The New York Giants return from their bye week to face their division rival, the Washington Commanders, in Week 15. Although the Giants did not play last week, victories by the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints have positioned New York to hold the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Field Yates of ESPN featured a bold trade-back scenario for the Giants in his latest mock draft. In this projection, New York executes a rare deal with crosstown rival the New York Jets, acquiring the Jets’ two 2026 first-round picks (projected at Nos. 7 and 18) and a Day 2 selection.

In exchange, New York sends the top pick to the Jets, who select Heisman finalist Fernando Mendoza from Indiana.

The Giants drafted their quarterback of the future in Jaxson Dart and a building-block pass rusher in Abdul Carter this year, making this a scenario where they would likely field offers to move down if they do end up with the No. 1 pick. The Jets, meanwhile, can make an aggressive move up for a QB; Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor and now Brady Cook haven’t stabilized their quarterback situation. The Jets are equipped with more premium draft picks than any other team after their deadline dealings.

In this mock draft trade, the Jets would send both of their first-round picks (Nos. 7 and 18) and a Day 2 pick to the Giants for the top selection.

The Giants would be prudent to consider trading back from the top spot. That said, some analysts contend that New York could extract greater value for the No. 1 pick — particularly if dealing with the Jets, who already possess five first-round selections across the 2026 and 2027 drafts.

Following the trade in Yates’ mock, the Giants target a wide receiver at No. 7, and a cornerback at No. 18. Both choices align well with New York’s needs, as key contributors at those positions face free agency in the coming offseason.

First up:

7. New York Giants (via projected trade with 3-10 NYJ)

Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State*

After trading down from No. 1 in this mock draft, the Giants can hammer away at their needs — and one of them is more playmakers for Dart. The Giants struggled to piece things together on offense without Malik Nabers (torn ACL) for much of this season, and top fill-in receiver Wan’Dale Robinson will be a free agent in March. Tyson brings a package of size, versatility and explosiveness that would pair great next to Nabers. When the ball is in Tyson’s hands, he is tenacious and flexes excellent acceleration. His production dipped this season (711 receiving yards, down from 1,101 in 2024), but he missed three games with a hamstring injury and was without starting quarterback Sam Leavitt for all of November.

Followed by:

18. New York Giants (via projected trade with 3-10 NYJ)

Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson*

After our projected trade, the Giants get their second chance to hammer away at needs by addressing cornerback, where Deonte Banks has struggled this season and Cor’Dale Flott will be a free agent. The younger brother of Falcons star cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr., Avieon has some big-time game of his own. He’s on the smaller side at 5-11 and 180 pounds, but he makes up for it with excellent quickness to trigger back to the ball in coverage. He’s also a very capable blitzer and disruptor, recording 3.0 sacks and five forced fumbles this season. The Giants are giving up the ninth-most passing yards per game this season (231.5).

Although much remains to be decided over the final four games, the Giants could feasibly pivot to a trade-back strategy if they secure a top-five pick. New York is currently an unlikely candidate for the No. 1 selection, and with the easiest remaining schedule of the season ahead — featuring more favorable matchups over the next three weeks than at any point this year — the Giants could quickly slip out of the top five with a handful of victories.

Securing the top pick, especially with the quarterback position addressed by the rise of Jaxson Dart, represents the ideal outcome for a Giants franchise in search of a new head coach and potentially a new general manager.