Giants’ Eventful Day at the 2026 NFL Draft

The first day of the 2026 NFL Draft was quite a ride for the Giants, filled with surprises and anticipation.

It was pretty much expected that they would pick a defensive player at No. 5 and an offensive one at No. 10. After all, I had a feeling they wouldn’t stack too many picks on one side of the ball.

What caught many off guard was their bold valuation of Arvel Rees, who landed at No. 5. His selection was an easy call for the Giants, to say the least.

They had hopes of snagging Sisi Mauigoa, the top offensive lineman in this draft class, but there was a cloud of uncertainty surrounding whether he would still be available at No. 10. Thankfully for them, he was, making it an obvious choice once again.

Let’s dive into some thoughts about Round 1 and what might unfold in Round 2 come Friday night.

• The Giants are keen for more picks. They might trade starting in the second round (37th overall) if they find a suitable partner. Yet, there’s no rush; several enticing options are still on the table, including some undrafted players from the first round.
• Now sitting in fifth place, just like the first round, they have the 49ers, Cardinals, Bills, and Raiders ahead of them in Round 2. They’re eyeing potential cornerbacks like Avion Terrell and Jermod McCoy (assuming his knee holds up) and wide receiver Denzel Boston.
• With Dexter Lawrence’s departure, fans expected the second round to be prime for finding a replacement. It was a bit surprising that Caden McDonald from Ohio State didn’t make it into the first round, and the Giants must be eager to see him still on the board. Yet, there’s some worry about whether he’ll be available at No. 37.

Other players to consider at defensive tackle include Kristen Miller from Georgia and Lee Hunter from Texas Tech. The Giants, who just welcomed a veteran to their defensive line, hope DJ Reader will click well with the team.

Perhaps the Giants will make their next pick based on rankings or needs within their depth chart. General manager Joe Schoen mentioned he received an offer to trade down from the No. 10 pick but ultimately felt it wasn’t worth the hassle.

Interestingly, many analysts saw Reese as more of an edge player, despite his extensive experience as an inside linebacker at Ohio State. His stature—6-foot-4, 241 pounds—has some calling him undersized for the league.

With his impressive size, athleticism, and versatility, he adds considerable depth to the linebacker position alongside Tremaine Edmunds, another sizable addition at 6-foot-4, 251 pounds. Coach John Harbaugh seems to be quite thrilled about their potential impact.

However, this doesn’t rule out Reese occasionally playing as an edge defender. He did record 6.5 sacks in his rookie year in 2025, after all.

Reese himself reflected on the limited opportunities during practice, noting how the team adapted his role as they progressed: “We had limited snapshots—limited practice time and drills,” he remarked, indicating that the focus on pass rushing wasn’t initially intentional.

Looking ahead, the Giants are putting together a promising lineup, with players like Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeau also in the mix.

The week prior to the draft, Shane expressed the challenge of anticipating everyone else’s moves, acknowledging that team boards may differ significantly from one another. It adds a layer of unpredictability to the entire process.

Interestingly, the Giants had Reese ranked as No. 2, just behind quarterback Fernando Mendoza. They expected the Jets to pick him up, but when that didn’t happen, it opened the door for the Giants to scoop him up.

As for Mauigoa, the Giants closely analyzed his practice habits, gathering plenty of tape to assess his readiness for competition. He faced tough opponents daily, and it paid off—he became the Giants’ guard, supposedly the starting right guard moving forward.