Jason Leach
The New York Giants have received high praise for their 2026 draft class and are viewed as one of the winners of the draft. We’ll have to see how the seven players perform on the field to assess them, but the outlook appears promising for the seven players the Giants selected.
- Avrell Reese, LB, Ohio State (5th overall)
- Francis Mauigoa, OT Miami (10th overall)
- Colton Hood, CB Tennessee (37th overall)
- Malachi Fields, WR Notre Dame (74th overall)
- Bobby Jamison-Travis, DT Auburn (186th overall)
- J.C. Davis, OL Illinois (192nd overall)
- Jack Kelly, LB BYU (193rd overall)
The Giants acquired two day one starters in Reese and Mauigoa, and possibly a third starter in Hood. They also added depth and players who will contribute on special teams.
These players will play a huge part in building the foundation for the John Harbaugh era with Big Blue. Here are our bold predictions on what to expect from each player from the 2026 draft class.
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Avrell Reese
Shortly after taking Avrell Reese with the fifth overall pick, Harbaugh stated that the rookie linebacker will play on the inside. The versatile Reese will show his playmaking ability and make plays sideline to sideline. Not only will Reese lead the Giants in tackles, but he’ll have the most tackles of any rookie, be named to the All-Rookie team, and be voted to the Pro Bowl.
Francis Mauigoa
Despite playing right tackle at the University of Miami, Mauigoa will be the team’s new starting right guard. He will start all 17 games at guard and will help reduce the number of sacks the line gave up in 2025 from 48 to 30 in 2026. He will also be named to the All-Rookie Team.
Colton Hood
Hood will spend the first half of the season in and out of the starting lineup. Then in the second half of the season, he’ll emerge as the full-time starter on the opposite side of Paulson Adebo. He will bring big play ability to the secondary as he will have two pick-sixes on the season.
Malachi Fields
The 6’4, 223-pound Fields is the biggest target in the Giants’ wide receiver room. His playing time will gradually increase as the season progresses, and he’ll become one of Jaxson Dart’s favorite targets in the red zone. Fields scored five receiving touchdowns in each of his final three years in college, and as a rookie, he will also find the end zone five times.
Bobby Jamison-Travis
Jamison-Travis is the only defensive lineman the team took in the draft, so they definitely have plans for him to help the interior defense. His 6’4 322-pound frame allows him to stack blockers so that his teammates can make plays, and he’ll clog rushing lanes. His stats won’t jump off the chart, but he’ll play a huge role in the team improving on their 31st run defense from a season ago.
J.C. Davis
Six-round picks are never locks to make the final roster, but Davis appeared in 47 games during his collegiate career, and the franchise has always coveted players with a ton of experience. He’ll make the final roster and will add depth to the line. The team may convert him from tackle to guard, and he could be used in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Jack Kelly
The Giants’ final pick in the draft could turn out to be the best value pick in the draft. The versatile and aggressive linebacker had 75 tackles, 23.5 tackles for a loss, and 15 sacks in his two seasons at BYU. Defensive coordinator will get Kelly involved in the defensive rotation, but Kelly will also make a huge impact on special teams, as he will lead the Giants in special teams tackles this season.
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