The 2026 NFL Draft is finally here, and with it come lofty expectations for the New York Giants. Like, I'm talking enormous... Godzilla's shoe size-sized enormous.
That’s what happens when a team gets a rare second shot at two top-10 picks in the same draft for the second time in five drafts. The first time, the Giants came away with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal back in 2022. This time needs to go better. And there's reason to believe it will.
And it starts with John Harbaugh being the new head coach in North Jersey.
You better believe Harbaugh's going to have his fingerprints, hands, armpits, nose hair, earwax, toe jam, everything all over these picks. After overhauling the coaching staff and making some savvy free-agent additions, the 63-year-old now gets to shape this thing exactly how he wants it.
John Harbaugh has a perfect Giants draft sitting right in front of him
1. More weapons for Jaxson Dart and the offense
First things first, Harby's gotta get his quarterback more weapons. Free agency was a good start, adding Isaiah Likely, Darnell Mooney, and Calvin Austin III, but there's a lot more work to get done. That starts with giving Jaxson Dart an electric playmaker on offense.
There won't be a shortage of options. With two top-10 picks, Harbaugh could lock in a player like Jeremiyah Love, Jordyn Tyson, or Carnell Tate while going best player available and letting the board fall to them with the other pick.
It's clear the receiver room could use an upgrade opposite Malik Nabers, especially as he works his way back from a torn ACL last season. With a bona fide difference-maker in tow, Harby can look to Day 2 of the draft to address the team's most glaring need: the interior offensive line.
2. Upgrade the offensive line
Yes, the Greg Van Roten-sized void at right guard is a problem, but let's not kick our feet up and feel comfortable with Jon Runyan on the left. It's not like he's some All-Pro-caliber player. His spot can be upgraded, too. Thankfully, the 37th pick gives Harbaugh and Co. the perfect opportunity to get to work.
Oregon's Emmanuel Pregnon, Texas A&M's Chase Bisontis, and Georgia Tech's Keylan Rutledge could all be in play when Big Blue's back on the clock Friday evening. They each bring something different, but they also all have one thing in common: they'd instantly be inserted into the starting lineup.
Earlier in the offseason, the G-Men threw a bunch of one-year contracts around at uninspiring vets, resulting in a room filled with Daniel Faalele, Evan Neal, Joshua Ezeudu, Lucas Patrick, and Aaron Stinnie. Upgrading Dart's security detail and adding a mauler in the ground game would go a long way for the new-look Matt Nagy-led offense.
3. Fill the Dexter Lawrence-sized void on the defensive line
With Dart now completely taken care of with a new playmaker and protector, Day 3 will be all about value and searching far and wide to find it, specifically along the defensive line. I'm not sure if you heard, but Dexter Lawrence is on the Cincinnati Bengals now, leaving a 6-foot-4, 340-pound hole on the defensive line. And it was already suspect before he was traded. That needs to be rectified ASAP Rocky.
With no third-round pick, Big Blue will have to wait 68 picks until its name is called again. It's not ideal, but it is what it is. A couple of prospects make sense as late-round fliers New York can target with the 105th pick, including Iowa State's Domonique Orange, Clemson's DeMonte Capehart, Missouri's Chris McLellan, and Ole Miss' Zxavian Harris.
All four are space-eating, double-team feasting run stuffers who won't impact the pass-rush early in their careers, but could eventually become serviceable pocket collapsers in time -- sound familiar? Once the defensive line is addressed with a ground game glutton, it's value, value, value.
That doesn’t sound all that hard, does it? Of course, it’s easier said than done, but Harbaugh’s dream draft is right there. All he has to do is go get it. If he comes away with a top-tier playmaker on offense, a new member of Dart’s secret service, and a big interior defensive lineman, that’s about as close as it gets.
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