The New York Giants are finally in the home stretch as they try to decide who the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft will be, and it doesn't necessarily seem like there is a locked in pick that is dominating the conversation at this point.
The idea of getting a bell cow running back might be appealing for a new coaching staff, but landing a safety who could start for 10 years or the unquestioned best inside linebacker may give the defense another young star they can build around in the future. A top three seems to have formed.
The latest reports from ESPN's Jordan Raanan suggest that the Giants are going to decide between Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, Buckeyes teammate and inside linebacker Sonny Styles, and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, with the latter the leader in the clubhouse.
"Saying at No. 5, the three players who seem to be most squarely on their radar are Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and Downs," Raanan said. "Coach John Harbaugh and the Giants are especially high on Love. If he's available, it's hard to see them passing up that opportunity."
Giants eyeing Jeremiyah Love with No. 5 overall pick
Love is the best running back prospect since Bijan Robinson came out of Texas, and he may even be a superior player. With great vision, breakaway speed, and the power to bowl over opposing linebackers, Love would be a 1,000-yard rusher right out of the gate in New York.
Of course, fans who are fresh off the Giants failing to make a ton of headway after using a top pick on Saquon Barkley are likely going to be a bit gun shy when it comes to using such a premium pick on yet another running back.
Both of the fallback options should a team like the Arizona Cardinals or Tennessee Titans take him earlier are quality. Styles is an athletic freak who should be a Day 1 starter next to Tremaine Edmunds, while Downs is an ultra-safe defensive back who can do a bit of everything.
The Giants find themselves in the middle of yet another position value debate with Love, as those who are afraid of picking a running back that high may want Joe Schoen to look at either Downs or Styles just a bit more thoroughly in the coming days.
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