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NFL insider on New York Giants' draft plans: 'All is on the table'
TL;DR
As the 2026 NFL draft approaches, the New York Giants hold the fifth overall pick and are considering various options. With top prospects like Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and pass rushers Arvell Reese and David Bailey likely off the board, the Giants' strategy remains uncertain.
NFL insider on New York Giants' draft plans: 'All is on the table'
With the 2026 NFL draft just over a week away, there is still much speculation over who the New York Giants will select with the fifth overall selection.
The first pick in the draft, which will be made by the Las Vegas Raiders, will almost certainly be Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The New York Jets, picking second, are leaning towards a pass rusher, either Ohio State's Arvell Reese or David Bailey of Texas Tech.
The next two selections are held by the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans, respectively. Here is where the draft can take an unexpected turn. The Giants will have to wait to see who falls to them.
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In the meantime, Giants fans are left wondering who their team will end up with next Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
"I'm literally taking a bite of my salad, and the guy's demanding who the Giants are picking at No 5," NFL insider Adam Schefter said on his podcast of an encounter with a Giants fan at a restaurant. "So I figured rather than having any more dinners and lunches interrupted in my next eight days in New York until I go to Pittsburgh, I figured we could talk about it here.
"And that way, when people go to interrupt me again, I can just say, ' Go listen to the Adam Schefter podcast.' "The answer is on there, right? Like, it's unbelievable. I can't believe how aggressive these Giants fans have been trying to figure out who their team is taking at No 5."
Schefter then revealed what he sees the Giants doing at No. 5.
"What I would say is this: John Harbaugh is going to be looking to set a tone. This is the first pick that he makes as the Giants head coach," Schefter said. "So you're looking to draft somebody that's an extension of you, that's representative of what you believe in, the values you espouse, and what your organization— what you want it to be. Yes, people are going to keep bringing up Jeremiah Love. His name will keep coming up. I understand it. People believe he's the best player in this draft.
"I am skeptical that Jeremiah Love is going to be the pick there. They could go offensive line. Francis Maiugoa is regarded as the top offensive lineman in this draft. He went back to Indianapolis last week for a medical recheck on that disc, which is not an overly worrisome issue to teams, but it is something that is there.
"So we'll see. I think my own sense reading between the lines is that it's going to be an Ohio State defensive player, whether that's going to be Sonny Styles or whether that's going to be Caleb Downs. Both players, I believe, would be just what Jon Harbaugh is looking for in his very first pick as the Giants head coach.
Downs makes a ton of sense, but that would mean the Giants are bucking a trend. Only three safeties have been selected in the top 10 in the draft since 2010 -- Eric Berry in 2010, Mark Barron in 2012, and Jamal Adams in 2017. Only Berry was taken in the top 5.
That points to the Giants likely scooping up Styles at No. 5 and not looking back. Harbaugh always had a solid inside linebacker on his roster during his days with the Baltimore Ravens (Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, C.J. Mosely, Patrick Queen, Roquan Smith), and though the Giants signed Tremaine Edmunds in free agency last month, they are looking for more.
Schefter added that the Giants passing on Downs and Love would likely be teeing them up for NFC East division rival Washington, who hold the seventh pick. They'll be reminded twice every season of what could have been.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: NFL insider on New York Giants' draft plans: 'All is on the table'
Q&A
Who are the top prospects for the 2026 NFL draft?
The top prospects include Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, pass rushers Arvell Reese from Ohio State, and David Bailey from Texas Tech.
What position are the New York Giants likely to draft in 2026?
The New York Giants have not specified a position but are considering all options with their fifth overall pick.
Which teams have the first four picks in the 2026 NFL draft?
The Las Vegas Raiders have the first pick, followed by the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and Tennessee Titans.
What impact will the first four picks have on the Giants' draft strategy?
The Giants' draft strategy will depend on which players are still available after the first four selections, potentially influencing their choice.
