2026 NFL Draft Grades: New York Giants

The Giants could have gone a few directions with their two top-10 picks, the second of which was added days before the draft in a Dexter Lawrence II trade with the Bengals. I thought that was a really good trade for general manager Joe Schoen, and it set John Harbaugh's Giants up to do some work early in Round 1. The best case in my eyes would have been Jeremiyah Love at No. 5 and Jordyn Tyson at No. 10. Unfortunately, neither player was still on the board at the respective picks.

Plan B was landing Reese with the first selection. This is my No. 3 overall prospect and top guy on the defensive side of the ball. I get the confusion considering the Giants just used the third pick on Abdul Carter a year ago and also have Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Edge rusher isn't a need. But as a team that is 7-27 over the past two years and has a defense that allowed a league-worst 5.3 yards per rush in 2025, the Giants needed good football players. Reese is a really good one.

He can hopefully develop into an extraordinary edge rusher with his first step acceleration, 4.46 speed and solid 6-foot-4, 241-pound size. But let's not forget he's an incredible off-ball linebacker, too, and New York needs someone to captain the defense. I love his instincts and nose for the ball. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson will have options. I have no problem with taking an elite player and figuring out the perfect way to use him later.

Mauigoa at No. 10 also makes sense, as protecting Jaxson Dart and opening some rushing lanes for Cam Skattebo off a leg injury will be key. Mauigoa will likely move inside to guard for now, with the ability to slide back out to tackle in the future (New York has Jermaine Eluemunor at right tackle). Mauigoa has Pro Bowl upside at guard as a mauling, tenacious blocker who allowed just two sacks over his past 1,800-plus snaps.

The one issue I have with this pick is Caleb Downs was still available. Harbaugh had Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore, and he could have had Downs in New York. If we're talking about "best player available," there's a strong case for my No. 6 prospect at No. 10. But overall, this was a great first round for the Giants.

New York hit more needs on Day 2. It would have surprised no one if Colton Hood was a first-round pick. He's a long, athletic corner. His Senior Bowl week could have been better, but he's physical at 193 pounds. He didn't pile up interceptions (three over 29 games), but he doesn't allow completions, either. And Malachi Fields fits as a potential WR2 behind Malik Nabers. He's a walking highlight reel on downfield catches. Fields shields defenders from the ball with his length and physicality, and he has terrific hands, with just two drops over the past two seasons.

Whether or not OLB Arvell Reese fell to fifth overall, he could eventually develop into this draft's best overall player and one who justifies the widespread comparisons to Micah Parsons. Perhaps. Maybe. Acquiring the 10th pick from Cincinnati for Pro Bowl DL Dexter Lawrence (and his salary) last weekend, ultimately in exchange for OL Francis Mauigoa — arguably the draft's best tackle — seems like another win for Big Blue. Getting CB Colton Hood (Round 2) and WR Malachi Fields (Round 3) on Day 2 project as relative value picks. New coach John Harbaugh could have this squad fighting for a playoff return in short order.

Best Pick: Landing corner Colton Hood in the second round will prove to be a nice move. They've had some issues taking corners in recent years, but this won't be one of them. He's a good player.

Worst Pick: I didn't like taking receiver Malachi Fields in the third. I know he's a big-bodied receiver, but he doesn't run that well.

The Skinny: Landing EDGE/LB Arvell Reese and guard Francis Mauigoa in the first round gives them two immediate starters, and I think Hood will make it three. That's a nice haul. Sixth-round linebacker Jack Kelly is a player to watch down the road.

The John Harbaugh era started off in true "Big Blue" fashion with arguably the best overall prospect stolen at No. 5 overall and the best blocker a few picks later. Arvell Reese is a virtual ball of clay whose ability as a rusher and off-ball linebacker should unleash the talent of recent first-round picks Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux, among others.

And while he won't get as much attention, I'm similarly excited about Francis Mauigoa. He starred at right tackle for Miami, but I like him as a mauling right guard for the Giants. Sixth-rounder J.C. Davis is also well-suited for this role, if needed. Cornerback Colton Hood bounced around at three different schools over his college career and that probably is what pushed him into the second round, but his tape this past season was outstanding.

Wideout Malachi Fields has the size, strong hands and body control to become Jaxson Dart's favorite downfield target, as well. And don't sleep on BYU LB Jack Kelly, the type of blue-collar brawler Harbaugh has won with for years.

Arvell Reese was my top ranked off ball linebacker in this draft (over Sonny Styles) and he went to the perfect place to utilize him in that role.

This organization has to keep Jaxson Dart on the field in 2025, Francis Mauigoa should help with that in both pass protection but more importantly the run game. I wouldn't rule out him being the long-term answer at right tackle, even if he plays guard as a rookie.

If you need a detail-oriented, physical press cornerback then Colton Hood is for you. Getting potentially jumped for Kayden McDonald in that spot was tough, but at least they stuck to the board and got talent.

Malachi Fields gives them a big perimeter blocking wide receiver and J.C. Davis is a mauler in the run game that might kick inside. John Harbaugh's first draft with the Giants looks like a success, even if I still have questions about the interior of this defensive line.

Here's why: What a weekend for Big Blue. Arvell Reese, my top non-quarterback in this year's class, was there for the picking at No. 5. And the Giants ended up solidifying their offensive line with Francis Mauigoa, who will start at right guard before potentially becoming their long-term option at right tackle. Mauigoa should be an instant strong starter with his technique, strength and awareness whose right tackle flexibility made him an ideal fit.

Colton Hood, a cornerback I would have been comfortable with going in the first round, was available for the Giants at 37. He is a frisky competitive defender. Hood's size, balance and athleticism make him a fit in any scheme, but his feistiness and willingness to tackle make him a clean fit in Dennard Wilson's zone-heavy scheme. Jack Kelly was a nice depth selection at LB in the sixth round. He should be a solid special teamer who can have a chance of playing because of his athleticism and physicality.

Most interesting pick: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame

The Giants absolutely needed to add more talent to their wide receiver room to surround Malik Nabers. Fields is a big athlete who can win on the ball and also kick inside as a power slot willing to do the dirty work as a blocker. His big frame and downfield ball skills make him a fit with Jaxson Dart, and that skill set complements Nabers' game perfectly. It makes Fields a great fit as a secondary pass catcher who helps contribute to winning football for the Giants.

The Giants had to have been doing backflips in the draft room when Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese fell to them at no. 5. Reese, my top-ranked player, is a versatile and explosive hybrid playmaker who splits time between off-ball linebacker and edge rusher, showing top-end talent at both spots. He's an awesome addition to the New York front seven and should get his start at linebacker, per the team, giving the Giants the chance to put him on the field with Brian Burns and Abdul Carter. The selection of offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa was much less sexy but important nonetheless, giving Jaxson Dart a bookend tackle opposite Andrew Thomas over the long term (Mauigoa could fill in at guard initially as well). I liked the second-round selection of Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood, who could compete for snaps right away and strengthen the team's depth at a hugely important spot. And while I didn't love how much the Giants had to give up to trade up for Notre Dame receiver Malachi Fields (fourth and fifth-round picks this year, plus a fourth-rounder next year), I do like the fit for him in New York. Fields is a big-bodied ball winner with surprisingly twitchy movement skills as a route runner. He's a nice complement to Malik Nabers and gives Dart another receiver to look for in the red zone. Overall, this looks like an amazing start for the John Harbaugh era in New York.

Analysis: Coach John Harbaugh more than delivered in his first draft with the Giants. Harbaugh went with the best-player-available route with his first pick and ignored his team's depth at edge rusher, taking Reese, a hybrid playmaker who offers the most upside as a pass rusher. If the team doesn't trade Kayvon Thibodeaux, Reese can start as an off-ball linebacker, which is not a bad idea for a coach who thrives in maximizing sideline-to-sideline playmakers. With the pick the team gained from the Bengals in the Dexter Lawrence II trade, New York again added depth by selecting Mauigoa, the tackle out of Miami. He can start at guard if the team doesn't want to disrupt bookend tackles Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor. The Giants also nailed their Day 2 picks, with the competitive Hood and the playmaking Fields.