The New York Giants took some exciting swings in the mid to late rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft. They landed Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields and snagged two potential hidden gems, Illinois offensive lineman J.C. Davis and BYU linebacker Jack Kelly, late.
But the question now becomes whether the Giants' newcomers will become lineup fixtures and when. None of Fields, Davis or Kelly has a clear path to meaningful snaps from the outset, though they have the power to change that. There will be opportunities for them to carve out roles under head coach John Harbaugh, albeit at the expense of some veterans.
There are holdovers from the club's previous regime who could take a backseat to Fields, Davis and Kelly in due course. Or at least that's what the Harbaugh-led Giants are betting on. Either way, these three players must be prepared to fight for their jobs.
3 Giants veterans who could become expendable after 2026 NFL Draft
Jon Runyan, OG
Runyan hasn't lived up to the three-year, $30 million contract he signed with the Giants in free agency in 2024, to put it mildly. His shortcomings and expiring salary make him a prime offseason cap casualty candidate. The former Green Bay Packers guard allowed 31 pressures, 24 hurries, five quarterback hits and two sacks across 16 contests in 2025.
Enter Davis, this year's No. 192 pick. He comes with a ton of experience, logging 49 starts — as a left tackle — during his time at Illinois. However, his frame (6-foot-4, 322 pounds) kicking inside may give a better long-term outlook in the pros, especially with the Giants.
Davis earned First Team All-Big Ten honors in his final collegiate campaign. He posted an 87.8 overall Pro Football Focus grade, which ranked sixth out of 632 qualified offensive tackles. The Illinois stalwart has the length and strength to be a factor in the run game and pass protection.
Micah McFadden, ILB
New York agreed to an extension with McFadden in March, but the two sides settled on a one-year "prove-it" deal. Nothing regarding their future together is set in stone, as evidenced by the selection of Kelly at No. 193 overall roughly six weeks later.
A Lisfranc injury in the Giants' opener forced McFadden to sit out the rest of last season. He's been productive when given healthy, recording back-to-back 100-tackle efforts in 2023 and 2024. Nevertheless, his struggles in coverage and durability concerns (has missed time with foot, groin and neck issues) make Kelly's arrival even more notable.
Kelly, AKA "Cannonball," has already drawn a good bit of attention since the Giants called his name. He's a freak-of-nature athlete with an elite blend of speed, explosiveness and a versatile skill set. The BYU standout has the upside to usurp McFadden on the depth chart and make an immediate impact.
Jalin Hyatt, WR
There's not much to say about Hyatt at this point. His stat line across the past two seasons (13 catches for 97 scoreless yards) resembles what the league's best wideouts do in a single game. He's become an afterthought in every sense of the word since the Giants chose him 73rd overall in 2023.
Fast forward to this April, and the Giants aggressively climbed the board to grab Fields in Round 3, one slot later than Hyatt (No. 74). They paid a hefty price to bring in the former in a trade with the Cleveland Browns. With that in mind, it's hard to envision a redemption arc for the latter, at least in New York.
While their builds are quite different, they're both primarily deep threats. Fields was near the top of the country in yards per reception (17.5) and contested catches (11) among receivers who ran 50 routes-plus last year. Meanwhile, the smaller and faster Hyatt lacks physicality, and the impressive downfield ball-tracking ability he showcased at Tennessee hasn't translated to the next level.
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