Feb. 11, 2026, 8:01 a.m. ET

In Chad Reuter’s latest three-round 2026 NFL mock draft, the New York Giants emerge with a strategic haul that tackles several pressing roster needs head-on.

With the team navigating a new coaching era under John Harbaugh and seeking to fortify both sides of the ball, Reuter’s projections emphasize smart, high-impact selections across the early rounds. This approach prioritizes premium talent to address vulnerabilities in the secondary while bolstering protection and other key areas, setting the stage for meaningful roster improvement.

The mock highlights how the Giants could efficiently build depth and competition in a class loaded with defensive promise and offensive line depth.

With their first pick, No. 5 overall, the Giants pass on safety Caleb Downs and wide receiver Carnell Tate in favor of LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.

New head coach John Harbaugh played defensive back at Miami of Ohio and coached the position for one season with the Eagles — and the Ravens selected DBs Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks and Nate Wiggins in the first round during his time with the team. Safety Caleb Downs, who functions like a quarterback in the secondary, is surely tempting, but in this scenario, Harbaugh chooses Delane, an elite coverage corner.

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With their second pick, No. 37 overall, the Giants return to the offensive side of the ball and select Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling.

NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein believes the 6-foot-7 Freeling is a 50-50 prospect who could become dominant in the NFL or could follow in the footsteps of Evan Neal.

Freeling offers coveted length and athleticism at right tackle. With only 16 career starts, filling out his frame and improving his technique should be early priorities. His quickness brings first-phase positioning advantages, but he needs more play strength to carry that over to block sustain and finish. Lunging and deadening feet post-punch must be coached out of his muscle memory in pass protection so his athleticism and length can do their jobs. Independent hand usage and a reliable “snatch and trap” could instantly bolster his success rate. There is some buyer beware on tape, but if smoothed out, he has the ceiling of a quality NFL starter.

The Giants and general manager Joe Schoen are in no position to miss on another offensive tackle, so they’d have to be certain about Freeling’s professional potential before pulling the trigger on this selection.