It's not a stretch to think that the New York Giants are in a position to compete for the NFC East title in the 2026 NFL Season. Hiring John Harbaugh was a massive step in that direction, and the roster itself is probably better than we gave it credit for.
With the 2026 NFL Draft rapidly approaching, the Giants have one more notable chance to appreciably improve the roster before the regular season, and the draft should be mostly about making life as easy as possible for quarterback Jaxson Dart, who has what it takes to break out in 2026.
However, the front office owes it to Dart to make his life as easy as possible, and these three NFL Draft prospects would do just that.
The New York Giants have to make Jaxson Dart's life easier in the NFL Draft
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
It might be hard to find a better player to make life easier for Dart than Notre Dame's stud running back, Jeremiyah Love. Unquestionably the best running back prospect in this year's draft, Love has a blend of rushing and receiving ability in the mold of Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, two of the best offensive players in the NFL.
Love is 6-0 and 212 pounds, so he's got ideal size for the position and ran a blazingly fast 4.36 forty-yard dash. A three-down player, Love is simply someone the Giants can rely on for 20+ touches per game immediately. Especially when a quarterback is developing, one of their 'best friends' is a strong offensive line and efficient rushing attack.
Well, the Giants' offensive line does boast an elite tackle duo and might be one more interior starter away from being a top unit. Adding Love into the mix would not only elevate the run game, but when that inevitably happens, the passing attack should have more opportunities.
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
If the Giants decide that Love isn't the right pick, or he's gone by the time they're selecting, Carnell Tate could be a great option. A George Pickens-y-type receiver, Tate is long, rangy, and insanely athletic. Just turning 21 years old in January, Tate is a polished player and profiles as a future no. 1 wide receiver. The neat thing here is that Tate would eventually pair up with Malik Nabers as one of the best receiver duos in the NFL.
We've seen just how prolific having to no. 1 receivers can be. In 2025, the duos of Pickens and CeeDee Lamb, and Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins put a ton of pressure and strain on opposing defenses.
As of now, it seems like Nabers is trending toward being ready to some degree in Week 1. The Giants could trot out a duo of Nabers and Tate, a new face at running back also coming in the NFL Draft, and a brand-new tight end coming over in free agency in Isaiah Likely.
"Embarrassment of riches" would be an understatement.
Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska
Someone who would be more of a mid-round target, Emmett Johnson could be another player who make's life a lot easier for Dart. There would be a chance that the Giants come away with Tate at pick five and Johnson later on in the same class. A true dual-threat back, Johnson ran for 1,451 yards in 2025 and also added 46 receptions for 370 yards. He saw his production increase in all three years at Nebraska, so that alone could be reason to believe that this progression could continue in the NFL.
With Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr, and Devin Singletary already in the backfield, the Giants might opt for a mid-round running back target and seek to field what could be an unprecedented four-headed monster at the position.
Establishing the run is how games in the NFL are won, and if the Giants can find a way to consistently do that in 2026, Dart is going to hit his stride.