NY Giants 7-round mock draft: Examining a Dexter Lawrence trade scenario

The New York Giants don’t want to trade star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence

. He is their best defensive player, and that would mean seeing yet another popular star player walk out their door. It would also create a massive hole on the defensive line. With Lawrence’s recent trade request, though, we have to consider the possibility that a trade could happen.

If the Giants did trade Lawrence, it would make sense for them to do that before the 2026 NFL Draft, now less than two weeks away. With that in

mind, this week’s seven-round Giants mock draft considers what it might look like if the Giants did trade Lawrence, their longest-tenured player.

Rather than use the trade I made in the SB Nation Writer’s Mock Draft, I decided to use the same trade scenario SB Nation’s Doug Farrar used in his recent seven-round Giants mock draft. Farrar sent Lawrence to the Los Angeles Chargers for picks 22, 55, and a 2027 second-round pick.

Like Farrar did, I am using the Pro Football Focus simulator. It is the only simulator I know of that allows a trade to be “forced,” which is how the trade went through.

Let’s see what happens.

Round 1 (No. 5) — Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Depending on who you ask, and what day you ask them, Styles is the most likely pick for the Giants at No. 5. Unless they select safety Caleb Downs … or running back Jeremiyah Love … or wide receiver Carnell Tate … or offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa … or trade the pick to move down.

In this mock draft, the Love went No. 3 to the Arizona Cardinals.

I am sticking with Styles, as I have done most of the time in recent weeks. I just can’t ignore the athletic upside, the instincts I have seen when watching Styles, and the importace of the position to John Harbaugh during his career. I know the Giants signed Tremaine Edmunds, but I don’t see him as a player who will transform the middle of the Giants defense.

Styles might.

There are great arguments for taking the other players mentioned. Love, if available, is a big upgrade from and a complement to Cam Skattebo. He would help Jaxson Dart. Downs can be at safety what Styles could be at linebacker. Mauigoa could be a Pro Bowl player and a 10-year starter on the offensive line. Tate would be a great partner for Malik Nabers, and Matt Waldman of the Rookie Scouting Portfolio told me recently that Tate reminds him of Justin Jefferson. So, there are lots of potentially excellent choices.

Dane Brugler of The Athletic has Styles ranked as the No. 4 overall prospect in his annual ‘Beast’ Draft Guide. Brugler says:

STRENGTHS
● Tall, long and well put together with defined traps and quads
● Incredibly rangy because of his athleticism and body length (“Freaks List” alum)
● Outstanding pursuit speed to cut off outside run angles (reached 22.69 mph during his 40-yard dash at the combine)
● Diagnostic skills showed clear and obvious improvement the past two years at linebacker
● Doesn’t stick to climbers; uses lateral quicks and abrupt hands to shuck blocks
● Attacks runners with bend to face up, overwhelm and stone ball carriers cold
● Only two missed tackles in 2025 (and both came in the final game of the season)
● Can see his safety background in the way he hunts underneath zones or plays man-up against tight ends
● Able to match in man-to-man with slot receivers and tight ends
● Blitzes with power and burst to blow up backs in pass pro — his pass rush has yet to be weaponized
● Laidback personality but carries himself like a pro; described to NFL scouts as “the best leader in the program” by the Ohio State coaches
● Received standing ovation during a formal interview with an NFL team following his on-field combine performance
● Skipped senior year of high school, so he’s young for a four-year college prospect

WEAKNESSES
● Arrives high as a tackler at times because of his height, which will be tougher to get away with versus NFL runners
● Will take himself out of position when he misreads backfield action
● Quick to react in coverage but doesn’t play with top-tier anticipation to arrive before the ball
● Could do a better job ball searching to force incompletions or fumbles (only career interception was on a right-place, right-time deflection)

SUMMARY
A three-year starter at Ohio State, Styles played weakside linebacker in defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s 4-2-5 base scheme (and wore the green dot in 2025). After playing multiple safety roles for two seasons, he transitioned to linebacker as a junior and then became an All-American as a senior, combining for 182 tackles over his final two seasons. He was awarded the “Block O” jersey in 2025 and voted a senior captain (receiving the most votes on the team).

Styles is a freaky height/weight/speed athlete with fluid change of direction and the playmaking range to cover every blade of grass. He processes quickly and delivers pop at contact as a downhill player, rarely missing tackles thanks to his ability to violently overwhelm the ball carrier. Though he plays with terrific reaction quickness, the next step in his development is to improve his anticipation, especially in coverage, so he can make more plays on the football. Overall, Styles is an outstanding size-speed athlete who is
comfortable in space, reacts well to what he sees and plays with the physicality to mark up the stat sheet. With elite subpackage value, he has the talent to become an impact linebacker early in his NFL career.

Other players considered: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami; Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State; Carnell Tate, WR, Miami

More Coverage

Round 1 (No. 22) — Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

[From Los Angeles Chargers]

If you have to trade Dexter Lawrence, you also have to start somewhere in trying to fill his shoes. The 6-foot-2¼, 327-pound McDonald is a good place to start.

McDonald won’t do everything Lawrence can do. There isn’t another nose tackle on the planet currently who can do everything Lawrence can do when he is right. McDonald, though, is a massive 21-year-old space eater who can defend the run from the nose tackle spot.

Brugler says:

McDonald lined up as the nose guard in defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s versatile front. After handling a backup role as a sophomore, he became a starter in 2025, as the Buckeyes had to replace all four starters from their 2024 national title-winning defensive line. McDonald emerged as an All-American and was the most dominant defensive player on several of Ohio State’s 2025 tapes, which says a lot considering the defense’s talent.

McDonald’s powerful skill set is at its best when he acts as a run defender. He resets the line of scrimmage with his initial burst and power, attacking and shucking blocks from a leveraged position. He plays games of peek-a-boo (and often wins) with ball carriers willing to test A-gap run lanes, and his awareness allows him to fill up the stat sheet with line-of-scrimmage stops. However, he had just 695 career snaps (32 defensive snaps per game in 2025), and his inexperience will be more noticeable against NFL blockers. Overall, McDonald will require time to develop a pass-rush identity, but his dominant run-game qualities will make him immediately useful from different interior alignments. He projects as an early-down rookie, with a role that should continue to expand.

Other players considered: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington; Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon; Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State; KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

NY Giants 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Kayden McDonald, iDL, Ohio State

Round 2 (No. 37) — Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon

This week I return to the player who has become my favorite pick for the Giants at No. 37 in these weekly mock drafts. It also marks back-to-back picks that address the trenches, something the Giants enter the draft needing to do.

Pregnon should be the starter at right guard over the newly-signed Daniel Faalele and anyone else on the roster you want to consider a challenger for that job. Pregnon played 29 collegiate games at left guard and 12 at right guard. Drafting him also would open the possibiloity of moving Jon Runyan to the right side.

Pregnon is a 24-year-old who played six collegiate seasons.

Brugler says:

A massive, well-proportioned blocker, Pregnon has an NFL body and plays with power through his hips and shock in his large hands. He creates movement in the run game and drives defenders from the play when he stays balanced through engagement. He anchors well in pass protection, although his hands need further refinement, and some of his athletic restrictions show versus dynamic three-techniques, who can cross him up and attack his edges. Overall, Pregnon checks the boxes for size, power and competitive demeanor that NFL teams — specifically, those running gap schemes — look for in a starting guard. His profile is reminiscent of a more explosive O’Cyrus Torrence, and his draft projection should be similar.

Other players considered: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M; Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee; Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State; Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

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Round 2 (No. 55) — Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana

[From Los Angeles Chargers]

In my dream scenario, one of those players in the ‘other players considered’ category at No. 37 fall to this spot. That was always unlikely, and did not happen.

I decided on Sarratt. He should immediately compete for snaps with Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney, and Calvin Austin. With none of those players guaranteed to be back with the Giants in 2027, Sarratt provides a young player who could develop into a good starter opposite Malik Nabers by that time.

Brugler says:

A former hooper, Sarratt is a coordinated athlete who knows how to use his size and adjust to the football (4.5 percent drop rate in 2025), which made him a back-shoulder machine for the Hoosiers. Though he plays well through contact, he can get held up by press at times and will face more defenders who can match his physicality in the NFL. No one would describe his speed as electric, but he can find another gear when needed and combined for 32 catches of 20-plus yards the last two seasons (same number as Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith). Overall, Sarratt will be saddled with the “possession receiver” label, but he is an underrated athlete
and plays with the urgency and toughness to own the catch point — which translates to any level of football. He has the tools to develop into an NFL starter, either on the outside or as a “big slot.”

In his Rookie Scouting Portfolio Draft Guide, Matt Waldman says:

Sarratt is a well-built possession receiver who can deliver plus-yardage plays with the help of play-action, double moves, or constraint plays that fool the tendencies of a coverage thanks to good scouting and coaching.Sarratt’s style of play has some aspirational comparisons to Cardinals’ receiver Michael Wilson.

Compared to his peers in this high-end range of the Rotational Starter Tier, Sarratt has a high floor with a medium-high ceiling. The most realistic expectation is a WR3 like Josh Palmer at Palmer’s peak.

There is potential to develop into a WR2 because Sarratt has the build, the hands, and no massive flaws with his game—just things to learn.

Sarratt might never be a star. The Giants already have one of those at wide receiver, though. If he becomes a solid, quarterback-friendly option for Jaxson Dart I will take that. Basically, that is what Wan’Dale Robinson was.

Other players considered: Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona; Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson; Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas

NY Giants 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana

Round 4 (No. 105) — Jalon Kilgore, DB, South Carolina

Over and over when I have done these mock drafts, Kilgore has been available around this point. By the same token, whenever I have mentioned Kilgore to a draft analyst smarter than I am, they tell me the 6-foot-1¾, 210-pound hybrid defensive back should not be available this deep into the draft.

Here, I grab the value. I am not certain how John Harbaugh and Dennard Wilson would employ Kilgore, who filled a variety of secondary roles during his college career. I do know that Harbaugh and Wilson want to dictate terms to offenses rather than be reactive, and a big, athletic, multi-use player like this can help them do that.

Brugler has a third-round grade on Kilgore, and has him ranked No. 88 on his big board. He says:

Kilgore is an impressive height-weight-speed athlete and consistently made plays on the football from the nickel position. Though his athletic traits are outstanding, he lacks functional control in his pedal and break movements, which allows receivers to uncover on his watch. He wasn’t asked to range over the top in coverage, but that should be his best position at the next level. Can he deploy his athleticism more efficiently from deep coverage? Overall, Kilgore is a tough eval when projecting him at a position other than nickel, but his size, athletic talent and ball-hawking skills should give teams confidence to make that bet. Thereis a high-risk, high-reward scenario waiting for the team that chases his upside.

On Day 3, I don’t mind accepting the risk Brugler talks about.

Todd McShay has Kilgore No. 89 on his big board, almost the identical spot to Brugler. McShay says:

Kilgore’s frame, length, and speed compare favorably to those of 2018 first-round pick Derwin James Jr., but Kilgore doesn’t have first-round tape, making him a bit of a low-floor but high-ceiling prospect. He’s talented enough to exceed expectations and start as a rookie if a team can unlock his potential, but he may start his career as a rotational defensive back and special teams contributor.

Other players considered: Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas; Dontay Corleone, DT, Cincinnati; Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina; Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska; Will Lee, CB, Texas A&M

NY Giants 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Jalon Kilgore, DB/LB, South Carolina

Round 5 (No. 145) — Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas

I seriously considered Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne here. Clairborne is a 5-foot-10, 188-pound back Waldman has ranked No. 3 among running backs in his RSP Draft Guide. Waldman compares Claiborne to LeSean McCoy, and says:

He may not get the chance to prove it right away as a lead back, but he’s going to open eyes as a playmaker early in his career and see enough touches that fans and teammates want more.

In the end, though, I went with Neal. Cornerback remains a bigger need than running back, and Neal is one of my favorite mid-round players at the position.

Brugler has a fourth-round grade on the 6-foot-2, 203-pounder. He says:

A former hooper and wide receiver, he showed gradual improvements at corner over his time at Fresno State and was graded by NFL teams over the summer as a “low-money” undrafted free agent. However, he transferred to Arkansas in 2025 and changed the narrative with an impressive senior campaign.

Neal matches up well physically and plays to his size in different ways. He crowds receivers at the line, pins opponents against the sideline and contests catch points (when he finds the football) — you can see his receiver background in his ball skills and catch-point timing. He also shows his physicality when getting off blocks and working downhill as a tackler. He lacks suddenness in his mirroring footwork, however, and his technique tends to fall apart versus twitchy receivers. Overall, Neal lacks top-shelf speed for easy recoveries, but he stands out with his length, ascending cover talent and ability to play the football from different angles. He has the potential to be an NFL starter for both man and zone teams.

Other players considered: Trey Zuhn, OL, Texas A&M; Isaiah World, T, Oregon; Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest

Round 6 (No. 186) — Tyler Onyedim, DT, Texas A&M

It probably would have been a good idea to add multiple defensive linemen in the draft before trading Lawrence. Now, it is pretty much a must.

In truth, I am trusting Brugler here. Onyedim is a 6-foot-4, 290-pound player I really don’t know a whole lot about. What I know is that he has played in multiple schemes and seems to have the ability to be productive moving to various spots on the defensive line.

I also know that I am at pick No. 186 in the sixth round looking at a defensive lineman Brugler has a third-round grade on. That’s called value.

Brugler says:

A one-year starter at Texas A&M (and three-year starter overall), Onyedim was the three-technique in head coach Mike Elko’s versatile front. After playing primarily head-up over the offensive tackle in Iowa State’s three-man front, he was a natural fit in the Aggies’ scheme and finished second on the team with 9.5 tackles for loss (behind only Cashius Howell) in his final season.

Onyedim is quick out of his stance and has adequate athleticism to shoot gaps and slice through blocks. His hands and feet stay connected as he works the blocker’s edge, but he reverts to a predictable long-arm move as his go-to plan B and needs to evolve beyond that. Against the run, he plays with awareness and extension to do his job, but he struggles reacting to double teams and down blocks. Overall, Onyedim might not have a true distinguishing trait, but he also doesn’t have a fatal flaw that will be exposed by NFL competition. He projects best as a one-gap penetrator and dependable rotational piece.

Sports Info Solutions backs Brugler’s assessment, having Onyidem No. 164 on its prospect list. SIS says:

Onyedim projects as a backup one-gapping 3-tech in an even-front defense, but he also has some tools to be an odd-front end too. He is an experienced player who started in 33 of 53 games played at both Iowa State and Texas A&M. He is a good athlete who shows flashes of high-end twitch and explosiveness while also displaying good lateral agility and body control. He lacks some mass in his lower half, but is able to mask that deficiency with his athleticism and flexibility. His anchor against the run is still a work in progress, but his physical tools and athleticism are building blocks that are hard to find along the defensive interior. His consistency as a pass rusher needs to improve, but he displays high-end flashes of explosion and twitch both in his hands and lower half that can be a mismatch and hard to handle for interior blockers. He has the potential to grow into a starting-level player if he rounds out his game, but he already has the length, explosive power, and athleticism to be a mismatch along the interior early at the next level.

Other players considered: Zane Durant, DT, Penn State; Pat Coogan, C, Indiana; Eli Heidenreich, HB, Navy; Keagan Trost, T, Missouri

Round 6 (No. 192) — Eli Heidenreich, RB, Navy

I am not sure what Heidenreich is. Is he a running back? A slot receiver? A true wide receiver? Some combination of all three? I have even seen some analysts list the 6-foot, 200-pounder as a fullback.

What I do know is that the combination of Heidenreich’s skills is intriguing. I would like to see if the braintrust of John Harbaugh, Matt Nagy, Brian Callahan and Greg Roman can find some creative ways to use him.

You guys know that I’m old, but I remember that when I was a kid the Giants had a player named Joe Morrison. Sometimes he was a halfback. Sometimes he was a flanker. Sometimes he was a fullback. He probably played some tight end, too. He was really just a good, versatile football player who had a 14-year career because he could do a lot of different things well enough to be an asset.

Could Heidenreich be that kind of player? I wouldn’t be upset if the Giants tried to find out.

Brugler says:

Heidenreich played the “Snipe Z” position in the Midshipmen’s modern triple-option offense, which includes aggressive pass concepts (play action, verticals, etc.). He split his 2025 snaps between the backfield (44.4 percent), wide (35.4), slot (14.7) and inline (5.5), and he accounted for a sky-high 45.7 percent target share. He set Navy records for career receiving yards (1,994), single-season receiving yards (941) and single-game receiving yards (243). Heidenreich and Tavon Austin are the only FBS players since 1956 with 925-plus receiving yards and 475-plus rushing yards in the same season.

Heidenreich is a versatile all-purpose athlete with acceleration and body control as both a route runner and ball carrier. More quick than explosive, he has mismatch-creating potential out of the slot and catches everything thrown his way, regardless of placement or positioning. He is unproven in pass protection, although there are no questions about his competitive toughness. Overall, Heidenreich has dynamic pass-catching ability that can be weaponized in a hybrid role by an NFL offense (think closer to Danny Woodhead than Kyle Juszczyk). He won’t be a fit for everybody, but he will be a fit for somebody.

Other players considered: Pat Coogan, C, Indiana; Keagan Trost, T, Missouri

Round 6 (No. 193) — Keagan Trost, OL, Missouri

Trost is 25 and spent seven years playing at the collegiate level. He is an experienced 6-foot-5, 311-pound player who might have four-position flexibility as a backup. That is pretty good value to take a flier on with my final pick in this draft.

Brugler says:

A one-year starter at Missouri (and four-year starter overall), Trost settled in at right tackle in former offensive coordinator Kirby Moore’s run-leaning scheme. A well-traveled prospect, he spent five seasons at the FCS level (Morgan State and Indiana State) before transferring up to Wake Forest in 2024. Looking to challenge himself again, he joined Missouri in 2025 and became an All-SEC blocker.

While tasked with replacing Armand Membou, the No. 7 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Trost exceeded expectations at right tackle for the Tigers and turned himself into a draft pick. (Trost: “I always hoped, but I didn’t think the NFL was a reality until my last year.”) He made noticeable improvements from his 2024 tape, specifically with his handwork and recovery instincts in all phases. He isn’t a high-level athlete, but his grit and body control keep him afloat. Overall, Trost will need some mechanical tweaks for a move inside, but that shouldn’t be a major issue — he is a technique-focused blocker with steady feet and physical hands.
His ceiling isn’t sky high, but the position flex only boosts his usefulness.

Other players considered: Robert Henry, Jr., RB, USTA; Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia; Micah Morris, G, Georgia; Jalen Huskey, S, Maryland