Giants 7-round mock draft: Complete blueprint for New York to become contender

The 2026 NFL Draft will take place this Thursday and after months of rumors and speculation, we'll finally have answers for what the New York Giants will do.

The Giants have a total of eight picks over the course of the three-day event, with at least one in each round except for the third and seventh. New York has two picks in the first round thanks to the Dexter Lawrence trade, and then two in the fifth round.

If head coach John Harbaugh wants to get the Giants back to the playoffs in his first year after a three-year drought, Big Blue must crush the draft in order to accomplish that feat.

Ahead of the all-important 2026 NFL Draft, we're taking a swing on a seven-round mock draft for the Giants that we consider the blueprint to getting New York back to the playoffs, and back to contention.

Giants 7-round mock draft

Round 1, Pick 5: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

Any potential knock on this pick will come from the positional value argument, but the Giants would still be getting one of the very best players in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Downs is the complete package. The Ohio State product possesses elite athleticism, instincts and football IQ, and he offers plenty of versatility with his ability to play box and free safety, and in the slot.

In Downs, the Giants would have top-notch player and leader for the next decade.

Round 1, Pick 10: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

There is no doubt risk involved with taking Tyson, but he is also clearly the best wide receiver in this year's class and New York needs another weapon for Jaxson Dart, as putting him in the best position possible to succeed is paramount.

Tyson is a polished route-runner who can make plays all over the field and would give the Giants and Dart the potential to have an elite one-two punch at receiver when combined with Malik Nabers.

Round 2, Pick 37: CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State

While the Giants have Paulson Adebo on one side of the defense, Big Blue doesn't have a locked-in starter across from him. Johnson takes care of that.

The San Diego State product has been one of the biggest risers during the pre-draft process, and so much so he has been considered a potential first-round pick, which could make him a total steal here. Johnson's combination of athleticism, coverage skills and versatility make him a no-brainer pick in this spot.

Round 4, Pick 105: DT Darrell Jackson, Florida State

The Giants were already in rough shape along the defensive line before trading away Dexter Lawrence, but the three-time Pro Bowler's departure makes things worse. Even if the Giants draft someone, they should still sign a veteran.

Jackson isn't going to offer the kind of pass-rush prowess Lawrence did, but few on this planet can. However, Jackson is a space-eater and has shown enough promise to believe he can be an elite run defender at the next level.

Round 5, Pick 145: OG/OT Fa'alili Fa'amoe, Wake Forest

The Giants still have a hole at guard after not re-signing Greg Van Roten, and there are injury concerns with Andrew Thomas, so more help is needed at both spots. 

New York could very well take a swing on a guard or tackle earlier than this, but if not they might be able to add depth at both spots with Fa'amoe, who played right tackle in college but could slide into guard in the NFL.

Round 6, Pick 186: LB Jack Kelly, BYU

The Giants have a solid one-two punch at linebacker in Tremaine Edmunds and Micah McFadden, which should be sufficient for another season. That said, the Giants would be wise to add more depth.

Kelly was very productive at BYU, with 15 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss the past two seasons. He offers plus athleticism (4.57 speed) and is an asset against the run and when asked to blitz. He offers added value as a potential special teams contributor.

Round 6, Pick 192: OT Carver Willis, Washington

There is no such thing as too much offensive line help, so the Giants take another late-round swing on the position.

Willis, who excels in run-blocking, was a tackle in college, but many believe he'll transition to guard at the next level. Regardless, he offers a versatile option for the Giants' bench. 

Round 6, Pick 193: EDGE Vincent Anthony Jr., Duke

It wouldn't hurt to take a swing on a development EDGE in the later rounds to add more depth, especially with the chance that the Giants trade Kayvon Thibodeaux at some point before the trade deadline in November.

And, if you're going to take a late-round swing on an edge rusher, it's better to do so on one who at least enjoyed some semblance of production in college. Anthony had 7.5 sacks in 2025, and 12.5 in the past two years combined. He could factor in on special teams, also.

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