Life comes at you fast in the NFL. One day you’re the bee’s knees. The next, you’re reading Matt Miller’s latest two-round mock draft on ESPN and realizing how quickly things can change. At least that's how it might feel for two New York Giants up-and-comers.
Wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson and cornerback Dru Phillips have so much more in common than they both played at Kentucky -- they were on the same team in 2021 -- and were selected on Day 2 of the draft. Both have come into their own in their relatively short-lived time in East Rutherford.
Robinson came onto the scene in his third year in 2024, but really put things together with a 1,000-yard season in 2025. Meanwhile, Phillips instantly impressed as a rookie in 2024 and continued making strides in Year 2 this past season. Good for them. Now comes the uncomfortable part.
It still didn't stop Miller from going with Ohio State WR Carnell Tate and Indiana CB D'Angelo Ponds with their first two picks (5 and 37, respectively) in his 2026 mock draft. And that's a not-so-subtle message neither player can afford to ignore as the offseason is about to go full send.
Matt Miller's mock draft isn't doing WanDale Robinson or Dru Phillips any favors
We'll start with the Tate-Robinson dilemma. For all the good and improvements Robinson has had since the G-Men took him 43rd overall in 2022, he's still a pretty limited player.
His size (5-foot-8, 185 pounds) all but guarantees he'll be nothing more than a slot receiver, which is fine, but when he's due for a massive (somewhere in the ballpark of $70 million) extension this offseason, you have to wonder if he's here for the long haul. And that's where Tate comes into play.
The 6-foot-3 wideout isn't necessarily known for playing in the slot, but he can. He can line up all over the field. According to Miller, his tape reminds him of Vikings' star receiver Justin Jefferson, which should have fans salivating over the pick. Selecting Tate makes losing Robinson more palatable, giving Big Blue more spending money to round out the rest of the roster.
A duo of Malik Nabers and Tate could be nightmare fuel for opposing defenses, and exactly what franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart needs to entrench himself as Eli's rightful heir. It's a bummer it could come at the expense of Robinson, but it's a business decision New York will have to entertain.
As for the Ponds-Phillips conundrum...
Big Blue's secondary is a mess. New head coach John Harbaugh brought in defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson and defensive backs coach Donald D'Alesio to fix it, but they'll need the right players to succeed.
A year ago, Phillips looked like the Giants' future slot corner, earning a ridiculous 77.0 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus (10th among 117 CBs) and a 78.5 overall grade, finishing seventh as a rookie. Then he regressed a bit in Year 2. He was still pretty good, but nowhere near as good as his rookie season. And that'll put pressure on Harbaugh and Co. to potentially upgrade the position.
Miller sells Ponds hard at No. 37, calling him one of the best pure football players in his class. He also called him the best nickelback available, which just so happens to be the position one Dru Phillips plays.
If the new regime isn't married to the previous administration's guys, then they'll bring in their own. And it certainly feels like Harbs is creating a path towards a defensive back based on his hiring moves and previous drafting trends.
Who the Giants draft come April is anyone's guess, but it's already starting to feel like the pressure is mounting. I guess that’s just how quickly things change in this league, and Robinson and Phillips are finding that out in real time.