The New York Giants navigated their first NFL draft under a new management structure with surprising smoothness—but it almost wasn't the case. General Manager Joe Schoen and first-year head coach John Harbaugh collaborated effectively to select seven players aligned with the team's revamped vision. However, that harmony might have shattered if Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love had remained on the board when the Giants picked at No. 5 overall.

According to veteran NFL reporter Ralph Vacchiano, the organization was deeply divided over whether to select Love at that spot. The Giants were thrilled when edge rusher Arvell Reese fell to them at No. 5—they expected him to go in the top four, partly because Schoen revealed Reese was the top-rated non-quarterback on their draft board. But here's the twist: Love, who went to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3, received "basically the same grade" as Reese, per a team source. That's the kind of internal split that can spark heated draft-room debates.

So what would have happened if both Reese and Love were available at pick No. 5? We may never know, but the pre-draft discussions were reportedly fascinating. Love, a dynamic running back from Notre Dame, had strong advocates within the Giants' war room—enough to create a potential clash with those favoring Reese. The Cardinals' decision to snag Love at No. 3 saved the Giants from having to make that tough call, allowing them to land Reese without controversy. For Giants fans, it's a reminder that sometimes the best draft moves are the ones you don't have to make.