The defensive Senior Bowl standouts that turned heads on Day 1 and should be on the Giants’ 2026 NFL Draft radar

These defensive 2026 NFL Draft prospects shined at Day 1 of the Senior Bowl, and the New York Giants should be paying attention.

Joe DeLeone — NFL News Writer
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Sep 6, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Army Black Knights wide receiver Samari Howard (27) is tackled by Kansas State Wildcats safety VJ Payne (7) during the third quarter at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium.
Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

The 2026 Senior Bowl kicked off the first day of practices in Mobile, Alabama, today, as fans are getting acclimated to the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.

This year, the New York Giants will need to lock in multiple defensive positions if John Harbaugh wants to hit the ground running in year one. They’ll need to pay close attention to the linebacker, safety, and cornerback prospects to find future starters. Here are some of the defensive top prospects that stood out during Day 1 of Senior Bowl practices.

San Diego State Chris Johnson

The Giants are going to be in the market for a new outside cornerback to replace Deonte Banks. With the fifth overall pick, they likely won’t be able to address corner in the first round. Instead, they’ll need to look at Day 2 options. The perfect name to know is Johnson from San Diego State.

Johnson was sticky in coverage all day and showed an ability to disrupt the catch point. If he were the Giants’ pick at the top of the second round, he would be a major elevation from what they currently have at cornerback.

Kansas State S VJ Payne

Payne is exactly the style of safety the Giants need to invest in this draft. At 6’3″ and 208lbs, he has a massive frame to align in the box. The Giants need a new replacement or competition for Tyler Nubin at strong safety.

During drills, Payne flashed what his length can do for the Giants’ defense. On the above play, he did a tremendous job of ripping a ball out after it appeared to have been secured for a catch. Payne, at the very least, could bolster the Giants’ safety depth, a position that is extremely thin.

Penn State DT Zane Durant

While I led with the Giants needing defensive backs and linebackers in this article, I can’t overlook the impact of the defensive linemen today. There are a ton of EDGE defenders and big-bodied defensive tackles that dominated, but those aren’t the spots the Giants need to fill. Durant, who is more compact and shifty, would provide the Giants with a unique skillset if they took him in the middle of Day 3.

The Giants do need to improve their depth at defensive tackle, and Durant fits the profile of what they could pursue. He flashed his upside as an impactful interior pass rusher constantly during one-on-ones.

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