They say the best teams are built through the draft. Knicks fans just saw a prime example of that playing the draft-built San Antonio Spurs in the Finals. And while teams like the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers have had their fair share of success buying championships, they are more outliers than the norm.
But just because teams can build through the draft doesn't mean success follows -- the two aren't married. Unfortunately, New York Giants fans understand this better than most. And so does ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz.
Schatz recently ranked every NFL team's 25-and-under core entering the 2026 season. The G-Men made a top-10 appearance, coming in at No. 9 in his rankings, but the problem isn't that they weren't any higher. The problem is that they ranked fourth last year in the same exercise, meaning even with two top-10 picks this past draft, they're somehow going backwards. And that's a nightmare.
Giants’ draft success (or lack thereof) has one glaring blind spot
Big Blue has gone 13-38 over the past three seasons, earning a top-six pick in three straight drafts. Not only that -- they've also had 10 top-75 picks over the same stretch. One could assume that with all that premium draft talent, their positioning would be higher. However, you know what happens when you assume...
Schatz explained New York cracked the top 10 in large part due to a top-heavy group. Their blue-chip players consisted of pass-rusher Abdul Carter, quarterback Jaxson Dart, offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, wide receiver Malik Nabers, and linebacker Arvell Reese. Safety Tyler Nubin and pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux didn't make the cut due to being too old -- no comment.
That's a lot of first-round picks and not a lot of mid- or late-round guys. It's also not great that five first-rounders couldn't get them any higher, especially after adding two more firsts from last year's fourth-place-ranked team.
Not only did no second-through-seventh-round players make the list, but the guys who did make it weren't good enough to take them any higher. Look at the Los Angeles Chargers, who finished just two spots behind the G-Men. They only had one blue-chip player make the list in offensive tackle Joe Alt. That's crazy work.
Dart looks like NY's next franchise quarterback. Carter could become one of the league’s most feared defenders. Mauigoa has future All-Pro upside. Nabers has the talent to become the NFL’s top receiver. Reese looks like he can do just about everything. Apparently, that’s still not enough these days.
New York's reliance on top-heavy talent leaves the team with "fancy sports car with a lawnmower engine" energy that clearly lacks depth. While star power exists, Schoen's inability to capitalize on the later rounds means this roster can't compete with the better-constructed teams. Without hitting on those later picks, the Giants are stuck in the top 10 rather than building a real Super Bowl contender.
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