No black and Big Blues here, according to New York Giants coach John Harbaugh.
During the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers offered some critiques of New York's first pick, Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, who was taken with the No. 5 overall selection.
On a draft watch-along video, Nabers questioned where Reese was going to play along the Giants' defensive front, who last year drafted Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter with the No. 5 pick, as well as rostering star pass rusher Brian Burns and 2022 first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Harbaugh brushed off Nabers' criticisms, saying the two had a "great conversation" the following morning, and the coach detailed how he plans to use Reese.
"We don't get too worried about stuff," Harbaugh said. "As long as the person's heart is in the right place, as long as the person really cares, the player, coach, or anybody, you really want what's best for anybody, you've got a good heart, in a good place, then say what you think, put it out there. ...
"And so: Malik wants to know how we're gonna use our first-round pick? I want to show him. I want to explain it to him. And the fact that he says it publicly? Who cares?"
John Harbaugh on Malik Nabers’ draft analysis of the Giants’ picks in Round 1: Speak your mind, but let me show you pic.twitter.com/32vLKiBnQY
The Ohio State product was considered to be one of the top options in the draft, though his ceiling as a top-tier pass rusher is murky. Not exclusively used as an edge rusher in college, Reese projects to play off-ball linebacker with the Giants, according to Harbaugh.
The Giants had two first-round selections this year, and even more fortunate is that both picks fell inside the top 10. Reese was selected at No. 5, while Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa was taken with the No. 10 selection.
Harbaugh added that Nabers was the first in the building to greet Reese upon his arrival in East Rutherford. For now, Nabers will have to wait and see how the rookie will acclimate and dominate at the next level.
"I know we've got a great vision for him," Harbaugh said. ... "Maybe that's hard for people to see, but you'll see soon enough."
2026: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana - Las Vegas Raiders2025: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Fla.) - Tennessee Titans2024: Caleb Williams, QB, USC - Chicago Bears2023: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama - Carolina Panthers2022: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia - Jacksonville Jaguars2021: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson - Jacksonville Jaguars2020: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU - Cincinnati Bengals2019: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma - Arizona Cardinals2018: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma - Cleveland Browns2017: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M - Cleveland Browns2016: Jared Goff, QB, Cal - Los Angeles Rams2015: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State - Tampa Bay Buccaneers2014: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina - Houston Texans2009: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia - Detroit Lions2008: Jake Long, OT, Michigan - Miami Dolphins2007: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU - Oakland Raiders2004: Eli Manning, QB, Ole Miss - San Diego Chargers (traded to New York Giants)2003: Carson Palmer, QB, USC - Cincinnati Bengals2002: David Carr, QB, Fresno State - Houston Texans2001: Michael Vick, QB, Virginia Tech - Atlanta Falcons2000: Courtney Brown, DE, Penn State - Cleveland Browns1999: Tim Couch, QB, Kentucky - Cleveland Browns1998: Peyton Manning, QB, Tennessee - Indianapolis Colts1997: Orlando Pace, OT, Ohio State - St. Louis Rams1996: Keyshawn Johnson, WR, USC - New York Jets1995: Ki-Jana Carter, RB, Penn State - Cincinnati Bengals1994: Dan Wilkinson, DT, Ohio State - Cincinnati Bengals1992: Steve Emtman, DT, Washington - Indianapolis Colts1991: Russell Maryland, DT, Miami - Dallas Cowboys1990: Jeff George, QB, Illinois - Indianapolis Colts1989: Troy Aikman, QB, UCLA - Dallas Cowboys1988: Aundray Bruce, LB, Auburn - Atlanta Falcons1987: Vinny Testaverde, QB, Miami - Tampa Bay Buccaneers1986: Bo Jackson, RB, Auburn - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (did not sign, later joined Los Angeles Raiders)1985: Bruce Smith, DE, Virginia Tech - Buffalo Bills1984: Irving Fryar, WR, Nebraska - New England Patriots1983: John Elway, QB, Stanford - Baltimore Colts (traded to Denver Broncos)
1 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832026: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana - Las Vegas Raiders1 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832026: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana - Las Vegas Raiders2 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832025: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Fla.) - Tennessee Titans3 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832024: Caleb Williams, QB, USC - Chicago Bears4 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832023: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama - Carolina Panthers5 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832022: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia - Jacksonville Jaguars6 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832021: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson - Jacksonville Jaguars7 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832020: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU - Cincinnati Bengals8 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832019: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma - Arizona Cardinals9 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832018: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma - Cleveland Browns10 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832017: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M - Cleveland Browns11 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832016: Jared Goff, QB, Cal - Los Angeles Rams12 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832015: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State - Tampa Bay Buccaneers13 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832014: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina - Houston Texans14 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832009: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia - Detroit Lions15 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832008: Jake Long, OT, Michigan - Miami Dolphins16 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832007: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU - Oakland Raiders17 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832004: Eli Manning, QB, Ole Miss - San Diego Chargers (traded to New York Giants)18 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832003: Carson Palmer, QB, USC - Cincinnati Bengals19 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832002: David Carr, QB, Fresno State - Houston Texans20 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832001: Michael Vick, QB, Virginia Tech - Atlanta Falcons21 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19832000: Courtney Brown, DE, Penn State - Cleveland Browns22 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831999: Tim Couch, QB, Kentucky - Cleveland Browns23 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831998: Peyton Manning, QB, Tennessee - Indianapolis Colts24 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831997: Orlando Pace, OT, Ohio State - St. Louis Rams25 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831996: Keyshawn Johnson, WR, USC - New York Jets26 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831995: Ki-Jana Carter, RB, Penn State - Cincinnati Bengals27 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831994: Dan Wilkinson, DT, Ohio State - Cincinnati Bengals28 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831992: Steve Emtman, DT, Washington - Indianapolis Colts29 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831991: Russell Maryland, DT, Miami - Dallas Cowboys30 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831990: Jeff George, QB, Illinois - Indianapolis Colts31 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831989: Troy Aikman, QB, UCLA - Dallas Cowboys32 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831988: Aundray Bruce, LB, Auburn - Atlanta Falcons33 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831987: Vinny Testaverde, QB, Miami - Tampa Bay Buccaneers34 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831986: Bo Jackson, RB, Auburn - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (did not sign, later joined Los Angeles Raiders)35 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831985: Bruce Smith, DE, Virginia Tech - Buffalo Bills36 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831984: Irving Fryar, WR, Nebraska - New England Patriots37 / 37No. 1 NFL draft picks since 19831983: John Elway, QB, Stanford - Baltimore Colts (traded to Denver Broncos)
Arguably the player with the most unrealized upside in this draft. Reese split time playing off the ball and rushing the passer for the Buckeyes, hence the inevitable Micah Parsons comparisons he constantly garners. Reese, who turns 21 in August, has plenty of time to develop into a full-time pass rusher and maybe justify the comp one day. He had 6½ sacks season in a part-time role coming off the edge. It will be interesting to see if the Giants opt for a mixed-use division of his responsibilities or allow him to focus on hunting quarterbacks. With OLB Brian Burns already in house and Abdul Carter arriving via the No. 3 pick last year, worth wondering if New York will soon ship Kayvon Thibodeaux elsewhere. — Nate Davis
Round 1, Pick 10 (from Bengals): OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)
While the mauling Mauigoa was purely a right tackle the past three seasons for the Hurricanes, he’s the kind of tone-setter any offense would want – and the Giants will probably want him to play guard initially with veterans Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor projected to be the starting tackles in New York. Mauigoa comes in the wake of the Giants' weekend trade of Pro Bowl DT Dexter Lawrence and should help safeguard second-year QB Jaxson Dart, who was hurt too often as a rookie ... though his blocking wasn't always the devil-may-care passer's issue. And Mauigoa will most surely clear his share of running lanes with RB Cam Skattebo in tow in 2026. — Nate Davis
Their strong draft continues with the selection of a second-team All-SEC performer. He's big enough (6-3, 193) and only surrendered one TD in three college seasons. A physical player who will take on running backs, he's probably best deployed in man coverage. — Nate Davis
Round 3, Pick 74 (from Chiefs via Browns): WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
A 4.61 40 at the scouting combine clearly hurt him. But a 6-5, 218-pound frame should serve QB Jaxson Dart well given how well Fields played in 2025 and at the Senior Bowl. His big catch radius helps explain 15 TD grabs since 2023. — Nate Davis
Round 6, Pick 192 (from Dolphins): OL J.C. Davis, Illinois