The New York Giants are two games away from limping into another offseason, and general manager Joe Schoen’s got some serious damage control to do. After back-to-back basement finishes, the 2026 Draft might be his shot to clean up a few of his bigger screw-ups -- if he does his job right... and he's still making the selections, of course.
After parting ways with Brian Daboll after Week 10, and not winning another game since, Schoen's not exactly the poster child for job security himself. It's resulted in NY currently owning the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft.
April's draft might just be the final chance for the 46-year-old to prove he's still the right guy to steer the ship. Fans have already been informed he'll be sticking around for the head coaching search, which is frustrating in its own right, but expect to see Schoen around the facility for at least another offseason.
One way the much-maligned exec could save face is by flipping the draft on its head, which is exactly what Justin Melo of the Draft Network sees happening in his latest mock.
Joe Schoen gets one last shot to make things right in latest 2026 NFL mock draft
Things haven't gone according to plan for Evan Neal or Jalin Hyatt since they were drafted in the first round of the 2022 Draft and third round of the 2023 Draft, respectively. That has unfortunately hurt the development and production of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, but Melo puts an end to the madness with a blockbuster trade.
The draft analyst sees the G-Men trading back with the Los Angeles Rams in a move that nets them the 11th and 28th picks in the 2026 Draft, along with a first- and third-rounder in 2027.
Sean McVay, Les Snead, and the Horns swing for the fences, drafting Matthew Stafford's eventual replacement with Indiana's Heisman Trophy-Winning QB, Fernando Mendoza. That opens the door for Big Blue to start addressing some glaring needs.
With the 11th pick, Melo has the G-Men snagging Utah's offensive tackle, Spencer Fano. The 6-foot-6, 308-pounder uses his elite body control and quickness to immediately catch opposing defenders sleeping, putting them in compromising positions. He plays with a contagious intensity and has been known to put defenders through the earth with a nastiness the Giants currently lack.
Not to be outdone, the receiver room gets its upgrade with the 28th pick in Washington's Denzel Boston. Nabers is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in Week 4, but should be good to go by the start of next season. He'll handle the short-to-intermediate routes, while Wan'Dale Robinson, if extended, will handle the slot reps.
That makes Boston and his 6-foot-4 frame the perfect candidate for the Giants' open X-receiver position. The big-bodied wideout would help Dart immediately by winning routes with his elite physicality and body control.
It won’t erase the damage already done, but a draft like this would be a step in the right direction for a GM who’s running out of second... third... fourth chances. If Schoen’s really sticking around, hitching his wagon to building around his 22-year-old franchise QB feels like a no-brainer.