The New York Giants are in a weird spot. Honestly, "weird" might be an understatement. After a brutal 4-13 finish in 2025 that saw Brian Daboll get his walking papers in November, the vibes in East Rutherford are shifting fast. Enter John Harbaugh. Yes, that John Harbaugh. The Super Bowl winner has traded the purple and black of Baltimore for Big Blue, and his arrival completely changes how we have to look at any NY Giants mock draft for 2026.
People keep mocking the same flashy names to New York. They see the fifth overall pick and immediately want to pair Jaxson Dart—who actually looked decent as a rookie—with another speedster receiver. But if you’ve followed Harbaugh’s career, you know he doesn't build teams from the outside in. He builds them in the trenches. He wants guys who can move mountains and safeties who can erase mistakes.
The Giants have massive holes. The offensive line is still Andrew Thomas and a prayer. Malik Nabers is working his way back from a torn ACL. The secondary is, well, let's just say it's "leaky." If you think Joe Schoen is just going to take the highest-rated guy on a generic big board, you haven't been paying attention to the Harbaugh hire.
Why the No. 5 Pick is the Ultimate Fork in the Road
Most early projections for this draft cycle are obsessed with the receiver class. And look, it’s a good one. Names like Carnell Tate from Ohio State or Jordyn Tyson from Arizona State are dynamic. They’d look great catching passes from Dart. But Harbaugh’s philosophy usually starts with "can we run the ball and can we stop the run?"
Currently, the Giants are sitting at No. 5. If the draft started today, they’d be staring at a few franchise-altering options.
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The Trenches vs. The Flash
Francis Mauigoa out of Miami is the name that keeps popping up for people who actually know Harbaugh’s style. He’s a mountain of a man. Some scouts think he might eventually move to guard, but at right tackle, he’d give the Giants the most physical bookends they’ve had in a decade. With Jermaine Eluemunor hitting free agency, that right side is a literal vacuum right now.
Then there’s Caleb Downs. The Ohio State safety is widely considered the best overall football player in this class, regardless of position. The Giants' secondary was a disaster last year. Tyler Nubin has struggled to find his footing, and the unit lacks a true "alpha" in the deep half. Adding a blue-chip safety at five might feel rich for some, but for a coach who loves defense, it’s a dream scenario.
The Jaxson Dart Factor
One thing a lot of fans get wrong is the quarterback situation. The Giants aren't drafting one. Not early, anyway. Jaxson Dart showed enough in 2025 to earn his "Year 2" audition. He’s got the arm, and more importantly, he’s got the toughness this city loves.
Because the QB spot is "settled" for now, the Giants have the luxury of being the "best player available" (BPA) team. Or, more accurately, the "best player for John Harbaugh" team.
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The middle rounds are where this NY Giants mock draft gets interesting. Since they traded their 2026 third-round pick to move up for Dart last year, they have to nail the second and fourth rounds.
- Round 2 (Pick 37): This is where you look at someone like Josiah Trotter. The Missouri linebacker is a thumper. With Bobby Okereke’s future up in the air due to cap numbers, the Giants need a new heart for the defense.
- Round 4 (Pick 105): Keep an eye on De’Zhaun Stribling. He’s an Ole Miss kid, so he already has chemistry with Dart. He’s also a physical blocker, which—you guessed it—Harbaugh loves in his wideouts.
Addressing the "Nabers Insurance" Theory
We have to talk about Malik Nabers. His ACL tear was the "oh no" moment of the 2025 season. While the medical staff is optimistic about a 2026 return, you can't bet the house on it.
This is why people are so split. Do you take Carnell Tate at five to ensure Dart has a WR1 even if Nabers is slow to recover? Or do you trust the recovery and build the defense? PFF’s Max Chadwick has been vocal about the Tate fit, noting his 151.8 passer rating when targeted. That’s insane. But if Harbaugh has the final say, it feels like he’d rather win a game 17-10 with a dominant line than 38-35 in a shootout.
The Reality of the Roster
The Giants finished 2025 with 13 losses. Seven of those were by a single possession. They blew double-digit leads in five of them.
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That tells you two things. One: the talent isn't that far off. Two: the team didn't know how to finish games. That’s a culture problem, and it’s usually fixed by getting more physical.
If you look at the 2026 Senior Bowl roster, the Giants’ scouts were glued to the offensive linemen and the defensive interior. They aren't looking for track stars; they’re looking for brawlers. Guys like Trey Zuhn III from Texas A&M are mid-round targets who fit that mold. He can play tackle or guard, providing the versatility that Joe Schoen craves.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason
Forget the mock drafts that give the Giants a 170-pound receiver in the first round. It's not happening under this regime. If you're tracking the Giants' moves, here is what actually matters:
- Monitor the Right Side: If the Giants don't re-sign Jermaine Eluemunor or Greg Van Roten by March, they are almost certainly going Francis Mauigoa or Spencer Fano (Utah) at No. 5.
- The Safety Market: If they pass on a top-tier safety in free agency, Caleb Downs becomes the betting favorite for their first pick.
- The "Dart Support" Plan: Watch for the Giants to target "YAC" (yards after catch) specialists in the second round, like Chris Bell from Louisville, rather than deep threats. They want to keep the ball moving and keep Dart out of 3rd-and-long situations.
- Defensive Reinforcements: Expect a heavy emphasis on "thumper" linebackers and run-stuffing defensive tackles (like Arkansas' Cameron Ball) in the late rounds to support Dexter Lawrence.
The 2026 NFL Draft will be the foundation of the Harbaugh era. It won't be pretty, and it might not satisfy the fantasy football fans, but it’s the only way this team stops being the basement dweller of the NFC East.