Andrew Buller-Russ
On April 23, the New York Giants won’t have to wait long to make their first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Selecting fifth overall, the Giants are in line to land a top talent. They may even land a superstar who quickly becomes a franchise cornerstone.
Many draft projections have the Giants targeting a defender such as Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, or Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. Of course, a trade is always a possibility too.
Of that trio, Styles and Love are projected to be top-five picks. Yet, some wonder if the Giants would really spend such a premium pick on a linebacker, safety, or running back, especially after the team has invested so much into the safety position. The same could be said about RB after using a fourth-round pick on standout star Cam Skattebo last year.
Nevertheless, Giants general manager Joe Schoen certainly seems open to the idea of selecting Love with the fifth overall pick. In fact, he raved about the Notre Dame superstar, calling him an “offensive weapon” rather than simply a running back.
“He’s an offensive weapon,” Schoen said. “He’s not just a running back. He can play on third down, you can split him out. He can catch the ball. Certainly an offensive weapon.”
Schoen also added that the Giants “like our running back room,” yet it sure sounds like New York is keeping their options open to selecting the best player available, which undoubtedly is Love. If he’s even still up for grabs by the time the Giants are on the clock at five.
Related: 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Trades Take Over First Round of NFL Draft
