The off-season goal for the New York Giants is simple: give Jaxson Dart a viable supporting cast to see if he can develop into a franchise quarterback. That’s it.
The Giants would love to be competitive in 2026 and compete for the division title. And that could happen if Dart takes the next step as a quarterback.
But what is the best way to give Dart support going into Year 2? Is it by improving the defense and limiting the pressure on the quarterback to score? Is it by fixing the offensive line and giving Dart more time in the pocket?
Or is it by giving him more weapons in the passing game? That’s all up for debate.
Carnell Tate could make a lot of sense for the Giants in the 2026 draft
With all of the uncertainty surrounding Malik Nabers and his injury, it’s not a bad idea to think about drafting another receiver early. Wan’Dale Robinson is a free agent and might price his way out of the building. But the Giants are in a good position in Round 1 as the 2026 draft has a bunch of top-end talent at receiver.
One such option could be Carnell Tate, a 6-3 receiver from Ohio State, who finished the 2025 season with 875 yards and 9 touchdowns on 51 receptions. He is a dynamic, big-play weapon whose game is eerily similar to George Pickens. He was one of the best wide-outs in the nation at creating big plays last season, averaging over 17 yards per reception.
Could Tate be the selection at No. 5? That is the direction Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus had New York going in his latest mock draft:
"While the Titans refused to surround Ward with more talent with their top pick, the Giants refuse to do the same with Jaxson Dart and give him Tate here. His 88.6 PFF grade is fourth among all FBS wide receivers this year, while his 151.8 passer rating when targeted leads all wideouts in America.
Tate would give New York a true X-receiver that’d pair very nicely with Malik Nabers once he recovers from his torn ACL."
The Giants have bigger needs than a No. 2 receiver, but nothing is more important than surrounding Dart with talent. And bringing in more weapons who can make plays down the field could really help his development.
It also provided the Giants with some insurance in case Nabers isn’t ready for Week 1 or doesn’t return to full strength following his knee surgery. But in the best-case scenario, the Giants have two dynamic receivers, much like the Eagles and Cowboys in the division.
It’s too soon to say that Tate is the favorite to be picked at No. 5 for the Giants, but it does make a ton of sense. They can improve their offensive line in the mid rounds of the draft and add talent on defense in free agency.
Adding a dynamic playmaker such as Tate would be much more difficult to find in free agency or later in the draft. Keep an eye on Tate throughout the draft process, as he will be on the short list of names the franchise considers with the fifth overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.