a stud for the defense in Arvell Reese, John Harbaugh and Joe Schoen made the decision that addressing a weakness and trying to protect the most important asset they have, Jaxson Dart, was the right thing to do. I am surprised by the pushback.

Don Appel asks: Why in heaven’s name did the Giants draft an offensive lineman with a documented herniated disc? Offensive linemen are known to eventually have back issues and many have had careers cut short because of them. I know they had the need to fortify the o-line but this draft pick is so questionable due to the medical issue.

Ed says: Don, I am not a doctor but since I have had a herniated disc in my back surgically repaired it is an injury I know something about. First of all, 85-90% of herniated discs heal themselves over a period of a few months without surgical intervention. Mine, unfortunately, did not heal itself.

Fans need to understand this. The Giants have mountains of medical information at their disposal about every player in any draft class. They have seen every X-ray, every MRI result. All fans know is they heard the words “herniated disc.”

The Giants have all of the information, and say they are comfortable with what they know. They also have Adam Bennett, who was Miami’s trainer while Mauigoa was there, on their revised medical staff. So, they have on staff someone who has a working knowledge of Mauigoa’s body. You can’t really get better information than what they have.

They have a far better understanding of Mauigoa’s situation than you, me, or anyone else on the outside. They say they are comfortable. They love the player.

Have a little trust.

Peter Smyth asks: My question is trading Abdul Carter vs. Kayvon Thibodeaux. If, in the end, the coaches feel they have too many edges/linebackers in the same general skill set, doesn’t Carter have more trade value than Thibodeaux? Couldn’t he be traded for an excellent defensive lineman? I ask only because Harbaugh wants committed guys with “all-football” attitudes. Does Carter really fit that? Or am I nuts for asking this question.

Ed says: Peter, maybe Carter would have more trade value than Thibodeaux. Why, though, would the Giants do that? Thibodeaux is in the last year of his rookie contract and is a good but not great player. Maybe there is more meat on the bone there, but he hasn’t shown it yet.

Carter, by advanced metrics, was one of the more impactful pass rushers in the league as a rookie despite not having nearly the year that was anticipated. The Giants still have Carter on a rookie deal for four more years, including his fifth-year option. Why would they trade that when the upside is an All-Pro pass rusher, something every team craves?

Andrew Graf asks: What are your thoughts on Dexter Lawrence not addressing the fans after the trade? Seems kind of disrespectful to those that cheered for him, bought his jersey, etc.

Ed says: Andrew, I guess I never thought about this. Why would it be disrespectful? He doesn’t owe the fans anything. I guess I’m confused why you would feel like you deserve something from him. It might be a nice gesture, but I don’t know why it should be expected.

David Kanter asks: What is your current take on Tyler Nubin? He was pretty hyped coming in as a rookie. Based on his first few seasons are you seeing him as a player with the potential to develop into a quality starter? Do you view him as a liability this season?

Ed says: David, I think this is a critical year for Nubin. He has not been the difference-maker the Giants thought he would be when they drafted him, and his limited athleticism for the safety position has been more of an issue that anticipated.

I have talked to Nubin many times. Truth be told, he is one of my favorite “go-to” guys in the locker room. He wants to win. He wants to be good. He seems to do things the right way. I think he can still be a good player if he is put in the right situation, but maybe not the game changer the Giants hoped for.

Christopher Benfer asks: I was reading a ranking of best free agents available after the draft, and not surprisingly several of them are older vets who are on the downside of their careers who might get a one-year deal somewhere. I know training camp can be a slog, particularly for someone closer to retirement. Have you ever heard of a player who delayed signing with a team to be able to skip out on some of the mandatory offseason activities? In a related note would something in the CBA prohibit a player from signing a contract that stipulated that they could skip some portion of mandatory practices?

Ed says: Christopher, there are veteran players who don’t sign contracts until training camp. Greg Van Roten did that when he came to the Giants in 2024. He knew how much work his body needed to be ready, and he played every game over two seasons.

As for mandatory practices, they are called mandatory because that is what players agreed to in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Skip them, you get fined. Now, there are a lot of veteran players who attend these things and then do very little on-field work during them.

Brian Misdom asks: What’s your biggest takeaway on the new regime’s approach to roster building following the draft?

While we’re still in the honeymoon phase of the Harbaugh/Schoen duo, I can’t help notice the difference in player archetype already. Daboll appeared to be closer to the Mike McDaniel philosophy of track meet on the field.

Both free agency and the draft signal a more physical style moving forward. This isn’t a surprise given Harbaugh’s history but it does make me feel more hopeful about this pairing as it seems the front office is flexing to a different philosophy.

What do you think?

Ed says: Brian, you basically answered your own question. The Giants want to get bigger, stronger, and more physical. For fans who are old enough this should feel familiar — it’s the George Young philosophy. The bigger, stronger guys usually win.

Jim Jordan asks: In your opinion, what role, if any, will Darius Slayton have in the coming season? It seems that in anything written about the Giants’ receiver room, Slayton is mentioned only as an afterthought, if at all. I realize he had a bad year last season, but this is also the guy who led the team in receiving not long ago, when he was getting WR1 coverage most of the time. Did you sense a lack of chemistry between Dart and Slayton last year? Do you think Harbaugh/Nagy/Roman/Callahan see value in Slayton, or are they going to be more interested in playing with all their new toys? If I’m not mistaken, there is no cap upside to cutting him, but I doubt that will be the deciding factor.

Ed says: Jim, Slayton isn’t going anywhere. The Giants would take on $15.749 million in dead money if they cut him, so that is not happening. Once he recovers from his core muscle surgery, Slayton will be in the mix with Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin, and rookie Malachi Fields.

Slayton has never been a perfect player, but he always manages to carve out a role and be productive. I don’t see why that won’t happen again this year.

Jeff Bergman asks: What insights can we take away about the Giants view on their DT need? In round 2 they still could have drafted Miller from UGA but went with Hood a CB. Then they traded back into the 3rd for a WR when there were still DTs available. The Giants must think there’ are few difference makers in the draft at DT or they have a couple agreements lined up with an FA or two that they’re waiting to sign (which probably explains their willingness to trade a 2027 4th).

Ed says: Jeff, they took the players they wanted most in those spots. They could have taken defensive tackles in the second or third rounds and no one would have questioned it. But, why take a player at a position just to say you took one when you think there are better, more impactful players available at other positions? This was not thought to be a good defensive tackle class, and that seems to be how the Giants acted.

We have seen a couple of free agent signings this week. They did draft Bobby Jamison-Travis, and undrafted defensive tackle Anquin Barnes is intriguing. D.J. Reader remains a possibility. Also, I’m sure they will be paying attention when roster cuts are made in August.

Bradley Allen asks: Long-time reader and 50+ year family ticket holder, first-time question. I know that the Giants have said they don’t want to trade Kayvon Thibodeaux, but they also say they will always listen to offers that help make the Giants better. With that in mind, what do you think of trading Kayvon Thibodeaux for George Pickens? They are both former first-round picks, about the same age, and are looking for long-term contracts (Pickens this year, Kayvon next year). Dallas needs help along the defensive line, and the Giants need help at wide receiver. Yes, it makes the Cowboys better, but it simultaneously makes the Giants better. I realize there is not even a rumor about this happening, but I thought I would see what people think, and who knows.

Ed says: Bradley, Thibodeaux for Pickens is an entertaining idea. I just don’t see the Giants and Cowboys getting together on something like that. The Cowboys say they don’t want to trade Pickens. The Giants aren’t trying to trade Thibodeaux, though they will listen is someone calls. What they really want is draft capital, and what would really get their attention is an offer of a second-round pick. That would be better than any potential compensatory pick they would possibly get if Thibodeaux leaves in free agency next offseason.

Mel Shrawder asks: I posted the following in the comments of one of Nicks’ articles. Doug Mollin suggested I email you directly to see if yourself or Nick can answer why PFF sees Hood as struggling versus Top Twenty AP ranked teams last year as listed by his scores in those top twenty games. I know PFF is not the be all and end all, but it’s tough to reject it when it not great in three out of four of the games. I know most want only the rosy story in every draft pick, but this isn’t criticzing Hood, just asking what happened to get these lower scores in these games.

Here is the comment below:

I wish you’d go back and help explain why PFF was wrong on their score of Hood in these games below. They were the only top twenty ranked AP teams last year Hood faced.

Georgia -#6 – 63.0 PFF. Faced Stockton as QB

Alabama – #9 – 51.1 PFF. Faced Simpson as QB

Oklahoma #13 – 71.6 PFF. Faced Mateer as QB

Vandy #15 – 61.0 PFF. Faced Pavia as QB.

Average 61.7 PFF Versus Top 20 Ranked Teams

These PFF grades are not team based, but individual based to Hood. What happened when the competition got harder?

I know it’s easy to criticize PFF. That’s easy. I’d like if you can tell me why they’re wrong from what you can see in those games. Especially the game versus Ty Simpson since the Rams, who aren’t stupid, took him in R1 with Pick 13.

Ed says: Mel, I didn’t turn to Nick Falato for an answer on this one. I turned to Doug Farrar, a long-time national NFL Draft analyst who has been doing some work for SB Nation and who I knew would have access to film of the games in question.

Here is Doug’s detailed answer:

o, the question seems to be whether Colton Hood especially struggled against Top 20 teams in college, and what that might mean for his NFL future.

Against the four offenses mentioned, Hood allowed seven catches on 15 targets for 142 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, no pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 80.4. His overall opponent passer rating allowed was 70.8, so while there was a bump to a degree in efficiency allowed against those teams, based on Hood’s actual tape, I didn’t see some sort of epidemic issue that will follow him to the next level.

Metrics always have to be taken in context. One of the things that really impressed me about Hood in 2025 was that he transferred from Colorado, and with Jermod McCoy’s torn ACL, Hood was thrown into a new defense as the CB1, and a first-year starter (Ty Redmond) as his bookend.

Regarding the opponents mentioned, I saw several plays in which Hood matched up well in coverage, and executed his assignments correctly. He’s also more than capable of reading the entire field, peeling off his original assignment, and helping elsewhere.

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Big Blue View mailbag: Defensive tackle, Caleb Downs, Kayvon Thibodeaux

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