The Giants will pick one offensive player and one defensive player with their first two picks.
John Schmeelk: Fact – I don’t think this will be an overt goal, but I do think this is how it will work out. It is always important to continue to build around a young quarterback either with weapons to help as playmakers or offensive linemen to block up front. The Giants have short and long-term needs on the interior offensive line and wide receiver, where not many players are under contract beyond 2026. If two great defensive players are the best available players and those are the selections, I would not be shocked, But I don’t think that’s how it will go.
Matt Citak: Fact – This one was tough. I think the Giants will take the best player available at both 5 and 37, which could very likely be defense at both spots. But I’m going to say the pick at No. 5 is a defensive player, and then the second-round pick is an offensive player. John Harbaugh has been very clear about his emphasis on wanting to run the ball and stop the run. Sonny Styles or Caleb Downs would help with the latter, while an interior offensive lineman at No. 37 would go a long way in assisting with the former. I believe there is also a decent chance that at 37, the highest player on the Giants’ board could be an O-lineman or wide receiver.
The Giants, who currently have seven total draft picks, will leave the draft with seven players.
John Schmeelk: Fiction – John Harbaugh stated at the owners meeting that the Giants roster is a “work in progress” and if you look ahead, there are some obvious holes that are popping up that will need to be filled in future years. In order to find long-term solutions to those problems, the Giants would be wise to draft as many players as possible. I think the Giants would be open to trading down at pick five, and more realistically pick 37, if the right offer comes along. They do not own a third-round pick due to the Jaxson Dart trade last year (that no one regrets) and it will be a LONG wait between picks 37 and 105, as a lot of good starting caliber prospects fall off the board. I’m sure the Giants would love to land a pick somewhere in that range if they can.
Matt Citak: Fiction – As it stands right now, the Giants don’t currently hold a pick in the third round. On top of that, after a couple of trades in the past few years, the Giants are set to pick three times in the sixth round, all between picks 186 and 193. I don’t know if it will be at No. 5, No. 37, or sometime on Day 3, but I do believe the Giants will make some sort of trade on draft day. The Ravens have been notorious for their draft day deals, and with John Harbaugh now here, it would not surprise me to see the Giants more active than they’ve been in recent years. While trading down from No. 5 may prove to be difficult due to the lack of high end quarterbacks in this draft after Mendoza, I could see a deal materializing at the start of the second round.