It feels like just yesterday that the New York Giants' season ended in frustration, with fans left feeling dejected and uninspired about the future of the franchise. But that was so January.
Since then, the team has hired future Hall of Fame head coach John Harbaugh, upgraded the roster with big free-agent signings, and has fans genuinely excited for what's to come in September. But we are far from the end of exciting times.
The 2026 Draft is just a few weeks away, and the last real chance the G-Men have at adding a bunch of talent to the roster before the season starts. There's no shortage of options for New York at No. 5, and in my latest three-round mock, I see the Giants trading back and letting the board fall to them while they add a pair of much-needed Day 2 selections.
Giants let the board fall to them in 3-round mock draft
We have a trade to announce!
New York is sending the fifth overall pick to Miami for the 11th, 43rd, and 90th picks, giving them two more Day 2 selections. The Phins have the capital to move up, so trading up to select a wide receiver, offensive lineman, or defensive back of their choice is too good to pass up here.
For the G-Men, they play the long game and let the board fall to them at No. 11, but score tremendous value with two more top-100 picks.
Round 1 | Pick 11: Carnell Tate - WR, Ohio State
Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate falls to the G-Men at No. 11, a player they would have been happy taking with the fifth pick. Talk about getting your bang for your buck. Tate is a smooth operator whose route-running might just be the best in the class. He'd complement Malik Nabers really nicely, operating as the prototypical boundary "X" receiver while Leek does everything else.
There are shades of George Pickens in his game, which is exactly what a young quarterback like Jaxson Dart needs on the outside. New York did sign Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin in free agency, but neither brings the upside that Tate does. The 6-foot-2, 192-pound wideout has strong hands, elite contested-catch abilities, and the ability to open up the deep passing game. It's a no-brainer at 11.
Round 2 | Pick 37: Emmanuel Pregnon - OG, Oregon
If the Giants are going to lean literally heavier into more smash-mouth run schemes and concepts, it would make sense for them to have an offensive line that has the same identity. And Oregon's Emmanuel Pregnon almost makes too much sense. Viewed as a Day 1 starter, the 6-foot-4, 314-pounder could shore up the interior line immediately, filling in the Greg Van Roten-sized inside.
Pregnon is as well-rounded as they get, holding up well in pass protection and in the run game. He's a physical blocker, known for being "nasty" and using his violent hands to control defenders at the line. With a clear need for a starting-caliber guard, the G-Men solidify two offensive positions to shore up Dart's supporting cast.
Round 2 | Pick 43: Lee Hunter - DL, Texas Tech
After addressing the offense in back-to-back picks, it's time to pivot to the defense and acknowledge that Dexter Lawrence has been ignored for far too long. The 6-foot-4, 340-pounder needs help on the inside. Dexter Lawrence was double-teamed into oblivion last year, and the hope is that taking Texas Tech's Lee Hunter later in the second round makes it all but impossible for teams to work Dex out of the game plan.
Hunter is a space-eater. The 6-foot-3, 330-pounder is more run-stuffer than pass-rusher, but that's perfectly fine because with Lawrence, Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux already on the team, that's taken care of. What they don't have is a consistent presence in the interior to blow up the run, which is where the former Red Raider comes in. Hunter's a team-first guy whose 82.7 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus would be instantly utilized on Day 1 for Dennard Wilson's defense.
Round 3 | Pick 90: Genesis Smith - SAF, Arizona
I'm not one for drafting for need. I believe going best player available is always better, but it just sort of worked out that the best players available are also in need. The Giants need help on the backend. Their cornerback room isn't the strongest, but the safety room is a bit more unfinished, even though they signed just about every free agent available.
Genesis Smith is a bigger safety, standing at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds. He's physical, rangy, and has good coverage skills as a center-field safety. Neither Jevón Holland nor Tyler Nubin looked like locks last year, meaning Smith could come into camp with an opportunity to take over a starting role in Week 1.
He can cover tight ends and running backs out of the backfield and can operate in both two-high and single-high looks. The former Wildcat standout is still a work in progress, but he'd be a great value pick for Wilson at 90.