The New York Giants haven't officially started the 2025 season yet, but that doesn't mean mock draft season just goes away. It's Week 1, and the G-Men are heading to Landover, MD, to take on the Washington Commanders in a highly anticipated NFC East divisional matchup.
The Giants will hope to show off their new and improved roster, including, but not limited to, their revamped quarterback room, upgraded secondary, and game-changing rookies. Speaking of rookies, it finally looks like Big Blue has found its franchise quarterback with Jaxson Dart. He'll sit behind Russell Wilson until it's his time to take over — hopefully for the next decade-plus.
Fortunately for the 22-year-old signal-caller, New York already has the superstar receiver with Malik Nabers, an up-and-coming tight end room with Theo Johnson and Thomas Fidone, and a sneaky dangerous running back unit headlined by Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Cam Skattebo. Now it's time to give him the protection he needs from the big boys up front. Here is my first Giants 2026 three-round mock draft.
Way-too-early 2026 3-round Giants mock draft heading into Week 1
What? An offensive tackle with their first-round pick... how original. Yes, pairing the G-Men with a lineman, specifically a tackle, isn't exactly sexy or shocking, but it's what they need to protect their new franchise QB. Dart's first offseason in East Rutherford suggests he'll be ready for the starting gig sooner than later, which is why Joe Schoen needs to invest in his protection immediately.
Caleb Lomu makes sense for Big Blue because he’s exactly the kind of athletic, high-upside tackle the team can mold into a long-term solution on the left side. He’s raw, sure — just one season as a college starter and still adding NFL-type strength — but his pass protection instincts are already ahead of schedule.
He's given up just two sacks on over 400 snaps last year at Utah and has the movement skills to thrive in a zone-heavy scheme. If Dart’s going to be the savior in New York, investing in a blindside protector with Lomu’s ceiling is the kind of long-term bet worth making.
Another offensive lineman? That's crazy, Matt. Hear me out — New York's current center, John Michael Schmitz Jr., just ain't it. Two-plus years in, and he's still struggling to warrant even backup duties. He's the Giants' starter by sheer circumstance, and it'd be shocking to see Schoen (assuming he's still around) pass up the opportunity to finally address the position for good.
Parker Brailsford would be a massive upgrade at center. He’s smart, twitchy, and already has more juice off the snap than half the Giants’ interior line room combined. He anchored Washington’s Joe Moore Award-winning unit (most outstanding offensive line) and didn’t skip a beat after transferring to Alabama, holding his own against SEC competition while allowing just half a sack all year.
Sure, he’s a bit undersized (6-foot-2, 290 pounds), but he fits exactly what New York should be building: a faster, more versatile front that can keep Dart upright in the pocket.
The Giants' third-round pick belongs to the Houston Texans after they used it in the trade for rookie quarterback sensation Jaxson Dart.