The New York Giants had a strong start in the 2026 NFL draft, selecting Colton Hood and Malachi Fields. However, they now face a depleted roster entering Day 3, with three sixth-round picks available.
Key points
New York Giants had a strong start in the 2026 NFL draft
Selected cornerback Colton Hood and wide receiver Malachi Fields
Giants enter Day 3 with three sixth-round picks
Previous trades have left the team somewhat depleted
Opportunity to find a surprise gem in the draft
New York Giants
2026 NFL draft: 10 potential Day 3 targets for New York Giants
The New York Giants followed up an explosive first night of the 2026 NFL draft with an equally explosive second night, snagging Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood in the second round before trading up into the third round for Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields.
While the additions have been impressive, the Round 3 trade and multiple previous trades (dating back to last year) have left the Giants somewhat depleted. They enter the final day of the draft with a trio of sixth-round picks and nothing more.
Still, there is value to be had when the Giants find themselves on the clock. They will make three picks over an eight-selection span, giving them a chance to land a surprise gem.
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Washington Commanders (home, away)
Philadelphia Eagles (home, away)
Q&A
Who did the New York Giants select in the 2026 NFL draft?
The Giants selected cornerback Colton Hood from Tennessee and wide receiver Malachi Fields from Notre Dame.
What challenges do the New York Giants face on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL draft?
The Giants are facing a depleted roster with only three sixth-round picks remaining after multiple trades.
How many picks do the Giants have on the final day of the 2026 NFL draft?
The Giants have three sixth-round picks on the final day of the 2026 NFL draft.
What positions are the Giants likely targeting on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL draft?
While specific targets are not mentioned, the Giants are expected to look for value players to strengthen their roster.
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Here is a look at 10 prospects the Giants could potentially target on Day 3.
Cameron Ball, DT, Arkansas
The Giants have yet to address the interior of their defensive line, and precious few picks remain. By the time they come up in Round 6, the pickings will be slim, but it's possible Cameron Ball remains as the best available.
A two-and-a-half-year starter at Arkansas, Ball lined up primarily over the A-gap in former defensive coordinator Travis Williamsā 4-2-5 base scheme. Recruited out of high school mostly as an offensive lineman, the Razorbacks gave him a chance to play defense, and he developed into a solid role player. His senior year was better on tape than in the stat sheet, as he finished with only 27 tackles and zero sacks while averaging 53 defensive snaps per game.
Ball has above-average size and length with functional athleticism. As a run defender, he is balanced at the point with steady hat/hand use. He generates most of his power from his hips and upper half, although he needs to get stronger in his lower half to combat double teams. Though he flashes pass-rush ability, he tends to rush aimlessly and high and can get pushed/pulled off his path.
Again, the pickings might be slim at this point. While a bit on the older side (24), Bryson Eason is another large man in the middle who could fit into a rotation designed to replace Dexter Lawrence.
A two-and-a-half-year starter at Tennessee, Eason shuffled between 2i-, three- and 4i-technique in defensive coordinator Tim Banksā four-down front. He made the transition from inside linebacker to defensive line in 2022 and was a solid rotational player for the Vols defense, despite lackluster production (his defensive snap count jumped from 27.8 per game in 2024 to 39.3 in 2025).
Eason moved into the trenches without sacrificing his athletic twitch. He is at his best in the run game when he utilizes his length to establish an anchor and strain through engagement. However, he tends to be too reactive, which can put him in trail mode. He has pass-rush potential with his get-off and heavy hands, but he relies more on effort than a tactical rush plan.
Michael Taaffe, S, Texas
Similar to defensive tackle, the Giants have yet to address the safety position. Michael Taaffee is a bit undersized for the position, but his value would come on special teams -- the wheelhouse for late-round picks and a John Harbaugh preference.
A three-year starter at Texas, Taaffe was a versatile safety in former defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowskiās 4-2-5 base scheme. A former walk-on, he made himself into an indispensable part of the Longhornsā secondary, both on and off the field. He was a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy (nationās top walk-on) and earned All-SEC honors as a senior.
Taaffe is an easy player to appreciate because of his feel for the game and toughness ā even if his size, strength and athletic traits fall below what most teams desire at the position. He is at his best working from the post, as opposed to near the line of scrimmage (where his lack of size is more noticeable). His anticipation helps him make plays, although a misstep can be a death sentence.
Robert Spears-Jennings, S, Oklahoma
Perhaps the Giants want to add a little speed in centerfield. Robert Spears-Jennings ran the fastest 40-yard dash for safeties at the 2026 NFL Combine.
A two-year starter at Oklahoma, Spears-Jennings lined up as the free safety in head coach Brent Venablesā scheme. After originally committing to Lincoln Riley, he stayed with the Sooners once he found out Venables would be bringing his defense to Norman. He started to see meaningful defensive snaps as a freshman and grew into a valuable starter.
Spears-Jennings might not play quite as fast as his stopwatch speed (fastest 40-yard dash among safeties at the NFL combine), but he gets from A to B in a hurry and throws his body into contact. Though heās fearless attacking the line of scrimmage, he needs to be consistent reading his keys and keeping his leverage. He has experience patrolling deep from Cover 2, but he struggles making plays on the ball ā his game translates best working top down or near the box.
Jeremiah Wright, G, Auburn
The Giants currently have an abundance of guards and already intend to play Francis Mauigoa at right guard. Still, perhaps they'd prefer a youth movement over Joshua Ezeudu and Evan Neal, the latter of whom has $0 guaranteed in his contract. Auburn's Jeremiah Wright could be that guy.
A two-year starter at Auburn, Wright was a fixture at right guard in former head coach Hugh Freezeās balanced (gap and zone) scheme. A sixth-year prospect, he bounced between the offensive and defensive lines his first few seasons on The Plains before becoming a full-time starter over his junior and senior seasons.
Wright is big, strong and wants to move people off the ball on combos and base blocks. He looks to overpower anything in his way, which is understandable for a former defensive lineman, but heās still learning to introduce more skill into his play. He works hard to stay square in pass pro but has shaky moments responding to savvy rushers.
The Giants may have drafted Colton Hood in Round 2, but it's not exactly as if they have an overabundance of cornerback talent. There's no way Jermod McCoy slides all the way to Round 6, so Thaddeus Dixon, who learned under Bill Belichick in 2025, could fit the bill.
A one-year starter at North Carolina, Dixon followed the opponentās No. 1 receiver in defensive coordinator Steve Belichickās scheme, aligning both inside and outside (Bill Belichick: āHe could probably play any position in the secondary.ā). With few options out of high school, he earned his way from the juco level to Washington, and then to the Tar Heels, although his final season was marred by injury.
Dixon is a high-energy cover man and carries himself with maturity, both on and off the field. He doesnāt usually jam at the line but trails routes and disrupts catch points. He is more likely to face guard than find the football, which hinders his interception opportunities. He also relies more on physicality than pure speed to recover, which can be an asset versus the run but will get him in trouble when facing NFL athletes.
J'Mari Taylor, RB, Virginia
The Giants haven't been shy about poking around the running back market, but they've yet to land one. Round 6 presents a solid opportunity to find a diamond in the rough. J'Mari Taylor, who had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2024-2025, is a guy who can do a little bit of everything.
A one-year starter at Virginia (and two-year starter overall), Taylor was a productive runner in offensive coordinator Des Kitchingsā zone-based run scheme. A former walk-on in the FCS, he is accustomed to betting on himself. He topped 1,000 yards rushing as a first-year starter in 2024 at NC Central, then transferred up to Virginia for his final season. After scoring 17 touchdowns in 2024, he accounted for an ACC-best 16 touchdowns last season.
Taylor is a patient, quick-reading zone runner who can find creases and gets what is blocked for him (plus a little extra). He can be a bowling ball when needed to burrow in short yardage or bounce off contact in the lane, although I wouldnāt classify him as a creative runner. His blocking and pass catching show promise but arenāt selling points for his game just yet.
Le'Veon Moss, RB, Texas A&M
If the running back pool is thinner than expected, the Giants could take the chance on Le'Veon Moss. He's a practice squad candidate who could be developed into a carry-eater over time.
A starter for two-and-a-half years at Texas A&M, Moss shared backfield duties in former offensive coordinator Colin Kleinās zone-based run scheme. He was productive as a starter for the Aggies, averaging 5.9 yards per carry over his junior and senior seasons and scoring a touchdown every 12.4 rush attempts. However, he missed significant time because of injuries (third on the team in rushing in 2025) and collected just 345 combined offensive touches over four years in College Station.
Moss is a good-looking back with the run strength to work downhill, but he also has the feet to press holes and make sharp cuts against pursuit. He doesnāt appear to have the same open-field burst and long speed as he once did and will lean more toward being a grinder than a playmaker on the NFL spectrum. His inconsistencies as a pass blocker and receiver will need to improve.
At the very least, the Giants will need a quarterback for their upcoming rookie minicamp. While one could easily be found in the undrafted free agent pool, perhaps head coach John Harbaugh & Co. would prefer someone they feel could be developed and later traded. Cade Klubnik anyone?
A three-year starter at Clemson, Klubnik was efficient in former offensive coordinator Garrett Rileyās balanced, RPO-based scheme (primarily ā11ā personnel). The top-ranked quarterback recruit four years ago, he started 40 games for the Tigers and finished No. 3 in school history in career passing yards, behind only Tajh Boyd and Deshaun Watson. However, he was inconsistent as a senior and struggled to build off a productive junior year.
Klubnik delivers with above-average touch to all levels of the field and shows enough arm strength to drive the ball down the seam or outside the numbers, when his mechanics are sound. He is light on his feet and comfortable moving the pocket, although he has moments of panic under duress, which lead to bad habits and rushed decisions.
Eli Heidenreich, Weapon, Navy
There is no player more versatile in this draft than Eli Heidenreich, who does a little bit of everything and could be the Giants' fullback of the future. Should he remain when Big Blue is on the clock, they should run their card to the podium as quickly as possible.
A starter for two-and-a-half years at Navy, Heidenreich played the āSnipe Zā position in the Midshipmenās modern triple-option offense, which includes aggressive pass concepts (play action, verticals, etc.). He split his 2025 snaps between the backfield (44.4 percent), wide (35.4), slot (14.7) and inline (5.5), and he accounted for a sky-high 45.7 percent target share. He set Navy records for career receiving yards (1,994), single-season receiving yards (941) and single-game receiving yards (243). Heidenreich and Tavon Austin are the only FBS players since 1956 with 925-plus receiving yards and 475-plus rushing yards in the same season.
Heidenreich is a versatile all-purpose athlete with acceleration and body control as both a route runner and ball carrier. More quick than explosive, he has mismatch-creating potential out of the slot and catches everything thrown his way, regardless of placement or positioning. He is unproven in pass protection, although there are no questions about his competitive toughness.
