The New York Giants had a very productive NFL Draft week, addressing several needs that should significantly improve the roster and have fans hyped about the future of this franchise.
When you think of this past draft, many people will remember what John Harbaugh, Joe Schoen, and the G-Men did on Day 1 with their two top-10 picks. Big Blue walked away with Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese at pick No. 5 and Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa at pick No. 10.
But a player we should be talking about is second-round draft pick Colton Hood, who could end up being one of the biggest upgrades at cornerback for the G-Men.
We know that Reese will primarily line up as an inside linebacker, but he is a chess piece who can also play off-ball if needed. He may very well be the best non-quarterback prospect in this draft class, and many people, myself included, had him going second overall to the Jets. It’s still shocking that he was available when the Giants were on the clock at pick No. 5.
As for Mauigoa, Big Blue addressed a major need with him: strengthening the trenches and bolstering the offensive line. He’ll slide in perfectly at right guard next to Jermaine Eluemunor. Mauigoa is also considered one of the best run-blocking linemen in this year’s class, which is a huge win for running backs Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr.
I’ll admit I wanted the Giants to take Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at pick No. 10 when he was still on the board, but I’ve come around to the Mauigoa pick. The part that hurts the most is that Downs would end up being picked at No. 11 after the Cowboys traded up to take him. Fortunately, the Giants still addressed their secondary in a big way.
The former Tennessee defensive back fell to the Giants at pick No. 37 but could easily be considered one of the most talented cornerbacks in this class. Several mock drafts had him as a first-round pick, and he was even in Pittsburgh for Day 1, even though his name wouldn’t be called until Day 2.
Harbaugh and Schoen said the 21-year-old was their top player heading into Day 2 of the draft, and are we really surprised?
If you were unsure of how excited he is to be playing under Harbaugh, just watch how emotional Hood was when the team called him to let him know they would be turning the card in and making him a Giant. What a special moment for the 21-year-old, as not a dry eye was in sight when he told Coach Harbs, “You’re gonna get the best out of me, Coach, I promise.”
Hood will quickly become a fan favorite in New York, and Big Blue fans will absolutely love his “put on your hood” celebration after a big interception or pass breakup, which he already showed to commissioner Roger Goodell. I think Big Blue fans can expect to see a lot of that celebration in 2026.
More importantly, he’s walking into a real opportunity. With the Giants’ current cornerback room consisting of Paulson Adebo, Deonte Banks, and Greg Newsome II, Hood will have a legitimate shot at competing for a starting job coming out of training camp. If he hits early, this secondary looks very different in a hurry.
So if you haven’t learned the name yet, you better buy stock now in Colton Hood!
Consider it written in blue.
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