The New York Giants emerged as one of the biggest winners of the 2026 NFL Draft. However, they curiously didn't take a defensive tackle until the sixth round after trading two-time All-Pro Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Many expected the Giants to address the position at No. 37, and they appeared to zero in on Kayden McDonald. But the Houston Texans traded one spot ahead of them to grab the Ohio State standout. Pivoting to the next-best Day 2 option, like Georgia's Christen Miller or Lee Hunter of Texas Tech, felt natural, though New York pivoted entirely.
Cornerback Colton Hood from Tennessee was the choice instead. What's done is done, yet it's fair to wonder whether they would've called his name if McDonald was still available. Nevertheless, with the benefit of hindsight, passing up on Miller and Hunter is already looking like the right decision.
Giants' post-draft activity shows why they selected CB Colton Hood over DTs in Round 2
New York stayed busy in the days following this year's Annual Player Selection Meeting. They signed veterans Shelby Harris and Leki Fotu in an effort to fill the void left by Lawrence's unceremonious exit. The club reportedly may not be done bringing in reinforcements, too; D.J. Reader remains linked to them — even after their two acquisitions.
Evidently, the Giants considered McDonald in a tier of his own. They were either coming away with him or none of the consensus top guys. And if their moves since he landed with Houston are any indication, taking a committee approach in free agency was clearly Plan B.
Rolling with Hood instead of Miller or Hunter essentially allowed the G-Men to kill two birds with one stone. They brought in an exciting prospect who gives them much-needed secondary help and a pair of seasoned interior defenders (and possibly another on the way). That's good asset and roster management from New York's head coach-general manager duo, John Harbaugh and Joe Schoen.
Team building is complicated and very hard. There are several moving parts — constantly. The Giants ostensibly let the board fall to them and are going with the flow rather than forcing the issue to replace Lawrence.
Meanwhile, Hood projects to be an early starter for the Giants. He'll presumably assume Cor'Dale Flott's, who's now with the Tennessee Titans, spot on the outside alongside Paulson Adebo.
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