The New York Giants are widely expected to select Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, a converted safety, with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Later on draft weekend, perhaps the Giants should turn their attention to another player who switched positions in college.
Styles, a first-team All-American, made what could be considered a “traditional” change, moving from the secondary to linebacker.
Florida edge rusher George Gumbs Jr., though, is another story entirely. Once a walk-on receiver at Northern Illinois, Gumbs is gaining significant attention as an edge rusher.
What to know about George Gumbs Jr.
When we discuss position changes in college, the ones that come to mind are typically quarterbacks moving to receiver or a slot, trading sides to try his hand at cornerback.
Going from receiver to tight end is one thing. Switching between those two roles before becoming a full-time edge rusher and then succeeding in his third position is a remarkable feat.
The 6-foot-4, 245-pound Gumbs hauled in four catches for 44 yards in 2022, his final season on offense. Then, he switched to edge rusher ahead of the 2023 season, totaling 6 ½ tackles for loss, 3 ½ sacks, and forcing two fumbles.
Florida came calling, and Gumbs transferred from NIU to Gainesville with two seasons of eligibility left. After adding 20 pounds of muscle, Gumbs totaled eight tackles for loss and five sacks for the Gators as a redshirt junior.
Gumbs also turned heads for planting a Gators flag on the Doak Campbell Stadium field after a November 2024 victory over Florida State. Although then-Gators coach Billy Napier apologized, Gumbs said he would do it again.
NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein praised Gumbs’ “fearless playing style” and athleticism in a pre-draft scouting report, though he projected Gumbs as an average backup or special teams contributor.
“Everything he does as a run defender and pass rusher should improve with additional technique work,” Zierlein wrote. “He’s tough and competitive versus the run, but the ceiling might be average.”
Gumbs would be an intriguing Day 3 option for the Giants
Barring any trades, the Giants enter the 2026 NFL Draft with seven total picks, including five on the draft’s third and final day.
The Patriots are reportedly meeting with Gumbs on a top-30 visit, and there is no indication that the Giants intend to host him.
However, Gumbs might be worth the investment as a Day 3 pick if he’s still available at either pick No. 192 or No. 193. When you record 21 tackles for loss, with 14 ½ coming in the SEC, over a three-year span after switching positions twice, it’s evident that there is legitimate talent at play.
Sometimes in the later rounds, teams are looking for prospects where the best-case scenario is simply becoming contributors. Gumbs certainly has the athletic profile, and although he turns 24 in October, drafting an older prospect in the sixth or seventh round isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Gumbs’ work ethic and maturity should also speak for themselves after two position changes, and that should also catch the Giants’ attention. The more pass rushers, the better, especially given the Giants’ long history of successful quarterback terrorizers.
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