One of the reasons we — I — like to say that it’s always draft season is that the draft is a useful lens through which we can look at the New York Giants. There is always an element of need and fit in every draft evaluation, which in turn means we need to evaluate the team as well as prospect.
I want to look at two of the most well-informed “Way Too Early” mock drafts and see what they could tell us about the Giants.
Both Dane Brugler and Todd McShay released their first 2027 mocks a few days after
the 2026 NFL Draft concluded. Interestingly, McShay has the Giants taking a defensive player, while Brugler mocks them an offensive player:
McShay – David Stone, iDL, Oklahoma
Stone is a former five-star prospect who was a force on the interior for Oklahoma last season, when he totaled 42 tackles (eight for loss) and 1.5 sacks. The Giants could be in the market for a long-term replacement for Dexter Lawrence II.
Brugler – Charlie Becker, WR, Indiana
Despite mass changeover on the Indiana offense, Becker is a key returning talent — he made several clutch plays last season. With his speed and catch radius, he is primed for a breakout season, which could be a springboard to a first-round selection.
This isn’t a discussion of the picks themselves, it’s too early to seriously discuss the 2027 NFL Draft. However, having these two picks come out in such close proximity to each other raises another question: Which side of the ball is the greater need for the Giants?
The Giants split the difference and added to both sides of the ball with their premium draft capital this year. They drafted two defenders (linebacker Arvell Reese and cornerback Colton Hood) and two offensive players (guard Francis Mauigoa and wide receiver Malachi Fields) with their first four selections.
The Giants’ offense played (much) better than their defense last year, despite the offense being generally less-invested. The Giants’ offense currently has:
- One high-priced free agent (TE Isaiah Likely)
- Four first-round picks (Andrew Thomas, Malik Nabers, Jaxson Dart, and Sisi Mauigoa)
- One second-round pick (John Michael Schmitz),
- Two third round picks (Jalin Hyatt and Malachi Fields).
Additionally, the Giants added moderately priced free agents in FB Patrick Ricard, as well as WRs Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III.
The defense, on the other hand, boasts:
- Three high-priced free agents (Jevon Holland, Paulson Adebo, Tremaine Edmunds)
- Six first-round picks (Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Arvell Reese, Tae Banks, and Greg Newsome II)
- Two second-round picks (Tyler Nubin and Colton Hood)
- Two third-round picks (Dru Phillips and Darius Alexander)
The Giants have also signed mid-level free agents in defensive tackles DJ Reader and Shelby Harris, safety Ar’Darius Washington, and cornerback Greg Newsome II.
It’s absolutely true that first-round picks can (and do) fail to live up to their draft slots, while mid or late-round picks can far exceed expectations. However, players drafted earlier tend to have more sought-after traits and higher ceilings. A year ago, we looked at the Giants’ defense as being absolutely loaded with talent and that would be enough to carry a patchwork offense while Jaxson Dart developed on the bench.
A year later, the common sentiment seems to have flipped completely. Where it was “if Shane Bowen couldn’t succeed with this defensive roster, he deserved to be fired”, it’s now that the offense is fine, even great, and the defense still needs help.
Does it, though?
We don’t actually know what the Giants’ coaches are planning and what they intend to call on offense and defense.
The loss of Dexter Lawrence is looked at as a massive hole, but that’s only true if the Giants’ defense needs a uniquely disruptive nose tackle. Looked at another way, the Los Angeles Rams seldom invest highly at the wide receiver position because they simply don’t have to do so. Route technicians are not nearly as expensive as premier athletes, but more devastating in Sean McVay’s scheme. The Giants have an almost absurd collection of hyper-athletic linebackers in Burns, Thibodeaux, Carter, Reese, and Edmunds that could allow them to attack offenses in ways we rarely see.
That same question applies to the offense is well.
We don’t know just what the Giants’ offense will look like, or how OC Matt Nagy will incorporate Passing Coordinator (and former Titans HC) Brian Callahan and Senior Offensive Assistant (former Chargers’ OC) Greg Roman. The Giants may not need much in the way of rare traits at the skill positions, in much the same way that scheme, timing, and execution are king in the New West Coast offenses.
Where the wildcard on the defensive side of the ball is whether a change in coaching will allow players with first round traits to play up to their athletic upside, the wildcard on the offensive side of the ball is whether Jaxson Dart can take the next step in his development. Dart going from a potential franchise quarterback to a blossoming one could allow the players on the offense to play to their fullest potential and be strong value adds.
That brings us back to the original question, and one we’ll revisit as the offense unfolds; Is the Giants’ offense or defense the stronger unit at this point in the off-season?
