Experts hand out final grades for New York Giants in 2026 NFL draft

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Here's how NFL experts and analysts graded Big Blue's full draft haul:

Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN: B+

From Mel Kiper Jr:

Reese can hopefully develop into an extraordinary edge rusher with his first step acceleration, 4.46 speed and solid 6-foot-4, 241-pound size. But let's not forget he's an incredible off-ball linebacker, too, and New York needs someone to captain the defense. I love his instincts and nose for the ball. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson will have options. I have no problem with taking an elite player and figuring out the perfect way to use him later.

Mauigoa at No. 10 also makes sense, as protecting Jaxson Dart and opening some rushing lanes for Cam Skattebo off a leg injury will be key. Mauigoa will likely move inside to guard for now, with the ability to slide back out to tackle in the future (New York has Jermaine Eluemunor at right tackle). Mauigoa has Pro Bowl upside at guard as a mauling, tenacious blocker who allowed just two sacks over his past 1,800-plus snaps.

The one issue I have with this pick is Caleb Downs was still available. Harbaugh had Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore, and he could have had Downs in New York. If we're talking about "best player available," there's a strong case for my No. 6 prospect at No. 10. But overall, this was a great first round for the Giants.

New York hit more needs on Day 2. It would have surprised no one if Colton Hood was a first-round pick. He's a long, athletic corner. His Senior Bowl week could have been better, but he's physical at 193 pounds. He didn't pile up interceptions (three over 29 games), but he doesn't allow completions, either. And Malachi Fields fits as a potential WR2 behind Malik Nabers. He's a walking highlight reel on downfield catches. Fields shields defenders from the ball with his length and physicality, and he has terrific hands, with just two drops over the past two seasons.

Chad Reuter, NFL Media: B (average)

From Chad Reuter:

The Giants received a gift with Reese falling into their lap at No. 5; he'll be an excellent pass rusher and run defender, whether he's lined up in the box or on the edge. Trading Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals netted New York the 10th overall pick, which the team used to select Mauigoa, an intense, powerful blocker who could play guard or tackle. Getting the athletic, tough Hood in Round 2 was a bargain. The price to move into position for Fields, however, was steep, requiring the Giants to part with a fourth- and fifth-round pick this year and another fourth-rounder in the potentially strong 2027 NFL Draft. Fields is a big-bodied pass-catcher who made plays for Notre Dame but lacks the suddenness and long speed typically expected from Day 2 receivers.

The Giants spent their fourth- and fifth-round picks for Fields instead of using them to find value on Saturday. Their first Day 3 pick was Jamison-Travis, a nose tackle who could help make up for a slice of what the team lost when trading Lawrence. Davis' shape and movement remind me of starting right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, and I think Kelly is a much better player than his sixth-round status indicates.

Nate Davis, USA TODAY: A

From Nate Davis:

Whether or not OLB Arvell Reese fell to fifth overall, he could eventually develop into this draft’s best overall player and one who justifies the widespread comparisons to Micah Parsons. Perhaps. Maybe. Acquiring the 10th pick from Cincinnati for Pro Bowl DL Dexter Lawrence (and his salary) last weekend, ultimately in exchange for OL Francis Mauigoa – arguably the draft’s best tackle – seems like another win for Big Blue. Getting CB Colton Hood (Round 2) and WR Malachi Fields (Round 3) on Day 2 project as relative value picks. New coach John Harbaugh could have this squad fighting for a playoff return in short order.

Pro Football Focus: A

From PFF:

Reese: Reese doesn’t have much experience working as a traditional edge rusher, but that doesn’t mean he can’t impact the quarterback as a pass rusher, even if he ends up playing primarily off-ball for New York. Reese is a tremendous athlete who plays with physicality, and there’s plenty of room for growth at just 20 years old. This marks back-to-back years in which the Giants have used an early pick on a pass rusher with off-ball experience (Abdul Carter in 2025), providing versatility to their defensive front and pass-rush packages.

Mauigoa: There’s a good chance Mauigoa starts his career on the interior, where the Giants have a more immediate need after bringing back Jermaine Eluemunor at right tackle. However, he provides potential tackle flexibility in case of injury or future roster movement. Mauigoa is a powerful run blocker who is coming off a 2025 season at Miami in which he earned an 87.0 PFF pass-blocking grade at right tackle.

Hood: Hood is a talented but inconsistent young prospect who needs further development. With only one full season as a starter, he may struggle early if tasked with covering NFL receivers right away.

Fields: If Fields attacks the ball in the air with more consistency and urgency, he has a chance to stick on an NFL roster as a big-bodied receiver with reliable blocking and adequate long speed.

Jamison-Travis: Jamison-Travis leverages his stocky build, weight and arm length to be a disruptive run defender, ranking highly in PFF run-defense grade (84.6) and run-stop rate (12.1%) in 2025. However, his limited pass-rush production, combined with minimal special teams experience and his age, creates a narrow path to a roster spot at the next level.

Davis: Davis, a two-year starter at Illinois, has the length to remain at tackle at the next level, though improved recovery in pass protection will be key to earning early playing time. He earned an 82.1 pass-blocking grade at New Mexico in 2023, followed by marks of 73.1 in 2024 and 77.4 in 2025 at Illinois. In his final season, he allowed three sacks, two hits and 13 hurries across 417 pass-blocking snaps, while posting an 86.7 run-blocking grade that highlights his impact in the run game.

Kelly: Kelly’s production is anchored by his pass-rush output, as he generated 128 pressures on 576 pass-rush snaps (22.2% pressure rate) across his career, with at least 28 pressures in each season and career pass-rush grades of 85.7 (2022), 91.1 (2023), 70.1 (2024) and 77.7 (2025). His overall grading profile has remained steady — above 60.0 in all four seasons, including a 68.7 mark in 2025 — with run-defense grades consistently in the mid-60s. At 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, he brings a physical, downhill presence with real juice as a blitzer, translating to disruption when attacking gaps.

Carter Bahns, CBS Sports: A-

From Carter Bahns:

The only team with two top-10 picks came out of the first round a big winner, and it continued its hot start to the draft Friday when it grabbed Colton Hood. Trading into the third round for some necessary receiver help was a nice splash, too.

Defensively, New York's front seven just got even more fearsome. The initial thought with the Reese selection was that the Giants were preparing to trade Kayvon Thibodeaux, but that is not the plan, per ESPN. With both in town, along with the rest of the existing group of defenders, the Giants will be a problem for opposing offenses if they can find a replacement for Dexter Lawrence in the trenches. Maybe Bobby Jamison-Travis (No. 186) can be that guy.

Speaking of the trenches, adding protection for Jaxson Dart in the form of Francis Mauigoa is another tremendous use of a first-round pick. Renner projects him to move inside to one of the guard spots for now, which will also help Cam Skattebo and the running game.

Reuters: A-

From Reuters:

Most believed Arvell Reese of Ohio State would be long gone before the No. 5 pick, where the Giants landed him, five picks before selecting Francis Mauigoa, a powerful tackle at Miami. Based solely on upside and fit, the Giants aced the first round. As the draft chugged ​along, we kept waiting for anything close to a replacement for DT Dexter Lawrence -- traded to the Bengals for the No. 10 pick last week -- to be on the radar.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Experts hand out final grades for New York Giants in 2026 NFL draft