2025 Summer Scouting Spotlight: Is Penn State DL Zane Durant a Future Fit for the New York Giants?
As NFL teams dive into summer scouting ahead of the 2025 Draft, one name steadily climbing draft boards is Penn State’s defensive lineman Zane Durant. A senior leader and disruptive force up front for the Nittany Lions, Durant has quietly built a résumé that could make him an intriguing fit for the New York Giants — a team that continues to rebuild its defensive identity under head coach Brian Daboll and new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen.
At 6-foot-1 and around 285 pounds, Durant may not have the towering frame of a traditional NFL interior lineman, but what he lacks in size, he makes up for in quickness, leverage, and relentlessness. His ability to play with violent hands and get off the ball quickly makes him a mismatch against slower-footed guards, particularly in one-gap schemes — exactly what the Giants could use in their rotation.
Production and Pedigree
Durant had a strong 2024 season, finishing with 35 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention honors. Though not flashy, his consistency, durability, and motor stood out on a Penn State defensive front loaded with talent.
In Brent Pry’s and later Manny Diaz’s aggressive defensive fronts, Durant developed into a gap-shooting menace, capable of creating interior pressure — something the Giants have lacked outside of Dexter Lawrence. With veteran depth dwindling and rotational help needed on the defensive line, Durant’s versatility and work ethic could be exactly what New York’s front seven needs in the mid to late rounds of the 2025 draft.
Fit with the Giants
The Giants’ current defensive line is anchored by All-Pro Dexter Lawrence, but behind him, there are question marks. Rakeem Nunez-Roches and Jordan Riley have flashed potential, but neither has cemented themselves as long-term contributors. Zane Durant profiles as a high-effort, scheme-diverse defender who could slot into a rotational 3-technique role or even kick outside in hybrid fronts.
Under Shane Bowen — who prefers an attacking style similar to Tennessee’s — Durant’s first-step explosiveness and ability to penetrate could be maximized. He’s the kind of high-floor player who could contribute on early downs and special teams while developing into a reliable interior disruptor over time.
Traits That Stand Out
Quickness: Durant’s first step allows him to penetrate gaps before blockers can react.
Leverage: At 6’1″, he consistently wins the pad level battle.
Effort: Rarely takes a play off. Coaches rave about his motor and work ethic.
Versatility: Can play inside or slide into a 5-tech role in sub-packages.
Final Word
While he may not be a first-round headliner, Zane Durant is the kind of gritty, high-character prospect the Giants have traditionally valued. If he continues his upward trajectory through the 2025 season and tests well in pre-draft workouts, don’t be surprised to hear his name called on Day 2 or early Day 3 — possibly heading to East Rutherford in blue.
For the Giants, Durant could be more than just depth — he could become a long-term building block in the trenches.
