Jason Leach
After trading Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals, the New York Giants now hold the fifth and 10th overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Before the Lawrence trade, mock drafts varied widely on who the Giants would take with the fifth pick. Now that they hold two of the top 10 picks, they have a good chance of drafting two players who have been linked to them.
Anything can happen in the NFL Draft, especially this year as there are six teams, including the Giants, who have two first-round picks. Here are three bold predictions for Big Blue for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Related: 2026 New York Giants Mock Draft, From No. 5 to 193
Giants Draft Ohio State Superstars Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs
There’s been a debate over the last few months on who New York should take with their first pick. The players who have been discussed the most are Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State Buckeyes All-Americans Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs.
Unfortunately for New York, Love won’t be on the board as the Tennessee Titans will take him with the fourth overall pick. So, with the fifth overall pick and first pick of the John Harbaugh era, New York will take Styles with the fifth pick.
With the addition of Styles, the Giants have the best interior linebacker in the draft, and then they’ll run into some good luck as Downs will still be on the board at 10, which will allow them to draft the best safety in the draft.
Getting the best player at two positions will pay huge dividends to a struggling defense for years to come. Styles and Downs played pivotal roles in the Buckeyes winning the National Championship in 2024, and Giants fans are hopeful that they’ll help bring the franchise’s fifth Lombardi Trophy someday.
Related: Evaluating New York Giants’ Options With No. 10 Pick in 2026 NFL Draft
Giants Find Dexter Lawrence’s Replacement in Kayden McDonald
With the departure of Lawrence, Big Blue will need to address the defensive tackle position as they are very thin at the position. Their luck of players falling to them will continue as Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald will fall to them with the 37th overall pick.
Some feel that McDonald could be taken late in round one, while others feel that since he only had one-year as a full-time starter, he could slip into round two. In his final year with the Buckeyes. The 6’2, 326-pound defensive lineman had 65 tackles, with three sacks, and was named Unanimous All-American.
He’ll be the third consecutive Buckeye the Giants will draft, but more importantly, he’ll be the replacement for Lawrence.
Related: 5 NY Giants Options With 37th Pick in 2026 NFL Draft, Including Chris Johnson
Giants Trade Kayvon Thibodeaux on Day Two of the NFL Draft
With Kayvon Thibodeaux entering the final year of his contract, the 25-year-old edge rusher has been the subject of trade rumors since the conclusion of the 2025 season. The Giants are set at edge rusher with Second-Team All-Pro Brian Burns and second-year player Abdul Carter.
New York does not have a third-round pick, and with several positions they need to address, the team will be actively seeking to acquire more picks. Thibodeaux is the ideal candidate to be traded during the three days of the draft, as the franchise does not have plans for him beyond 2026, and other teams could always use a quality edge rusher.
By trading Thibodeaux for a mid-round pick, the team could look to acquire a wide receiver such as Indiana’s Elijah Sarratt or Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields. Or the team can look to address the interior offensive line with Kentucky’s Jalen Farmer, or take a corner such as South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse, or Ohio State’s Davison Igbinosun.
The Giants are building for 2026 and beyond, and to trade away a pass rusher on the final year of his deal for a player who can help the team for years to come makes a ton of sense.
Related: 3 New York Giants Who May Get Traded During The 2026 NFL Draft
