The New York Giants are currently staring into a massive void. After a brutal 4-13 season that saw Brian Daboll fired mid-year, the G-men are sitting at the No. 5 overall pick with a roster that feels both talented and fundamentally broken at the same time. Joe Schoen is still the GM, which honestly surprised a few people, but the big news is the hiring of John Harbaugh. That changes everything. You can't just look at the old needs and assume they're the same. Harbaugh brings a "trench-first" philosophy that is going to dictate exactly how this giants 7 round mock draft shakes out.
Everyone is talking about wide receivers because Malik Nabers spent most of the year on the shelf and Wan'Dale Robinson is hitting free agency. But if you know Harbaugh, you know he isn't built that way. He wants to maul people. He wants to protect Jaxson Dart, who actually looked like a real NFL quarterback when he wasn't running for his life.
📖 Related: Miami Heat All Time Players: Who Actually Defined the Franchise?
The First Round: Dominating the Line or Securing the Secondary?
At pick No. 5, the Giants have a dilemma. Some mocks are screaming for Ohio State WR Carnell Tate or safety Caleb Downs. Downs is a freak athlete, but taking a safety at five? That’s rich, even for a team that struggled with tackling all year. Most experts, like those over at PFF, are pointing toward the offensive line as the screaming priority. Jermaine Eluemunor is a free agent, and Greg Van Roten was basically a sieve at guard.
I'm leaning toward Francis Mauigoa, the tackle out of Miami. He’s a mountain of a man. If Harbaugh wants to win the NFC East, he has to stop the bleeding on the right side of the line. Andrew Thomas is an anchor on the left, but the right side has been a disaster zone since... well, forever.
Why the Giants might pass on a WR early
It's tempting. Nabers is coming back from an ACL, and the depth behind him is essentially a "Who’s That?" of NFL rosters. Jalin Hyatt hasn't caught a touchdown in nearly 40 games. That's a real stat. It’s painful. But in this giants 7 round mock draft, we have to be realistic about how Harbaugh builds. He’ll find his receivers later or in the mid-rounds. He needs a foundation first.
Round 2 and the Mid-Round Grind
With the 37th pick, the Giants finally go for that weapon. Chris Bell from Louisville is the name that keeps popping up. He’s 6'2", 220 pounds, and he runs like he’s trying to break the grass. He’s the perfect YAC (yards after catch) threat to complement Nabers. If Dart can just get the ball out quick, Bell does the rest.
We have to remember the Giants don't have a third-round pick this year. They traded it away to move up for Jaxson Dart last year. That’s a huge gap in the draft capital. It means picks 105 and 142 have to be absolute home runs.
Round 4-5: Fixing the "Invisibles"
At 105, look for someone like Drew Shelton, the Penn State tackle. He’s a developmental piece, but he has first-round traits. Harbaugh loves Big Ten guys. It's a pattern. Then at 142, they have to address the secondary. Tacario Davis from Washington is 6'4". You don't see corners that size often. He’s raw, but under a Harbaugh-led staff, he could be a press-man nightmare.
- Round 1 (Pick 5): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami.
- Round 2 (Pick 37): Chris Bell, WR, Louisville.
- Round 4 (Pick 105): Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State.
- Round 5 (Pick 142): Tacario Davis, CB, Washington.
The Late Round Lottery
By the time we hit the sixth and seventh rounds, Joe Schoen is basically looking for special teams demons and "traits" guys. The Giants actually have three picks in the sixth round because of trades involving Darren Waller and Jordan Phillips.
They need a center. Logan Jones from Iowa is a classic Harbaugh pick. He’s gritty, he’s technically sound, and he’s played a ton of high-level football. He might not start Day 1, but he’ll push John Michael Schmitz, who had a bit of a "sophomore slump" in 2025.
🔗 Read more: NFL on the Radio: Why the Airwaves Still Rule the Gridiron
The Final Flurry
- Pick 191: De'Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss. Absolute speed merchant.
- Pick 192: Albert Regis, DT, Texas A&M. He's a 300-pounder who moves like a linebacker.
- Pick 195: Jamarion Miller, RB, Alabama. With Cam Skattebo carrying the load, they need a change-of-pace guy. Miller is that guy.
Honestly, this draft is about survival. The Giants' defense was "catastrophic" last year—that’s the word being thrown around in East Rutherford. They signed Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland to big deals, but the young guys like Deonte Banks and Tyler Nubin actually regressed. It’s weird. You’d think they’d get better with more reps, but they looked lost.
What Really Matters for Big Blue in 2026
The biggest misconception is that one draft can fix this. It can't. But a giants 7 round mock draft that focuses on the trenches and reliable pass-catchers gives Jaxson Dart a fighting chance. If he’s on the ground, the Giants are picking in the top five again next year.
Harbaugh didn't sign a $100 million contract to lose. He's going to demand players who are "blue-collar" and "process-oriented." That means less flash and more substance. If fans are expecting a flashy offensive explosion, they might be disappointed by the names called on Thursday night. But by Sunday in October, they'll be glad they have a line that can actually run-block.
Actionable Insights for Giants Fans:
- Watch the Senior Bowl closely. The Giants have historically loved guys who show out in Mobile, and this year’s roster is loaded with interior O-line talent like Keylan Rutledge.
- Keep an eye on the compensatory pick announcements. The Giants' cap situation is tricky, and they might need those extra late-round swings to fill out the special teams units.
- Don't marry yourself to a WR at pick 5. The value in this class is at tackle and edge, and with Abdul Carter and Brian Burns already there, adding a bookend for Andrew Thomas is the smarter play for long-term winning.