It will be a long while before we know if the New York Giants’ 2026 NFL Draft will be as successful as it appears at first blush. We do know, though, that there appear to be some immediate and obvious winners and losers. Let’s run through the list.
C’mon down, D.J. Having missed out on an opportunity to select defensive tackle Kayden McDonald in Round 2 — even though the Giants have tried to say that isn’t what they would have done, anyway — the Giants still have a crater-like Dexter Lawrence-sized hole in the middle of their defense.
That means Reader, a veteran free-agent nose tackle, should have a job by 4 p.m. on Monday when free agent signings no longer count against the 207 compensatory pick formula. He should also have a pretty nice contract for a guy signing in late April.
Since coach John Harbaugh decided to give Neal one last chance, there has been some optimistic “what if he’s good and becomes a starting guard?” chatter in the fan base. Well, forget that. The starting guards, barring injury, are Jon Runyan Jr. and 10th overall pick Sisi (yes, I’m going to call him Sisi) Mauigoa.
Neal is going to have a hard time making the roster and, if and when the Giants cut him, might have a hard time finding an NFL job. Faalele is a loser because he goes from starter to backup — again, barring injury. Ezeudu, like Neal, is going to have a hard time earning a spot on the 53-man roster.
This affable giant got drafted No. 10 overall, got a big shout out from The Rock for his representation of Samoan culture on draft night, and made a big fan in Jaxson Dart after Mauigoa’s “die for this s—-” quote.
The Giants’ 2022 No. 5 overall pick has not been traded. The Giants keep insisting they are not trying to trade him, though the Internet and NFL insiders apparently don’t believe them.
Thibodeaux, though, keeps getting pushed down the pecking order. First, it was Abdul Carter at No. 3 in the draft a year ago. Now, it is Arvell Reese this year at No. 5.
Traded or not, it is becoming clear there is an an expiration date on Thibodeaux’s time with the Giants. He can be a free agent after the 2026 season, and unless Thibodeaux has the best season of his career in 2026 it is hard to imagine the Giants getting into a bidding war to keep him.
The second-year quarterback did not get a wide receiver in the top 10 of the draft. He did get a starting guard who said he would be willing to die to protect him. He also got a 6-4, 218-pound wide receiver Giants fans immediately began comparing to ex-Giant Hakeem Nicks. Guys like Fields, who specialize in the contested catch downfield, make quarterbacks look better.
You don’t really think Harbaugh wants to see Banks starting games at cornerback, do you? Colton Hood was drafted to ensure that doesn’t happen
The Giants’ 2022 fifth-round pick has lost three times now since the beginning of the 2025 season. He lost the first time because a Week 1 foot injury robbed him of his season and a chance to earn a lucrative free agent contract.
He loses again with the selection of Reese. McFadden signed a one-year “prove-it” contract to return to the Giants. Now, he will be a backup linebacker and special teamer. That’s no way to earn a free-agent pay day. He might lose a roster spot entirely with the sixth-round selection of linebacker/special teamer Jack Kelly.
The Giants’ defensive coordinator got two shiny new toys to play with in Reese and Hood in the team’s first two picks.
The Giants passed on two chances to select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. So, both Holland and Nubin still have starting jobs.