The 2026 NFL Draft was a crucial one for the New York Giants. Under a new John Harbaugh regime and loaded with high draft picks, Big Blue had a chance to build on the optimism of Jaxson Dart being in the building. Here’s how they did.
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Arvell Reese, Linebacker, Ohio State
Arvell Reese “fell” to the Giants. Meaning, everyone expected him to go to the New York Jets at two and the Giants were the beneficiary of his fall.
There’s no doubting that Reese was one of the best athletes
in the class, but it is not clear what his role will be on an NFL defense. He played linebacker and edge at Ohio State, flashing a ton of upside at both positions. But he has so much to iron out in his game and there could be a steep learning curve.
The Giants have signaled that Reese will spend most of his time playing off-ball linebacker, which makes it odd to have spent such a high pick on him. That being said, if he hits, no one will care where he was drafted.
Francis Mauigoa, Offensive Tackle, Miami
Nothing is more important to the success of this new Giants regime than keeping Jaxson Dart healthy. While a lot of the onus falls on Dart not playing like he has a death wish, the Giants can also keep building around him on their lines.
Francis Mauigoa is a big, physical offensive lineman that should immediately slot in for the Giants and make a difference. Medical concerns about his back knocked him a few spots in the draft, but if he is healthy, he will really help Dart stay upright. New York reportedly plans to play him at guard to start his career.
Colton Hood, Cornerback, Tennessee
The Giants have needs all over their roster so any pick would’ve made sense here, but this made perfect sense. The Giants outside cornerback situation is bleak and Colton Hood combines good instincts with athleticism to be a reliable perimeter defender.
Malachi Fields, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame
Malachi Fields became a darling of this draft process. After being underutilized in a run heavy Notre Dame offense, Fields made a great impression during the offseason circuit.
His combination of size, explosiveness and strong hands make an easy appeal. While he still needs to prove he can handle higher volume, the Giants betting on him here makes sense.
Their receiving corps leaves a lot to be desired with Malik Nabers’ health still being a question mark. If Nabers can come back at full strength, it immediately makes Fields a viable #2 in that offense.
Bobby Jameson-Travis, Offensive Tackle, Auburn
The Giants continued to deepen their offensive line group. Bobby Jameson-Travis is a stout, physical blocker who will probably be a guard in the NFL but has the ability to slot in there fairly early in his career.
J.C. Davis, Offensive Tackle, Illinois
Notice a theme?
The Giants took a flier on an incredibly high upside player in Davis. His size, strength and athleticism make him a really attractive tackle prospect. He won’t be able to start early in his career, but this is a swing for the fences by an offensive line-needy team.
Jack Kelly, Linebacker, BYU
This feels like a special teams pick. Kelly is a smart, physical defender but lacked the athleticism to make much of a difference at the college level. It would be a pleasant surprise (for New York) if he ended up becoming a plus defender in the NFL.
