Whether the New York Giants find a trade partner or not for the fifth overall pick in the 2026 Draft is up to the football gods. Okay, and maybe a little bit of Joe Schoen, too. But trusting the much-maligned general manager to make the right decisions is becoming increasingly harder to believe.
Regardless of how this plays out, what's squarely in their control right now is pick No. 5, and there's a good chance if the G-Men come to terms with John Harbaugh as their new head coach, that pick is already all but made.
Related: Joe Schoen may have just cleared the biggest hurdle in landing John Harbaugh
In three of the last four drafts, the Baltimore Ravens selected a defensive back with their first-round pick. In 2022, it was superstar safety Kyle Hamilton. In 2024, it was Clemson's speedy cornerback, Nate Wiggins. And just last year, it was versatile Georgia safety Malaki Starks. To say Harbs has a preference for defensive backs would be an understatement.
But, as it just so happens, the 2026 Draft happens to have at least one prospect who'd scratch Harbaugh's itch, if not two.
John Harbaugh’s draft track record could reveal Giants’ top target
General mock draft consensus has the G-Men going the wide receiver or offensive tackle route to help second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart, but as the great Lee Corso famously said, "Not so fast, my friends!"
You've heard of the Russ Bus. It's time you met the Delane Train.
LSU's stud cornerback Mansoor Delane just so happens to be regarded as the best cover corner in the draft. He's not the biggest or strongest at 6-feet, 190 pounds, but he wins with elite instincts, fluid hips, and a fearless approach in man coverage that lets him hang with any receiver.
It just so happens the Giants’ secondary is currently in shambles. Deonte Banks is unplayable, Paulson Adebo robbed them blind last offseason with his inconsistent play, and Cor’Dale Flott, their best corner last season, is about to become enter free agency.
Big Blue hasn't had a Pro Bowl-worthy CB since James Bradberry. Delane has the tools to finally end the never-ending secondary failures.
However, if Schoen and Co. ... and Harbs aren't sold on Delane, Ohio State's star safety, Caleb Downs, could be in play if they find a partner to trade back with-- or even if they don't. Safeties aren't typically top-five picks, but Downs has the pedigree to buck the trend.
Downs brings a rare mix of instincts, range, and toughness the Giants’ secondary just doesn't have. The two-time All-American and 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year would give Harbaugh a tone-setter on the back end and a building block for a defense in need of one.
Don’t be shocked when Roger Goodell announces the pick is a DB. Harbaugh’s track record speaks for itself, and if it ends up being Delane or Downs, don’t say I didn’t warn you.