Giants' Darius Alexander Gives First Impression of Position Coach

Part of the New York Giants’ path to “winning” the 2025 NFL Draft was finding value in the middle of it. That was headlined by third-round selection, Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander.

First-round edge rusher Abdul Carter is a key piece of the Giants’ elite defensive line. Alexander completes it. A plug-and-play starter next to Dexter Lawrence, Alexander is capable of taking advantage of Lawrence’s gravity and posing enough of a threat to take some attention away from the superstar.

Of course, there’s plenty of work to be done to fulfill that potential. For that, Alexander is turning to New York defensive line coach Andre Patterson.

At his post-draft press conference, the Giants rookie revealed his first impression of his position coach.

“First impression was great,” Alexander said. “Dre is a chill, cool guy. He's definitely got energy when it's time, but for the most part he's chill, he's laid back, and he just wants to get to understand you as a player better.”

Patterson is among the most respected position coaches in the league, with four decades of coaching experience to his name. He helped get inspiring production from a hodgepodge of unheralded linemen in 2024.

Now, he’s being given a second starter-level talent to optimize.

“He said he could develop my whole game, but more than anything, just the knack to go out there and play with reckless abundance, just fly around with my head on fire,” he added.

Alexander has the talent to win in both phases, largely thanks to an elite blend of mass and athleticism, best exemplified by his sub-5.00-second 40-yard dash at over 300 pounds. He’s hard to move and boasts an impressive first step to penetrate gaps and push the pocket.

“I intend to work on everything,” Alexander admitted. “My whole game needs work. I think you can work on everything, even what you're good at. Just coming in, putting my head down and going to work, trusting my coaches and the veterans in the room to help me is what I'll be looking forward to.”

There are risks in Alexander’s profile, from his age to the level of competition at Toledo and suboptimal production. But with real upside and incredible talent surrounding him, New York will bank on Patterson making the most of Alexander’s tools to truly lock in its defensive line among the best in the league.