Three Prospects Who Could Boost Giants' Interior Defensive Line Depth

As we countdown to the 2023 NFL Draft, the air is filled with misinformation and speculation. Which way will the New York Giants go in their quest to add players to a roster where several holes were exposed last season to ensure a second straight trip to the postseason?

We're going to find out in a matter of days, but as we wait for the first round on Thursday, we are going to examine the top five position groups we think the team should address in the draft and the players that they could target on all three days of the event.

Up first is the fifth-ranked position of need: defensive line.

Day 1: No. 25

It is difficult to envision the Giants taking a defensive lineman in the first round with so many other glaring needs. That said, if some talented players along the defensive front drop to the later part of the round, it opens up all types of possibilities for the front office, who could always opt to go with the best player available, which, if a defensive lineman, then so be it.

The most likely scenario, in this case, would be if a talent like Clemson defensive lineman Brian Bresee were to fall to them at pick 25. Bresee was widely considered one of the top high school recruits in the country in the 2020 class and lived up to that billing in his freshman season at Clemson.

He has excellent size and athleticism for a defensive tackle, standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing around 300 pounds. He is a disruptive force in the middle of the defensive line and has a rare combination of power and quickness that allows him to beat offensive linemen with strength and agility.

He has a quick first step off the snap and can get into the backfield to disrupt plays and pressure the quarterback. Many thought he was destined to be a top-10 pick, but his final season was not stellar, and his postseason workout performances have not jumped off the screen.

He would be a potential top-10 talent who drops in the draft and, if there, would really make the team think about the potential to add him to the front.

Day 2: No. 57 and No. 89

The Giants don't need to target a defensive lineman with their second-round pick, but in the third round, there is an opportunity to massively upgrade their run defense with a guy who could take up a lot of space and displace the line of scrimmage.

The massive 6-foot-2, 344-pound nose guard from the University of Texas, Keondre Coburn, would be a great addition to a defensive line that had trouble stopping the run and lacked the depth necessary to keep others healthier on the interior without losing productivity.

Coburn has been a productive player for the Longhorns over the past few seasons and is considered one of the top run-stopping defensive linemen in the country. He is a powerful player who can anchor against the run and hold his ground against double teams. He has a quick first step and uses his strength to push the pocket and disrupt the quarterback.

He is also a technically-sound player who uses his hands well to shed blocks and make tackles. He has good instincts and awareness and can diagnose plays quickly and make the necessary adjustments to get in position to make a play. While he has shown flashes of the ability to get to the quarterback, he won't be mistaken for a pass rush specialist.

Day 3: Picks 128, 160, 172, 209, 240, 243, and 254

In all likelihood, this is where Giants fans can expect to see the Giants add a defensive lineman. Because defensive coordinator Wink Martindale is so good at allowing defenders to play to their strengths, the Giants can afford to use Day 3 selections on players that may be good at only one thing and need to develop other elements of their game. In this case, I don't think they will need to.

There is a player that will likely be available on day three that has all of the potential to become a starter of the team in the future, and that is Darel Middleton, the 6-foot-6, 306-pound defensive lineman from NAIA football program Bethel University (Tennessee).

Middleton is a raw prospect who needs to refine his technique and develop his pass-rushing moves. However, he has shown a lot of potential and versatility. His size and athleticism allow him to play on any defensive front, including a strong side defensive end.

He started his career at the University of Tennessee, where he was used in different positions, and at Bethel, he was so dominant it may have stunted his growth. Middleton is an intriguing prospect with the physical tools to be a productive player at the next level. This could be a diamond in the rough for Joe Scheon and his staff come Day 3, and they may have a place in mind to snatch him up.

Check back on Monday for a look at No. 4 of my top five position Groups the Giants need to address in the draft. We will stay on the defensive side of the ball--but maybe not where you think.

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