Giants news, 4/26: Giants draft class complete, UDFA signings

Other Giant observations

4 Teams That Are Quietly Crushing the 2026 NFL Draft | SI.com

The New York Giants entered the NFL Draft with an abundance of capital at their disposal and they’ve taken full advantage. They landed Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa at Nos. 5 and 10 overall. The value can be fairly questioned, given the Giants allegedly plan to play Reese at off-ball linebacker and Mauigoa at guard, but there’s no denying they’ve added two elite talents to the roster.

Getting cornerback Colton Hood at No. 37 overall should replace Cor’Dale Flott in the lineup. Hood was a fringe first-round prospect who represented excellent value in Round 2. We had mixed feelings about wide receiver Malachi Fields with the 74th pick, but his size and vertical ability could pay dividends in an offense that needed another wideout.

Greg Cosell compares Malachi Fields to Michael Thomas

New York Giants 2026 NFL draft picks: Selection analysis | ESPN.com

Hood had 72 pass attempts against as the primary defender in FBS without allowing a touchdown since 2023. That tied for second among all defenders, trailing only Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes. That includes Hood’s time at Auburn, Colorado and Tennessee, where he was a third-team All-SEC selection this past season. It shows how difficult it was to beat Hood throughout his college career because of his sticky coverage.

Fields ran the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds at the NFL combine. That left questions about his speed and ability to create separation at the NFL level. But the Giants believe he plays faster. Coach John Harbaugh says the GPS trackers had him consistently running 21 miles per hour during games. That combined with Fields’ impressive catch radius made him a player the Giants “coveted.”

NFL Draft roundtable: Giants and Browns add talent, Broncos have work to do | The Athletic

Which team’s class intrigues you the most through the draft’s first two days?

Ted Nguyen: The New York Giants added a lot of good players that fit the mold of what John Harbaugh is looking for in terms of tenacity. They said Ohio State’s Arvell Reese will play inside linebacker with Abdul Carter and Brian Burns playing edge. I like that Reese won’t play full-time edge, and it’ll be interesting to see how defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson deploys him in pressure schemes. Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa solidifies their line. He can play inside and eventually kick to right tackle. Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood adds a physical presence on their secondary. Notre Dame wideout Malachi Fields is one of the best contested-catch receivers in the class and should give Jaxson Dart a big back-shoulder-fade partner to throw to.

NFL Draft 2026 Day 2 Grades for Every Pick | Bleacher Report

37. New York Giants: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee. Hood has enormous potential, but he’s far from a polished prospect. The two-time transfer will be 21 for the entirety of his rookie season. At his best, he shows excellent man-coverage capabilities. Too often, he’ll also show poor technique and instincts, thus surrendering easy targets. He’ll enter his new situation with starter upside, but he needs time to develop and not quickly become a liability against NFL route-runners. Grade: C

74. New York Giants: WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame. The all-star circuit can be hugely beneficial for a prospect. Case in point, Fields never became a dominant target during his time with the Fighting Irish. However, he was arguably the best player on the field during Senior Bowl week. Fields showed big play ability by overwhelming defenders with his size and body control. The near-6’5″, 218-pound target may not be the most explosive option, but he is more fluid in and out of his routes than his size indicates. Grade: B

Grading the Giants’ Day 2 picks from the 2026 NFL Draft, including Colton Hood | SNY.tv

Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee. Corner was less discussed, but still a major need for the Giants entering the NFL Draft. Hood was among the draft’s risers. It’s somewhat surprising he was there in the second round. The Giants could have addressed the interior of their defensive line, but Kayden McDonald went one pick before. In Hood, the Giants get a physical, press-man guy with good ball skills. GRADE: B+

Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame. Fields is big (6-foot-4), physical, contested catch maestro. His catch radius is different than what New York has in the room now. He was particularly impressive at the Senior Bowl, where general manager Joe Schoen said scouts told him he was the “best” receiver there. The one concern here is what the Giants had to give up to go get him. No. 104 and 145 are fine; it’s the 2027 fourth-round pick that’s noteworthy. That class is supposed to be superb. Most teams are taking all picks in that class off the table when it comes to trades. For the Giants to give one of those selections up … it’s not ideal. GRADE: C+

A BaldyBreakdown on Arvell Reese

Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa more than a pleasant Giants draft surprise for John Harbaugh | New York Post

Harbaugh in 18 years with the Ravens never had the luxury of two top-10 picks in any draft. Heck, he had only one top-10 pick — No. 6 in 2016 — so he can be excused for seeming a bit giddy after these two selections were in the books. These two players are now officially the first draft picks for the Harbaugh Giants. He demanded strength down the middle in Baltimore and knew he needed it to establish his culture with his new franchise.

“It’s two picks that strengthen us down the middle,’’ he said. “Down the middle of our offense, down the middle of our defense. These are two, these are great players, these are two top-five players in this draft, in our opinion. You couldn’t do any better.’’

How John Harbaugh put his draft stamp on Giants, with Eagles in crosshairs | NJ.com

Bottom line: Harbaugh has not wavered from his plan to turn these Giants into fighters, coming off a 7-27 record the past two seasons.

Harbaugh has long since made something else clear, too: His mission is grander than just winning eight or nine games in a season instead of three or four. He wants to dethrone the Eagles in the NFC East. And every decision Harbaugh mapped out this offseason aimed toward accomplishing that lofty goal.

Giants will decide on Deonte Banks’ fifth-year option after the draft | USAToday.com

The projected fifth-year option for Banks in 2027 is $12.633 million, fully guaranteed if the Giants choose to exercise it. For a player who has basically busted and has been relegated to backup duty at corner and a returner on special teams, the Giants have no other recourse but to decline.

“We’re going to talk about that early next week,” Giants general manager Joe Schoen said when probed about Banks’ option on Friday night.

Around the league

Jonathan Greenard trade: Eagles acquire Vikings edge rusher and sign him to contract extension | Bleeding Green Nation

Dallas sends fifth-round pick for LB Dee Winters to fill key need | CBSSports.com

The Micah Parsons trade results are in; here is the full breakdown | Blogging the Boys

Sean McVay says he’s thrilled, not mad, about Rams’ stunning draft selection of Ty Simpson | NFL.com

Texans DT Kayden McDonald: I’m gonna show I’m the best player in this class | Pro Football Talk

Jermod McCoy falls to Raiders in Round 4 of NFL draft | ESPN.com

Raiders trade Tyree Wilson to Saints to draft Arizona S Dalton Johnson in fifth round | The Athletic

Raiders trade former first-round pick Tyree Wilson to Saints | NFL.com

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