Things didn't exactly go well for the New York Giants in 2025. They went 4-13 and were back to playing bottom-feeder once again. But while the season might have been a complete wash -- resulting in the firing of head coach Brian Daboll -- the rookie class brought hope to a fanbase that's been going through it.
Coming away with a franchise quarterback in Jaxson Dart, a pass rusher with unlimited potential in Abdul Carter, and a borderline psychotic-in-the-best-way running back in Cam Skattebo feels like the perfect appetizer for one of the most important drafts the Giants have ever had. Add in the Dexter Lawrence blockbuster trade with the Bengals for the 10th overall pick, and it’s bon appétit.
With John Harbaugh now leading the charge and two top-10 picks, the sky is the limit for this up-and-coming, scrappy team. The 2026 draft class might not be filled to the brim with top-tier prospects, but there’s plenty of starter-worthy talent, giving the G-Men eight real chances to improve the roster. Let’s get drafty.
- Giants draft snapshot
- Draft pick tracker
- Best remaining draft targets
- Updated Giants depth chart
- Tracking the NFC East rivals
Giants draft snapshot
- Current draft capital: Picks No. 5, No. 10, No. 37, No. 74, No. 186, No. 192, No. 193
- Primary needs: Defensive line, offensive line, defensive back, linebacker
- Latest selection: Jack Kelly
- Last updated: 6:05 PM ET, April 25, 2026
There are two glaring roster needs for the G-Men heading into the 2026 NFL Draft: a starting right guard and secondary help. But you could argue that adding a linebacker or defensive lineman (especially after the Lawrence trade) to the front seven is the closest second as seconds come.
But that's what makes draft night so beautiful. On the surface, it might feel like the Giants have to do this or need to do that, but teams aren't built from the couch. It'll all come down to who's left on the board when Big Blue's name is officially on the clock. There's no better night than draft night.
Draft pick tracker
Pick | Player |
|---|---|
5 | Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State |
10 | Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami |
37 | Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee |
74 | Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame |
186 | Bobby Jamison-Travis, DT, Auburn |
192 | J.C. Davis, OT, Illinois |
193 | Jack Kelly, LB, BYU |
No. 5 pick: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Arvell Reese was a relatively surprising pick, but when you commit to going best player available, you have to commit. Consider this Harbaugh's commitment to doing whatever it takes to make this team better.
Reese is a defensive chess piece. He can play off-ball linebacker, as well as play pass-rusher. He only started one season at OSU, but he routinely lived in the backfield, annihilating running backs and quarterbacks alike. He joins a pass-rushing group consisting of Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux (for now). He instantly makes the defense better. This is a great pick, even if it wasn't the one fans were expecting.
No. 10 pick: Francis "Sisi" Mauigoa, OL, Miami
Drafting for need rarely produces results. But when you can fill a need while also getting the best player available, that’s the sweet spot. That’s exactly what the Giants did with Mauigoa. The 6-foot-6, 330-pounder is an absolute unit, with a player comp that’s basically a steamroller. His strength and athleticism let him get to the second level and put defenders through the earth.
It also lines up with what the G-Men needed. Even after signing just about every available vet on one-year deals, right guard was still wide open. Mauigoa will likely move inside to start his career, but what makes the pick even more interesting is his ability to eventually kick back out to tackle, whether that’s on the right side or protecting the blindside. The asymptomatic herniated disc is something to keep an eye on, but all reports say it won’t require surgery.
No. 37 pick: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
The no-nonsense draft approach was alive and well on Day 2 of the draft as there were a few receivers worthy of a look, but New York stood firm. With the 37th pick, the G-Men addressed their uninspiring secondary with a player who'll embrace Dennard Wilson's press-man scheme with open arms.
If we're operating in the trust tree, while this is a truly great get for Big Blue, it does scratch Harby's itch for a defensive back early in the draft. Hood should instantly put pressure on Greg Newsome and Deonte Banks as CB2 opposite Paulson Adebo.
No. 74 pick: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
As if the draft couldn't go any better, the Giants took even more care of their franchise quarterback, finally giving him a weapon on the outside.
Fields is the big-bodied receiver Big Blue has needed but couldn't find -- until now. The 6-foot-4, 218-pounder is more project than finished product at this point, but honestly, it's just refreshing to see another body in the receiver room. What they've been doing hasn't worked.
No. 186: Bobby Jamison-Travis, DT, Auburn
After knocking their first four picks out of the park, Big Blue hit a bit of a snag with their first pick on Day 3. In their first real attempt to fill the Sexy Dexy void, Auburn's Jamison-Travis feels like a miss. He's a unit -- 6-foot-3, 330 pounds -- but that's about all he is right now. He's one-dimensional with almost no pass-rushing abilities, making this the clear biggest miss of their draft.
No. 192: J.C. Davis, OT, Illinois
After a head-scratching draft-for-need over best player available pick at 186, Harby and Schoen got back on track with Illinois' J.C. Davis. The G-Men have a need for a swing tackle, even with Marcus Mbow entering Year 2. They cut James Hudson earlier in the offseason, and all it takes is one injury to throw the offensive line out of whack. This pick helps prevent exactly that. There's definitely some value here. This is a good selection.
No. 193: Jack Kelly, LB, BYU
Closing out the 2026 Class is BYU's Jack Kelly. Nicknamed "Cannonball" for his aggressive demeanor in BMX racing, it's stuck with him throughout his football career, which is just objectively cool. He isn't the biggest linebacker, but there's a role for him on special teams if he can make it through the summer and earn a spot on the 53.
Best remaining draft targets
Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State
New York doesn’t necessarily need another running back, but if they’re going to fully lean into Harby’s ground-and-pound vision, adding another body to the backfield wouldn’t hurt. It helps that Kaytron Allen’s play style fits that vision almost perfectly.
At 5-foot-11, 219 pounds, the former Nittany Lion is about as close to a sledgehammer as the Giants are going to find late in the draft. In four seasons at Penn State, he ran for 4,180 yards and 39 touchdowns, adding 490 receiving yards and four scores through the air. Being a physical football team comes with injuries, and Allen would be a solid contributor and a reliable insurance option if someone goes down.
DeMonte Capehart, DL, Clemson
They haven’t touched the defensive line yet, which makes this one feel more like a matter of time than anything else. Capehart gives them someone who can step into that rotation right away and start handling early-down work. At 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, guys his size aren't exactly expected to be athletic marvels, but he bucks the trend. It doesn’t solve the Dexter Lawrence problem, but it at least starts addressing it.
Zxavian Harris, DL, Ole Miss
If they pass on one, coming right back to it here would make even more sense. Harris brings a completely different body type than anything they currently have inside (or to anyone at 6-foot-8, 330 pounds), and that alone changes the look of the front. There’s risk tied to him -- both with the off-field issues and how inconsistent he can be snap to snap -- but at this point, they need someone eating space.
Jalen Stroman, SAF, Notre Dame
They already added Hood, so this isn’t about fixing the secondary anymore, it’s about adding a high-upside role player to the safety room. Stroman’s value shows up on special teams immediately, and that matters for a late pick trying to stick, especially for Harbaugh. He’s going to be around the ball on kick coverage and can work his way into sub-packages when they want another body near the line.
Beau Stephens, OL, Iowa
They already spent a premium pick on the line, but the depth behind it is still iffy. Stephens comes from a system where linemen are asked to be physical and assignment-sound (meat and potato country), and that’s exactly what this group needs more of. He’s not walking in as a starter, but he gives them another option if the current group doesn’t hold up.
Updated Giants depth chart
Offense
- QB:Â Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston, Brandon Allen
- RB:Â Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary, Eric Gray
- FB:Â Patrick Ricard
- WR:Â Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields, Calvin Austin III, Isaiah Hodgins, Jalin Hyatt
- TE:Â Isaiah Likely, Theo Johnson, Chris Manhertz, Thomas Fidone II
- OL:Â Andrew Thomas, Jon Runyan, John Michael Schmitz, Francis Mauigoa, Jermaine Eluemunor, Marcus Mbow, Daniel Faalele, Aaron Stinnie, J.C. Davis, Jake Kubas, Joshua Ezeudu, Evan Neal, Lucas Patrick
It might look like a million players are suiting up for the offense, but a lot of these guys will be released once the 53-man roster comes out later in the offseason. Don't let quantity fool you; there's a major need for more quality.
The offensive line no longer needs as much help with Mauigoa pummeling defenders. And while I'm probably on their list for another receiver at this point, expect Big Blue to add a dynamic weapon for its 22-year-old franchise quarterback in the form of a stud wide receiver.
Defense
- IDL:Â Roy Robertson-Harris, Sam Roberts, Darius Alexander, Elijah Chatman, Bobby Jamison-Travis, Marlon Tuipulotu
- EDGE:Â Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Chauncey Golston, DeMarvin Leal, Caleb Murphy
- LB:Â Tremaine Edmunds, Arvell Reese, Micah McFadden, Jack Kelly, Darius Muasau, Swayze Bozeman, Zaire Barnes, Cam Jones
- CB:Â Paulson Adebo, Colton Hood, Greg Newsome II, Dru Phillips, Deonte Banks, Korie Black, Art Green, Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Rico Payton
- S: Jevón Holland, Tyler Nubin, Ar'Darius Washington, Jason Pinnock, Elijah Campbell, Raheem Layne, Beau Brade, Nic Jones
You'll notice there's a 340-pound void in the middle of the defense, and that definitely stings. It stings a helluva lot less knowing they fleeced the Bungals into giving up the 10th overall pick to shore up the offensive line, but I digress. The defense is a work in progress, and with new DC Dennard Wilson leading the unit, expect an emphasis on versatile, physical defenders. Enter Reese. He'll be asked to play everywhere.
They need to address the defensive line next. The linebacker room needs less of an upgrade, but a true off-ball guy could work. The most unimpressive group is still the secondary. They're currently rostering 16 players, with maybe two being mortal locks for a significant role. Send help.
Tracking the NFC East rivals
Dallas Cowboys
- Round 1, pick 11: Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
- Round 1, pick 23: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
- Round 3, pick 92: Jaishawn Barham, EDGE, Michigan
- Round 4, pick 112: Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State
- Round 4, pick 114: Devin Moore, CB, Florida
- Round 4, pick 137: LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama
- Round 7, pick 218: Anthony Smith, WR, East Carolina
The Cowboys getting Caleb Downs is a major bummer. But the Giants had two chances to get him and chose to pass on him both times. So while it's frustrating, it happens. No one likes to see an elite playmaker head to their rival, but if it's a byproduct of executing your own draft strategy to a T, it is what it is.
After selecting Downs, their draft has only gotten stronger. Malachi Lawrence scratches their itch for pass-rush production. So does Jaishawn Barham, who is essentially store-brand Arvell Reese. Grabbing a big-bodied corner in Moore and picking up a swing tackle early on Day 3 was just smart business. Their best Day 3 pick goes to LT Overton, who was considered a late Day 2/early Day 3 pick. This is turning out to be a very good draft for Dallas. That stinks.
Philadelphia Eagles:
- Round 1, pick 20: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
- Round 2, pick 54: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
- Round 3, pick 68: Markel Bell, OT, Miami
- Round 5, pick 178: Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
- Round 6, pick 207: Micah Morris, OG, Georgia
- Round 7: pick 244: Cole Wisniewski, SAF, Texas Tech
- Round 7: pick 251: Uar Bernard, DT, Nigeria
- Round 7: pick 252: Keyshawn James-Newby, EDGE, New Mexico
Surprise, surprise. The Eagles bolstered their wide receiver room, taking USC's Makai Lemon 20th overall, after trading up with the Cowboys. Lemon is the draft's best slot receiver, giving Jalen Hurts another target to throw to.
When life gives Philly Lemons, they trade A.J. Brown away. At least, that's what the move would imply. The two sides are ready for a divorce, and this was the first real step in the proceedings. Grabbing another tight end for Dallas Goedert's eventual departure made sense, as did adding a massive swing tackle to sit behind Lane Johnson as he gets up there in age.
The most notable pick is Payton, who will immediately come in and compete with Hurts for the starting job... kidding. But it's not nothing, either. Perhaps it's Carson Wentz nostalgia shining through with the NDSU connection.
Washington Commanders:
- Round 1, pick 7: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
- Round 3, pick 71: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
- Round 5, pick 147: Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee
- Round 6, pick 187: Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State
- Round 6, pick 209: Matt Gulbin, C, Michigan State
- Round 7, pick 223: Athan Kaliakmanis, QB, Rutgers
Commanders general manager Adam Peters has to be feeling pretty good right about now. He couldn't have asked for a better outcome if he tried. The Commies end up with unicorn-esque linebacker Sonny Styles, who many thought would end up with the G-Men.
Without a lot of picks, the Commies have to make the most of their selections, and taking Williams in the third was a great choice. Washington needed to get Jayden Daniels more weapons in the receiver room. Mission accomplished.
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