The New York Giants have seven selections in the 2026 NFL draft, including No. 5 overall. There’s been plenty of speculation on how they will spend their draft capital this year, with much of it being on Day 3 of the draft.
The Giants will make a splash with a big-time college star with the fifth overall pick and perhaps do it again on Day 2, where they hold the 37th overall selection. But then they’ll have to wait until Saturday to make their next pick as they do not have a third-rounder this year (it was traded away last season in the deal that landed quarterback Jaxson Dart).
Day 3 will be determinant for Big Blue and general manager Joe Schoen. They have five picks: One each in Rounds 4 and 5, followed by three picks in Round 6.
Ben Solak of ESPN recently outlined how all 32 NFL teams can “ace” their drafts this year, barring any trades. Here’s what he said about the Giants:
The Giants were active in free agency this offseason and have been for the past few years, so many of their positions are set in the short term. The remaining glaring need on offense is at right guard, where Daniel Faalele was just signed as another John Harbaugh follower — but ask Ravens fans how it feels to have Faalele start 17 games. The Giants have fine-to-strong starters at all other positions along the line and shouldn’t faff around with the fifth pick here accordingly. They draft too early in the first round, but No. 37 is a great spot for guards in this draft, including Keylan Rutledge (Georgia Tech) and Chase Bisontis (Texas A&M).
Neither wide receiver nor running back needs big additions, but don’t be surprised if Carnell Tate (Ohio State) or Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) is the pick at No. 5. Cam Skattebo and Darius Slayton are not deterring Harbaugh from taking a blue-chip talent if he sees one.
Many see the Giants’ top pick coming from the defensive side of the ball. The Giants were the NFL’s worst against the run, and the incoming head coach, John Harbaugh, wants to address that first and foremost. Add ot the equation that disgruntled stud defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence could be traded, and suddenly, the interior line could be their most urgent need. Solak agrees.
Defensively, there are more gaps. CB2 is a need after the departure of Cor’Dale Flott in free agency, and LB2 has been a big need for a while as Tremaine Edmunds has swapped in for Bobby Okereke. Again, neither spot is in so dire a need that it must be addressed early, but I’d expect the Giants to get a potential contributor at each spot. As with WR and RB, the Giants can let the board fall to them.
The true must-get: a defensive tackle with run-defending ability. The Giants’ defensive line is oriented toward penetration and pass rush, and they suffered with easy yardage on the ground accordingly. Even if Dexter Lawrence II stays, adding a rotational nose tackle is a wise proposition — but with Lawrence’s trade demand on the table, the need becomes even bigger.
The Giants are sticking to their guns about selecting the ‘best player available’ regardless of position, which is a tried and true strategy among NFL front offices. But they need help badly in the trenches, and Schoen and Harbaugh just might veer away from that this time around.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: 2026 NFL draft: How can Giants ‘ace their picks?’
Reporting by John Fennelly, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
