Although things haven't gone well for the New York Giants this season, their future looks bright. It's also why they will be arguably the hottest destination for any head coaching candidate after firing Brian Daboll.
The Giants have an elite defensive front. They have some nice weapons on offense. They also have a future franchise quarterback in Jaxson Dart, who's shown immense promise since being installed into the starting lineup in Year 1 of his professional career.
Building around Dart is crucial. The Giants have to maximize his rookie contract before it gets much more expensive to keep him around. And this all starts by improving his protection.
Giants select Spencer Fano to pair with Andrew Thomas in 2026 mock draft
With the No. 2 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft as things stand, the Giants could have their pick of a strong-looking offensive line class. Travis May from A to Z Sports agrees, with New York going with Spencer Fano in his latest mock draft.
"The New York Giants need to figure out how to protect their new first round quarterback Jaxson Dart. Yes, Dart puts himself in harm’s way due to his extremely competitive nature, but adding a game-changing offensive tackle should help him win more within structure. Spencer Fano is a rare athlete at offensive tackle, a strong run blocker, and he might also be the best true pass blocking offensive tackle in the class too. Plus he’s had plenty of practice blocking for dual threat quarterbacks at Utah. Fano could be a foundational piece for a bright Giants future on offense."Travis May
It's a foregone conclusion anyway, but selecting Fano (or anyone else) would finally bring to an end Evan Neal's time with the franchise.
He was drafted to be the long-term right tackle opposite Andrew Thomas, but fluffed his lines almost constantly. Moving to the interior didn't help, and Neal's been on the fringes for much of the campaign. Change is long overdue, and the Giants could do far worse than examine the Utah prospect's credentials in greater detail.
Fano is precisely what the Giants are looking for. He's a well-rounded edge enforcer with a ruthless mentality, finishing blocks with controlled violence. His athleticism is off the charts for a man his size, which is matched by brute force on running plays and the required length to mirror oncoming rushers with relative comfort.
Pairing Fano and Thomas gives Dart a potential bookend tackle tandem capable of keeping his pocket clean consistently. That might be all he needs to take the NFL by storm in 2026.