The New York Giants are in a weird spot. Actually, "weird" is an understatement. After a 4-13 campaign that saw Brian Daboll get the boot in November and a late-season win streak that knocked them out of the top two picks, Joe Schoen is basically playing a high-stakes game of Tetris with the roster.
We know the basics. They have the No. 5 overall pick. They just hired John Harbaugh to fix the culture. And they are officially, 100% tied to Jaxson Dart at quarterback. But if you look at a typical New York Giants mock draft right now, you’ll see a lot of people just slotting in a wide receiver and calling it a day. Honestly? It’s not that simple. Harbaugh doesn’t just build "fun" offenses; he builds bullies.
The 2026 draft isn't just about finding a guy to catch passes. It's about deciding if this team wants to be a finesse group or a smash-mouth unit that finally protects its young QB.
The Carnell Tate vs. Francis Mauigoa Dilemma
Most experts, like Jordan Reid at ESPN and Nick Baumgardner at The Athletic, are obsessed with Carnell Tate. I get it. The Ohio State product is a technician. He’s 6-foot-3, averages over 17 yards a catch, and the Giants' receiving corps is currently a mess. Malik Nabers is coming off a torn ACL—which is terrifying—and Wan’Dale Robinson is likely walking in free agency.
But here’s the thing: John Harbaugh has spent his whole career obsessed with the trenches.
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That’s why you’re starting to see names like Francis Mauigoa from Miami creep into the top five. Field Yates has been vocal about Mauigoa’s "road grader" mentality. He’s a massive human being. If the Giants take him, they aren't just getting a right tackle; they're sending a message that the days of Jaxson Dart running for his life are over. Jermaine Eluemunor is hitting free agency, and Evan Neal... well, we don't need to talk about that. It hasn't worked.
If they go Tate, they’re betting on firepower. If they go Mauigoa, they’re betting on stability. It’s a classic philosophical fork in the road.
The "Best Player Available" Trap at No. 5
There is a third option that some people, including Walt Cherepinsky, are screaming about: Caleb Downs. The Ohio State safety is arguably the best pure football player in this class.
The Giants' defense was, to put it lightly, a "stop unit" that didn't stop much last year. They have Abdul Carter and Dexter Lawrence, which is a great start, but the secondary is a sieve. Adding a playmaker like Downs would give Harbaugh that "Ed Reed type" of centerfielder he loves.
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- The Case for Defense: You can’t win the NFC East if you can’t stop the Cowboys or Eagles from dropping 30.
- The Reality Check: Can you really afford to pass on a blue-chip tackle or WR when your rookie QB needs help?
Most New York Giants mock draft iterations ignore the fact that the Giants don't have a third-round pick this year. They traded it away to move up for Dart last year. That's a huge deal. It means Joe Schoen has to be almost perfect with his first and second-round selections because there is no safety net in the middle of the draft.
Fixing the Middle: The John Michael Schmitz Problem
Let's be real for a second. John Michael Schmitz Jr. has struggled. A lot.
There’s a growing sentiment among scouts that the Giants might look for an "upgrade" at center on Day 2 or early Day 3. Names like Connor Lew from Auburn or Parker Brailsford from Alabama are popping up in local circles. Brailsford is smaller, sure, but he’s incredibly mobile. For a team that wants to run the ball with Cam Skattebo, having a center who can actually reach the second level is a game-changer.
It’s rare to see a team move on from a second-round pick at center so quickly, but the "Harbaugh Effect" usually involves a total clearing of the decks. If you can't block, you don't play.
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What the 7-Round Mocks Are Telling Us
When you look at a full seven-round New York Giants mock draft, you see a pattern. The team is desperate for "big-bodied" athletes.
In the second round (Pick 37), a lot of eyes are on Chris Bell, the receiver from Louisville. He’s 220 pounds and a YAC monster. If the Giants pass on Carnell Tate at No. 5 to take an offensive lineman, Bell becomes a mandatory target in round two. They need someone who can break tackles when Nabers is drawing double coverage.
Later on, keep an eye on the defensive depth. Tacario Davis, a 6-foot-4 corner from Washington, is a name that keeps surfacing for the fourth round. He’s exactly the kind of "long and physical" corner that fits a Harbaugh-led defense.
The Giants currently have about 40 players under contract. They need volume, but they specifically need "competitive" volume. The days of drafting for "traits" over "production" might be ending with the new coaching staff.
Practical Steps for the Giants Offseason
If you’re tracking the Giants' progress toward the draft, there are three things you should watch over the next month:
- The Franchise Tag Decision: If they don't tag or re-sign Wan’Dale Robinson, the No. 5 pick almost has to be a wide receiver.
- The Right Tackle Market: If Schoen spends big on a tackle in free agency, it clears the way for them to take a defensive star like Arvell Reese or Caleb Downs.
- Jaxson Dart’s Health Reports: Everything depends on the QB. If the medical staff says he needs more protection to avoid another injury, expect the draft to be OL-heavy.
The draft kicks off on April 23 in Pittsburgh. Between now and then, the "consensus" will change ten times. But right now, the smart money is on the Giants choosing between a superstar receiver or a foundational tackle. They can't afford to miss. Again.