Giants’ 2026 NFL Draft Grades For Every Pick

The New York Giants had to make the 2026 NFL Draft count after trading Dexter Lawrence II to the Cincinnati Bengals, and they believe they did so brilliantly. Joe Schoen began the process with eight picks, but a Day Two trade allowed him to end his first draft of the John Harbaugh era with a seven-player rookie class.

Many expected the 2026 NFL Draft to be one of the most volatile in recent history, and it certainly played out that way for the Giants. Nobody expected Arvell Reese, the projected No. 2 overall pick on many mock drafts, to be available for Schoen and Harbaugh at No. 5.

New York followed up its home run at No. 5 with Miami offensive tackle Francis ‘Sisi’ Mauigoa at No. 10. Schoen said after Day One that Reese and Mauigoa were two of his top-five prospects and did not believe grabbing them both with his two top-10 picks would be possible.

While the Giants are giving themselves an A+ for their work in Pittsburgh, opinions vary on some of their other complementary selections. Either way, as difficult as it is to have everything go right over the course of seven rounds, the front office and the New York fan base have to be pleased with how everything turned out.

Round 1, Pick 5: LB/EDGE Arvell Reese, Ohio State

The Giants could not have expected Arvell Reese to fall into their lap at No. 5, but the opportunity was too good to pass up. While Reese entered the draft as an edge-rusher, Joe Schoen and John Harbaugh are planning to have him begin his NFL career as an inside and WILL linebacker, they mentioned during their post-Day One media availability.

Reese was viewed by most as an edge-rusher entering the draft, but he was an outstanding off-ball linebacker at Ohio State. That was one of the team’s biggest areas of need all offseason after allowing the second-most rushing yards per game in 2025 and releasing 46-game starter Bobby Okereke in March. Harbaugh clearly plans to use Reese all over the field, as the Giants did with Abdul Carter last season. Only time will tell, but there were not many better outcomes with the fifth overall pick.

Grade: A

Round 1, Pick 10: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami

With Caleb Downs still on the board, a player the Giants coveted during the pre-draft process at a position of need, everyone expected Joe Schoen to make that pick at No. 10. Instead, he added to his revamped offensive line with Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa.

In a vacuum, the pick is somewhat of a head-scratcher after the Giants doubled down on Jermaine Eluemunor as their permanent right tackle with a three-year, $39 million contract in free agency. With All-Pro Andrew Thomas locking down left tackle, there is no room for a top-10 pick on the edges. But Schoen cleared up those questions afterward by saying he plans to use Mauigoa at guard, which the roster desperately needs.

The 6-foot-6, 315-pound Mauigoa certainly has the size and strength to play guard. ‘Sisi’ is open to the idea, saying he would play any position any team needs him to during the pre-draft process, and fired up the fan base by saying would “die” for quarterback Jaxson Dart. But with injury concerns to Mauigoa’s back, one has to wonder how much of a risk the Giants are taking by expecting him to switch positions.

Grade: B-

Round 2, Pick 37: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee

The Giants were in dire need of cornerback help after failing to replace Cor’Dale Flott, who left for the Tennessee Titans in free agency. They were in contention to take Mansoor Delane at No. 10, but that option went away when the Kansas City Chiefs traded up to take the LSU star at No. 6.

After Delane, it was a matter of opinion on who was the No. 2 cornerback of the class. Tennessee star Jermod McCoy has clear first-round talent, but concerns of a potential knee surgery wiped him off the board. Many viewed McCoy’s teammate, Colton Hood, as the second-best prospect of the class, and the Giants could not have been quicker to take him at No. 37.

Given McCoy’s injury red flags, Hood was a potential mid-to-late first-round pick. He has not allowed a touchdown since 2023 while playing at three different schools in as many years of college football. Hood will immediately push Greg Newsome Jr. and Deonte Banks for the Week 1 starting job. In terms of value, the Giants did not have a better pick than landing Hood in the second round.

Grade: A+

Round 3, Pick 74: WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame

Wide receiver was atop the Giants’ list of priorities entering the 2026 NFL Draft, though the way everything unfolded had them addressing other issues in the first two rounds. After taking Hood at No. 37, Joe Schoen knew what he wanted and traded into the third round to grab Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields at No. 74.

Fields went five years without a 1,000-yard season in college, but his 6-foot-4, 223-pound frame fits what Schoen and Harbaugh felt was missing on the roster. The Fighting Irish alum had a subpar outing at the Combine, contributing to his draft slide, but the Giants believe he has a higher athletic ceiling than what he showed in Indianapolis, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.

New York needed receiver help in the offseason, particularly after losing 2025 leader Wan’Dale Robinson. They added speed late in free agency in Darnell Mooney, and now add the size and stick hands of Fields. The 22-year-old is an intriguing new weapon for Jaxson Dart to work with, but it cost the Giants three picks, including a 2027 fourth-rounder.

Grade: B

Round 6, Pick 186: DT Bobby Jamison-Travis, Auburn

Just like Day One, the Giants were pleased with their work on Day Two. Yet, Joe Schoen acknowledged that he still needed to address the interior defensive line, which took a big hit with the Lawrence trade. They did not have another pick until round six, when Schoen selected Auburn’s Bobby Jamison-Travis.

In an ideal world, the Giants would have liked someone with a better track record than Jamison-Travis, who recorded 56 tackles, one sack and two batted passes in three years at Auburn. Those are just hard to come by in the sixth round, but Schoen took Jamison-Travis over Tim Keenan, Rayshaun Benny and Skylar Gill-Howard, who all have higher ceilings.

However, the Giants clearly sought size to plug in the middle of their defense, and the 330-pound Jamison-Travis fits that bill. Big-bodied, physical interior defenders were a staple of Harbaugh’s defenses in Baltimore, and Jamison-Travis gives him depth in that regard.

Grade: 

Round 6, Pick 192: OT J.C. Davis, Illinois

The Giants could have benefited from taking an interior lineman on Day Three, but they liked the potential they saw in Illinois offensive tackle J.C. Davis. Davis, who took the long route and began his career at Contra Costa Community College and New Mexico, was a 2025 first-team All-Big 10 tackle over third-round picks Gennings Dunker and Caleb Tiernan.

Like Mauigoa, the 6-foot-5, 325-pound Davis has the size to potentially play guard, where New York lacks the most depth. Davis is also another insurance pick for the injury-prone Andrew Thomas, who has missed 15 games in the last two years.

Grade: C+

Round 6, Pick 193: LB Jack Kelly, BYU

Jack Kelly only spent two years in the FBS, but he made them both count, racking up 106 tackles, 15 sacks, 23.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles during his time with BYU. Kelly was a two-time captain in Provo and ended his final season as a first-team All-Big 12 linebacker.

Kelly was used all over the field at BYU, but he will likely be a full-time edge-rusher in the NFL. His high motor and athleticism give him an intriguing ceiling on the outside, especially as a late sixth-rounder. Kelly has no issue contributing on special teams, where he could become an asset for a Giants team that struggled in punt coverage in 2025. He should be on the final 53-man roster and could be one of the team’s biggest surprises in his rookie season.

Grade: A

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