In PFF’s latest mock draft, the Giants are projected to make a pick that won’t light up social media — but might quietly fix the biggest problem that’s haunted this franchise for years.

At No. 5 overall, New York is slated to select Spencer Fano, the Outland Trophy winner from the Utah Utes. It’s the kind of selection that says roster construction over excitement — and it directly ties into a looming offseason decision involving Jermaine Eluemunor.

This projection forces Giants fans to wrestle with two realities at once: the practical need in front of them, and the playmakers they might pass up.

A Plug-and-Play Tackle as Eluemunor’s Future Clouds

The Giants’ right tackle spot is quietly one of the biggest question marks on the roster.

Eluemunor is set to hit free agency, and while he provided stability, he was never viewed as a long-term cornerstone. If he walks, the Giants are staring at a vacancy on the edge of the offensive line — and for a team trying to properly evaluate and develop its quarterback, that’s a dangerous place to be.

At Utah, Fano built a reputation as one of the most technically refined linemen in college football. His pass sets are polished, his footwork balanced, and he consistently shows the ability to mirror edge rushers without overextending. He finished the 2025 season with an 84.0 overall PFF grade, allowing zero sacks and zero hits on 382 pass-blocking snaps.

In the run game, he moves with the kind of athletic ease that allows him to climb to the second level and erase defenders in space. Fano helped anchor a Utah offensive line that blocked for the top running game in the power conferences with an average of 269.8 yards per game. He also projects as an immediate NFL starter rather than a developmental traits prospect.

PFF’s Max Chadwick explains the selection, saying, “Developing and protecting quarterback Jaxson Dart should be a top priority for new head coach John Harbaugh. Fano produced a position-best 92.0 PFF overall grade over the past two seasons and would slot in seamlessly as the Giants’ right tackle opposite of Andrew Thomas.”

Pairing Fano at right tackle with Andrew Thomas on the left would give the Giants bookend tackles under 26 years old — a luxury most franchises spend a decade trying to find. For a team that has cycled through offensive line combinations year after year, this is the type of pick that ends that conversation for good.

The Flip Side: Passing on a Game-Changer at WR or Defense

Of course, picking an offensive tackle at No. 5 means passing on something far more exciting on the board, which could rub even the more knowledgeable Giants fans the wrong way.

At that spot in this class, New York would likely have access to a true downfield threat opposite Malik Nabers, a premier edge rusher or linebacker to pair with their current pass rush, or a shutdown corner or safety capable of transforming the secondary.

Some of the more popular mock drafts have New York selecting star receivers in Carnell Tate or Jordyn Tyson to pair with Nabers. Others picture Caleb Downs anchoring the Giants’ secondary at safety, Mansoor Delane at cornerback, or even an enforcer like Arvell Reese at linebacker.

Those are the kinds of players fans picture when they think “top-five pick.” They change highlights. They sell jerseys. They shift momentum immediately. An offensive tackle does none of that — at least not visibly.

And that’s the opportunity cost of the Fano selection. You’re betting that protecting the offense is more valuable than adding a weapon. You’re choosing stability over splash, trench warfare over fireworks on either side of the football.

For a fanbase that has watched the offense struggle to produce explosive plays, passing on a dynamic receiver could feel like a missed opportunity. For a defense that still needs top-tier talent in the secondary and second level, ignoring that side of the ball could feel equally frustrating.

But this is the classic draft dilemma: do you take the player who touches the ball, or the one who makes sure the ball can be thrown at all?

If Eluemunor leaves, the Giants will have a hole at right tackle. If they don’t fix it with a premium player, they risk repeating the same offensive line instability that has stalled this rebuild for years.

Spencer Fano represents the safe, smart, long-term answer. The receiver or defensive star represents the thrilling, immediate impact answer. And at No. 5, the Giants may have to decide which kind of team they want to be.