Jason Leach
With the 2026 NFL Draft just weeks away, there’s a ton of anticipation about what the New York Giants will do with the fifth overall pick.
So far this offseason, with the influence of new head coach John Harbaugh, the Giants have been one of the winners in free agency as they’ve made key additions. But the most effective way to build a team is through the draft, and everyone is curious to find out who will be the first pick of the Harbaugh era.
Anytime you select a player with a top-five pick, you expect that player to be in consideration to be voted to the Pro Bowl year in and year out. Many players have been linked to New York in mock drafts. Let’s take a look at five players the NY Giants are most likely to take as we sit a month out from the event.
Sonny Styles
If Harbaugh’s top priority is to build a physical and intimidating defense that can stop the run, then Sonny Styles would be the obvious pick if he’s still on the board. The All-American linebacker began his career at safety before moving to linebacker for his final two seasons at Ohio State.
The 6’5 244-pound linebacker still runs with the quickness of a safety, as he illustrated at the NFL Combine when he ran a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash. For his career, he’s recorded 245 tackles with nine sacks and three forced fumbles.
Although the team signed Tremaine Edmunds to a three-year deal in free agency, that should not deter them from drafting a difference maker like Styles. He would vastly improve their 31st-ranked run defense from a season ago.
Jeremiyah Love
Although New York has Tryone Tracy Jr and Cam Skattebo at the top of their running back depth chart, they have a chance to add the most dynamic and versatile back in this draft in Jeremiyah Love. The All-American back from Notre Dame finished third in the Heisman voting after rushing for 1,372 yards with 18 rushing touchdowns and catching 27 passes for 280 yards with three touchdowns.
Love has the upside to be a top-five back in the NFL, and it would give New York the potential of having the best triplets in the league, with him, Jaxson Dart, and Malik Nabers. The Giants have the fifth-best rushing attack in the league in 2025, but that could surge even higher in 2026 if they draft Love.
Caleb Downs
Caleb Downs played one year at Alabama in 2023, where he had 107 tackles, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. Then he transferred to Ohio State and helped the Buckeyes win a National Championship. In his two seasons at Ohio State, he had 149 tackles, seven pass defenses, four interceptions, and two forced fumbles.
Having excelled in two of the most storied college football programs speaks volumes about the 21-year-old safety and shows that he’s prepared to handle the attention that comes with being a first-round pick of the Giants. Having coached Ed Reed and Brian Dawkins, Harbaugh knows what having a difference maker at safety can bring to a defense.
Carnell Tate
Although they signed Darnell Mooney to a one-year $10 million contract in free agency, they need to acquire another wideout who can form a dynamic duo with Malik Nabers for years to come. Carnell Tate, who many consider the best wideout in this class, is more than a viable option to fill this role.
In his three years at Ohio State, the 6’2, 192-pound Tate had 121 receptions for 1,872 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s a solid route runner with good body control and has built a reputation for being able to come down with contested passes.
Mansoor Delane
When Cor’Dale Flott left via free agency and signed with the Tennessee Titans, it left a huge void at corner for the Giants, as there’s uncertainty as to who will start on the opposite side of Paulson Adebo. Those uncertainties would be immediately erased if they take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.
Delane would be the plug-and-play starting corner that the team desperately needs, and he can smother opposing receivers when he’s in press coverage. Not only does he excel in man coverage, but he’s just as efficient in zone, and he also has good speed to cover speedy wideouts downfield.
Delane spent his first three seasons with Virginia Tech, where he was credited with 16 pass defenses with six interceptions, before transferring to LSU in 2025, where he appeared in 11 games and had 11 pass breakups and two interceptions. The Giants traditionally value players with a ton of playing experience. Since Delane has four years of experience, it would not be a surprise if they make him the newest member of the Giants.
