My, how expectations for the New York Giants have changed in the final moments before the 2026 NFL Draft. After weeks of Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles being the runaway choice of mock drafter for the Giants at No. 5, the Dexter Lawrence trade and the annual rash of late intel from league insiders has drastically altered the picture.
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs will go into Thursday night as the favorite of mock drafters to be selected at BOTH No. 5 and No. 10.
Downs is the choice at No. 5 in
16 of 55 mock drafts (29.6%). Styles is the choice 12 times (22.2%). Running back Jeremiyah Love is the choice 10 times (18.5%). Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is the choice six times (11.1%).
At No. 10, Downs is again the choice in 29.6% of mock drafts. Tyson is the choice in 24.1%. Interestingly, offensive linemen are next. Penn State guard Vega Ioane is the choice at No. 10 in 16.7% of mocks, and Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa in 9.3%.
The most-mocked combination is Downs at No. 5 and Tyson at No. 10. Would you be OK if it turned out that way?
- Making the case: Better pick for the Giants — Sonny Styles or Caleb Downs?
- Caleb Downs or Sonny Styles? Giants in ‘great position’ in 2026 NFL Draft
- NY Giants 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
- NY Giants 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
What is going on here?
Perhaps we have been reading the Styles situation wrong all along. After his historic on-field workout at the NFL Scouting Combine, some analysts figured that rather than the fifth pick being the floor for Styles in the draft, that it has become his ceiling.
It was easy to connect the dots to the Giants because of the many fantastic off-ball linebackers John Harbaugh coached with the Ravens.
Let’s not forget — and perhaps we have been guilty of doing so — what Harbaugh said about Downs roughly two months ago:
Big fan, big fan,” Harbaugh said of Downs during an interview with Mike Francesa. “We favor Hall of Fame safeties, so if we have a chance to draft a potential future Hall of Fame safety in Caleb Downs, that would be just fine with me.
“We’ll take the best player. You know, when you draft that high, you take the best player. It’s not a need pick. It’s the best player pick because you’re going for the guy that’s going to be that kind of a player. You’re talking about a guy that you would like to see someday wearing a gold jacket if possible. That’s what the goal is with that pick. …
“That guy would be just fine with me. I’d take him in a second.”
Of course, maybe all of this means the Giants will take Styles at No. 5. Or Love. Or Carnell Tate. Or trade the pick. Thank goodness we only have to wait a few more hours to find out.
