Ranking NY Giants' likeliest targets in 2026 NFL Draft first round
· Yahoo Sports
New York Giants coach John Harbaugh was asked for his evaluation of the talent at the top of the 2026 NFL Draft.
"A lot of good players. A lot of good players," Harbaugh said. "I mean, there's gonna be a great one there at No. 5, I promise you that. It's gonna be a guy that can really help us be better, for sure. That's 100%, for sure."
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All of the pre-draft projections and mock drafts would far more accurate and, in some ways, completely unnecessary if the Giants and the 31 other teams would just send us their boards ahead of time.
That'd be so much easier, wouldn't it?
But other than a few crumbs here and there, as diligently we try to report the goings-on in an attempt to figure out the Giants' plans - and those of their competition - this entire exercise remains an educated guessing game before the April 23 festivities kick off in Pittsburgh.
"Don't let good players stop you from drafting players with the potential to be great," one NFL talent evaluator told NorthJersey.com and The Record when speaking on the topic of positional value and Notre Dame star running back Jeremiyah Love.
With the No. 5 overall pick, the Giants should not necessarily be selecting for need. That should be a cornerstone pick regardless of position, and Harbaugh has indicated such in interviews since he got the job. Having given up their third-round pick in the deal to acquire Jaxson Dart in last year's draft, the Giants face a 68-pick wait between selections on Friday night and Saturday.
If there is a deal that will bring back an asset on Day 2, especially if a trade partner in the first round can be found, the Giants would certainly consider that as well.
Of the options the Giants will have when deciding on their first-round selection, these are the prospects we see stronger in the mix than the rest:
1. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Styles would give Harbaugh his next great inside linebacker, pairing with free agent signee Tremaine Edmunds to strengthen the middle of the Giants' defense. He's a dynamic presence who has gained an edge in the mental game as well. Perhaps the only way he's not a Giant is if he is off the board when Big Blue is on the clock (the Jets, the Cardinals and the Titans are all possibilities).
2. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The 6-foot, 212-pound Love was a weapon for the Fighting Irish last season, finishing with 1,652 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns. He set a Notre Dame football record with two touchdown runs of 90-plus yards, so it came as no surprise that Love stepped onto the field at the Combine and posted 40-yard dash times of 4.36 and 4.37 seconds.
The Giants love their backfield tandem of Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy, as they should. So why would Harbaugh and Big Blue consider drafting Love, willingly re-entering the RB debate that consumed the entire franchise during the Saquon Barkley era?
Because Love is that good. If Styles is gone and Love is there, get your popcorn ready.
3. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The talented safety can do it all on the back end and he's a legit leader from jump. How he'd fit in the secondary isn't the question; given Downs' game-breaking talent, you take him and fit everyone else around him. We know how well Harbaugh's defenses did with Kyle Hamilton as the do-everything playmaker at safety, and Downs could be in that profile from a leadership and processing standpoint. He can play in the nickel as well, offering multi-position versatility and impact.
The only question will be whether the Giants believe Downs has the physical presence to go No. 5, and if they'd consider him more if they move further down in the Top 10.
4. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Tate has met with the Giants on several occasions - no surprise - and yes, he would love the chance to play opposite Malik Nabers, catching passes from Jaxson Dart for coach John Harbaugh in the Big Apple.
At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Tate plays physical and is undaunted by embracing the grind, sometimes over the glamour. He can catch passes at every level while being unafraid to drop his shoulder to gain extra yards. His route running is legit, which enables him to stack defensive backs downfield in coverage.
Tate just turned 21 and his jump from last summer until now has been impressive. It's one of the reasons why the Giants and others still see room for him to grow before he reaches his skill ceiling.
5. Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Reese has been pegged to go No. 2 to the Jets since the Combine, but there has been speculation that he could slide a few spots if Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey go for edge David Bailey of Texas Tech.
If that's the case and Reese is ultimately on the board for the Giants, they'd have to strongly consider him. Sure, his projection may be as an edge player, selecting him might be overkill with Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux - even if Thibodeaux emerges as a trade chip - on the roster.
But Reese has also stood out as an off-ball linebacker, and if the Giants can't get their hands on Styles, it's possible they wind up playing him there and just figuring out the best plan to make all of it work. Talent is talent.
6. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Delane projects as a top shelf cover guy at the next level, and he looked great at the LSU Pro Day. The Giants certainly are not without need on the back end, and it's not outrageous to suggest positional value could bump Delane squarely into their wheelhouse. Not sure if they'd take him at No. 5, but he could enter the picture really quickly if the board falls a certain way.
7. Vega Ioane, G, Penn State
Ioane is not a secret in NFL circles, considered as one of the top offensive line prospects in this class. His movement skills on the interior are exceptional, and he's coming off a final season at Penn State where he did not allow a single sack and only gave up four total pressures, good for a 1.3 percent pressure rate. He's also a force in the run game, both at the point of attack and out in space, using his technique and athleticism to his advantage.
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah referred to Ioane as “a middle-of-the-fairway pick."
If the Giants want to make a significant statement about their interior o-line, the best move would be to just select the top guard in the class, and by a good margin, whether that is at No. 5 or in a trade down scenario: Ioane.
8. Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami
Mauigoa (pronounced Maui-noa) is a talented offensive lineman who could be an asset for any team that takes him. This is my feeling with the Giants, though: do you really want to force an offensive tackle to play offensive guard when there’s debate if he’s even a top 10 player because you have not filled that spot to your liking at this point? The Giants just signed their right tackle, Jermaine Eluemunor, to a three-year contract.
Just four years ago, they drafted an offensive tackle because of need in Evan Neal and he busted, ultimately moving to guard where he is trying to salvage his pro career.
9. Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Lemon met with the Giants both at the Combine and on a "30" visit in East Rutherford. His brash personality reportedly ruffled some feathers during the pre-draft process, but it's unclear how Big Blue views this versatile playmaker who can leverage coverage against both man and zone defenses.
If the Giants trade down to the early teens, Lemon could enter the conversation.
10. Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Did a walk-and-talk with Tyson at the Combine and had to ask him about Cam Skattebo, his teammate at Arizona State.
"Skatt's a dawg, I feel like you all see that," Tyson said with a smile. And he loved his meeting with Giiants. What would it be like to play with Jaxson Dart, Malik Nabers and Skattebo? "Dream team."
Like Lemon, Tyson would be in play if the Giants traded down.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ranking NY Giants prospects in 2026 NFL Draft first round