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Giants draft picks 2026: Full list of team's round-by-round selections
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- Giants draft picks 2026: Full list of team's round-by-round selections
For a third year in a row, the New York Giants own a top-10 pick in the NFL draft – and some more.
Big Blue had the fifth-worst record in football (4-13, behind a four-way tie for worst record) in 2025 and hold the No. 5 and No. 10 overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft as a result. That 2025 result came one year after the Giants were in a three-way tie for the worst record in the NFL in 2024 (3-14) and held the No. 3 pick.
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With no marked improvement occurring in 2025, the Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll and brought in former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh in the offseason. Despite firing Daboll and hiring a head coaching veteran of 18 years, New York retained general manager Joe Schoen. He'll lead the Giants' draft efforts for a fifth season.
The GM has come under fire for his subpar record in East Rutherford, but he set up Harbaugh's tenure for a facelift after trading defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 10 overall pick in the draft.
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: Giants' first-round pick says he's 'ready to die' for new QB Jaxson Dart
Schoen has been maligned for his decision to extend former Giants quarterback Daniel Jones on a four-year, $160 million contract before letting running back Saquon Barkley walk in free agency. Last year, he traded back up into the first round of the draft to select quarterback Jaxson Dart , a decision that has presented promising early returns after the passer flashed as a rookie.
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This offseason, Schoen, Harbaugh and the Giants' main goal was to build up the roster around Dart ahead of his sophomore campaign. New York signed 21 total players in free agency, including six re-signings. Still ahead are the Giants' eight picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, which they'll use to further reinforce the roster.
Giants 2026 NFL Draft picks
The Giants have eight picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's the complete list:
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Round 1, Pick 5: LB/Edge Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Arguably the player with the most unrealized upside in this draft. Reese split time playing off the ball and rushing the passer for the Buckeyes, hence the inevitable Micah Parsons comparisons he constantly garners. Reese, who turns 21 in August, has plenty of time to develop into a full-time pass rusher and maybe justify the comp one day. He had 6½ sacks season in a part-time role coming off the edge. It will be interesting to see if the Giants opt for a mixed-use division of his responsibilities or allow him to focus on hunting quarterbacks. With OLB Brian Burns already in house and Abdul Carter arriving via the No. 3 pick last year, worth wondering if New York will soon ship Kayvon Thibodeaux elsewhere. — Nate Davis
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Round 1, Pick 10 (from Bengals): OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)
While the mauling Mauigoa was purely a right tackle the past three seasons for the Hurricanes, he's the kind of tone-setter any offense would want – and the Giants will probably want him to play guard initially with veterans Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor projected to be the starting tackles in New York. Mauigoa comes in the wake of the Giants' weekend trade of Pro Bowl DT Dexter Lawrence and should help safeguard second-year QB Jaxson Dart, who was hurt too often as a rookie ... though his blocking wasn't always the devil-may-care passer's issue. And Mauigoa will most surely clear his share of running lanes with RB Cam Skattebo in tow in 2026. — Nate Davis
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Round 2, Pick 37: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
Their strong draft continues with the selection of a second-team All-SEC performer. He's big enough (6-3, 193) and only surrendered one TD in three college seasons. A physical player who will take on running backs, he's probably best deployed in man coverage. — Nate Davis
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Round 3, Pick 74 (from Chiefs via Browns): WR Malachi Fields , Notre Dame
A 4.61 40 at the scouting combine clearly hurt him. But a 6-5, 218-pound frame should serve QB Jaxson Dart well given how well Fields played in 2025 and at the Senior Bowl. His big catch radius helps explain 15 TD grabs since 2023. — Nate Davis
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Round 6, Pick 186: DT Bobby Jamison-Travis, Auburn
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Round 6, Pick 192 (from Dolphins): OL J.C. Davis, Illinois
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Round 6, Pick 193 (from Cowboys): LB Jack Kelly, BYU
GIANTS NFL DRAFT: Everything GM Joe Schoen said about New York's No. 5 pick
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Giants NFL draft grades
LB/Edge Arvell Reese, Ohio State at No. 5 overall – Grade: A-
Quite the way to kick off the Jim Harbaugh era. Reese fell further than anyone could have expected, and he now joins a defense that already includes Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux. The Giants have plenty of uncertainty at other spots throughout their defense, especially after dealing away Dexter Lawrence to the Giants. But Reese was the top-ranked overall player on many analysts' big boards (including ours). He can detonate blockers and ball carriers alike, which will surely come in handy for bolstering the league's 31st-ranked run defense. The pass-rush plan might take some time to coalesce, but the Micah Parsons comparisons - while lofty - are not unfounded. — Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.) at No. 10 overall – Grade: B
John Harbaugh's first steps with Big Blue have been centered on achieving some semblance of stability, which has largely escaped the franchise for the better part of a decade. Taking Mauigoa certainly aligns with that effort. Mauigoa is a punishing force in the run game who won't get pushed around by pass rushers, either. He was announced as an offensive tackle, but he should slide in at right guard after veteran Jermaine Eluemunor was re-signed at right tackle. Olaivavega Ioane could have been a candidate for the same role, but Mauigoa is a high-floor prospect who can make life easier for Jaxson Dart on several fronts. — Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
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CB Colton Hood, Tennessee at No. 37 overall – Grade: B+
Good value here for New York, which has an underwhelming collection of cornerbacks. Hood is more of a long-term investment than an immediate solution, but he can match up with bigger receivers who threaten defenses downfield. But with no defensive tackle here and a potential run at the position coming, the Giants need to find some value later on or hit the post-draft veteran free agent market. — Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame at No. 74 overall – Grade: B-
At 6-5, Fields has a proven track record in go-up-and-get-it scenarios, which Jaxson Dart will no doubt seek out. But Fields will have to expand his comfort zone beyond vertical routes, as he lacks adequate separation skills. — Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
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DT Bobby Jamison-Travis, Auburn at No. 186 overall – Grade: B
The Giants needed a defensive tackle after trading Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals. It's surprising they went with Jamison-Travis over Dontay Corleone , but Jamison-Travis is nonetheless a solid run stopper who can provide Giants with needed depth at nose tackle.
OL J.C. Davis, Illinois at No. 192 overall – Grade: A-
The Giants needed a swing tackle for their offense if their plan is to play Francis Mauigoa at guard. Davis is a strong 6-4, 322-pound tackle and fits the range at this juncture. He can begin his career as a backup but eventually challenge Jermaine Eluemunor for the right tackle job.
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LB Jack Kelly, BYU at No. 193 overall – Grade: A-
Kelly is a tough linebacker who was productive across four college seasons at Weber State and BYU. John Harbaugh should love coaching him, and he could make an impact on special teams early in his NFL career.
Giants undrafted free agent signings
The Giants continue to build their roster by signing undrafted free agents. You can follow the complete team-by-team list for all 32 here.
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DT Anquin Barnes, Colorado
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K Dominic Zvada, Michigan
Giants 2026 NFL Draft needs
Defensive line
The Giants traded away Dexter Lawrence less than a week before the 2026 NFL Draft, snagging a second top-10 pick in return. Head coach John Harbaugh had seemed optimistic an extension deal would get done, but Lawrence – one of New York's best players throughout his seven-year tenure with Big Blue – will instead start his Bengals career in 2026.
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Defensive line would have been a priority even if the Giants had retained Lawrence. New York still needed another down lineman to play alongside their Pro Bowler on the interior. New York has all of the edge rushing prowess it needs with Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and last year's first-rounder, Abdul Carter. With Lawrence moving on to Cincinnati, the position is one with an even more dire need of reinforcement for the Giants.
Interior offensive line
Andrew Thomas is a lock at left tackle. Jermaine Eluemunor should be a lock at right tackle after his strong season in pass protection. Outside of those spots are three big question marks. The Giants could use some more help on the interior to block in front of Dart in 2026.
New York did add Daniel Faalele and re-signed Josh Ezeudu and Evan Neal to compete for the right guard spot, but none inspire much confidence in 2026. Given the lack of quality moves at the position in free agency, the Giants should be in strong consideration to add to their offensive interior on Days 2 and/or 3.
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Wide receiver
Top Giants wideout Malik Nabers will be back after tearing his ACL four games into the 2025 season, but who else does New York have in its receiving corps? Wan'Dale Robinson, Big Blue's top receiver last year, followed Brian Daboll to Tennessee. Free agent signees Darnell Mooney , Calvin Austin and Isaiah Hodgins are better suited as tertiary and depth options.
It's not hard to envision the Giants using their top pick to select one of the best wide receivers in this draft class. They could even wait until Day 2 or 3 to add some young talent to the position.
Giants 2026 NFL mock draft
Here's what the Giants could do come draft night, per Ayrton Ostly's seven-round mock draft, which pre-dated the Giants' trade for the No. 10 pick:
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Round 1, Pick 5: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
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Round 1, Pick 10: S Caleb Downs , Ohio State
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Round 2, Pick 37: IOL Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
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Round 4, Pick 105: LB Harold Perkins Jr. , LSU
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Round 5, Pick 145: OT Kegan Trost, Missouri
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Round 6, Pick 186: RB J'Mari Taylor, Virginia
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Round 6, Pick 192: WR Eric Rivers, Georgia Tech
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Round 6, Pick 193: LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New York Giants NFL draft picks 2026: Round-by-round selections
