EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The 2026 NFL draft wrapped up on Saturday after three days in Pittsburgh.
With their first pick, the New York Giants selected Arvell Reese at No. 5 and Francis Mauigoa at No. 10 overall.
Here’s a list of the Giants’ selections and what you need to know about them.
Round 1, No. 5 overall: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
My take: It was surprising that Reese made it to this point. He was in the running for the No. 2 overall pick with the Jets. The Giants needed to add quality players to their defense and Reese fits the bill. The question is going to be how he fits, considering most see him as an edge rusher and the Giants already have Brian Burns and Abdul Carter entrenched as starters.
Key Stat: He lined up all over the field at Ohio State. Reese played 56% of his snaps at outside linebacker, 38% at inside linebacker and 6% at defensive back. This shows the kind of versatility that Reese brings to the Giants’ defense. It fits what they’re trying to do — disguise coverages and make opposing offenses adjust to them rather than the other way around.
Will he start as a rookie? Maybe not. The Giants already have Burns and Carter on the edges. They also have Tremaine Edmunds and Micah McFadden at inside linebacker. I can see the Giants finding unique ways to fit Reese into the mix. It just might not be as an immediate starter. Eventually, they will find a place for him.
0:42
What Arvell Reese brings to the Giants
What Arvell Reese brings to the Giants
My take: The Giants went defense with their first pick when they took Arvell Reese at No. 5. They did their best to support quarterback Jaxson Dart with their second pick, 10th overall, when they grabbed Mauigoa. With both of the top wide receivers off the board, this made some sense. Mauigoa can immediately move inside to right guard, where the Giants don’t currently have a starter. Perhaps he can later slide out to tackle if Andrew Thomas suffers an injury or when Jermaine Eluemunor‘s contract expires. Either way, they get better up front.
Key Stat: Allowed a 1.1% pressure rate at offensive tackle this past season while being named an All-American at Miami. That was third best in the FBS. He allowed only two sacks in 522 plays pass blocking. Clearly, he was a dominant player on the field. Giants general manager Joe Schoen also noted that he stood out while watching the Miami practice film where he went against Reuben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor on a daily basis.
What we’re hearing about Mauigoa: “Great pick,” one NFL assistant said. “All-Pro guard,” multiple evaluators said. That’s the positive. “A little worried,” one executive said, referring to Mauigoa’s back. That is in reference to a herniated disc that could require surgery at some point. The Giants and Mauigoa didn’t think it was a problem at this point. New York noted it’s new head athletic trainer was well informed considering he also came over this offseason from Miami.
Round 2, No. 37: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
My take: The Giants add a cornerback to the mix. This was a major position of need with Paulson Adebo and Greg Newsome II slated as starters. Some around the league thought Hood could be taken in the first round. The 6-foot, 195-pound cornerback fits in a John Harbaugh/Dennard Wilson defense as a physical outside corner willing to tackle and compete for 50/50 balls.
Key Stat: 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.
0:39
What Colton Hood brings to the Giants
What Colton Hood brings to the Giants
Round 3, No. 74: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
My take: The Giants got their weapon for quarterback Jaxson Dart by trading back into the third round. It cost them picks 105 (Round 4) and 145 (Round 5) in this year’s draft and a 2027 fourth-round pick to get Fields. What they get with Fields (6-4, 218) is a big, physical receiver. That is what the Giants were looking for to complement Malik Nabers and vertical deep threats Darius Slayton and Darnell Mooney. He’s the “different body type,” general manager Joe Schoen described. He referred to him as their power forward on the basketball roster.
What we’re hearing about Fields: He 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.”
0:41
What Malachi Fields brings to the Giants
What Malachi Fields brings to the Giants
My take: The Giants needed to address the defensive tackle position with a big body who could help them stop the run, especially after trading Dexter Lawrence II to the Bengals last week. New York allowed a woeful 5.3 yards per carry this past season and has been adamant since the start of the offseason that it would add to the defensive interior. Jamison-Travis is a 328-pound space-clogging nose tackle. He’s considered strong at the point of attack. He fits what the Giants were looking for in their new Baltimore-style defense under coordinator Dennard Wilson.
Round 6, No. 192: J.C. Davis, OL, Illinois
My take: At this point, the Giants saw an offensive lineman they thought had potential and took Davis. There is talent to work with at 6-4, 322, even if Davis was an underachiever at Illinois. He’s the second offensive lineman the Giants grabbed in this draft — the first with Harbaugh as the new coach. Mauigoa was selected fifth overall and is 6-5, 329. Clearly, the Giants have a type. They want bigger, more physical offensive linemen.
Round 6, No. 193: Jack Kelly, LB, BYU
My take: The Giants see Kelly as a versatile player who can play off-ball linebacker and edge. Scouts Inc. called him a “thickly built linebacker” who had 10 sacks this past season at BYU. The Giants also see special teams value in Kelly’s game, which is where he could make an immediate impact.
Kelly was the seventh and final pick of Harbaugh’s first draft class with the Giants, which fit the mold of what he’s been trying to accomplish — becoming bigger and more physical.
