With the Giants naming John Harbaugh as their new head coach, this is a major win for the franchise, its fans, and the locker room. Securing a coach of Harbaugh’s caliber is a significant step for a team that has been searching for long-term stability and success since the Tom Coughlin era.
With a new regime ushering in a new era of New York Giants football, the 2026 NFL Draft looms as a franchise-defining opportunity. Armed with premium capital and glaring roster needs on both sides of the ball, the Giants must prioritize surrounding their young quarterback, Jaxson Dart, with protection and weapons while rebuilding a leaky defense.
This seven-round mock draft prioritizes value, upside, and long-term roster construction, drawing on PFSN’s consensus big board, impact grades, and team needs to project how the Giants could reshape their future.
Round 1, Pick 5: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
The Giants waste no time addressing their most glaring weakness: wide receiver depth.
Carnell Tate checks every box you want in a true WR1. PFSN’s consensus big board ranks him No. 7 overall and the No. 1 wide receiver in the class, with an elite draft grade of 91. At 6’3”, 195 pounds, Tate brings size, explosive vertical athleticism, and outstanding body control at the catch point.
Once viewed as an underachieving former five-star recruit stuck behind Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith, Tate has fully broken out. Entering the 2025 season, he transformed from a complementary option into a dominant force and legitimate WR1 candidate. His development is a testament to both raw talent and refinement, particularly as a route runner.
While Tate’s 2024 film raised concerns about inconsistent pacing and footwork at the top of routes, his 2025 tape shows an entirely different player. He’s now a true route artist and spatial manipulator, capable of separating at all three levels. PFSN’s CFB Impact Grades rank him as the 8th-best receiver in the country (84.5).
With Malik Nabers already established but depth severely lacking, something painfully exposed when Nabers missed time, Tate gives the Giants a legitimate one-two punch that defenses must account for every snap.
Round 2, Pick 37: OT Blake Miller, Clemson
Protecting and surrounding Jaxson Dart is priority number one, and Blake Miller aligns with that mission.
Miller ranks as OT7 and the No. 76 overall prospect on PFN’s big board, making this a slight reach on paper. However, context matters. With the Giants not picking again until No. 105, addressing offensive tackle early makes sense given positional scarcity.
The numbers paint a clear picture: the Giants’ sack percentage sits at 8.4%, ranking 24th in the NFL, while their offensive impact score is 70.7, also 24th overall. Those figures simply aren’t good enough to support a young franchise quarterback. Blake Miller provides solid pass protection traits, starting experience in a high-level program, and developmental upside. He may not be flashy, but he represents the kind of stability the Giants desperately need up front.
Round 4, Pick 105: CB Chandler Rivers, Duke
This is one of the best value picks in the entire mock.
Chandler Rivers enters the draft ranked 8th among cornerbacks and 46th overall on PFSN’s board, making him a 59-slot value steal at No. 105. Once considered a potential early-round prospect, Rivers slid but still offers starter-level upside.
At 5’10”, 185 pounds, size is the lone concern. Everything else checks out. Rivers is explosive, fluid in off-man and zone coverage, and possesses elite processing, route recognition, and spatial awareness. He understands route relationships, passes off coverage seamlessly, and offers rare versatility, capable of playing outside, in the slot, blitzing from depth, and contributing in run support.
He may never be a prototypical boundary corner, but Rivers has the intelligence, toughness, and technical refinement to become a high-quality starter early in his NFL career.
Round 5, Pick 145: LB Jack Kelly, BYU
BYU continues to produce NFL-ready defenders quietly, and Jack Kelly is next in line.
Kelly was a cornerstone of a BYU defense that ranked 14th nationally, earning an 86.1 PFSN impact grade while allowing just 19.14 points per game, a top-20 mark in college football. He played a key role in establishing BYU as one of the Big 12’s most physical units.
The Giants operate primarily out of a two-linebacker system, but Kelly provides competition and insurance with potential upside to eventually replace Micah McFadden. Whether that transition happens in year one or year two will depend on Kelly’s development, but the value here is undeniable.
Round 6, Pick 183: S Michael Taaffe, Texas
While safety isn’t the Giants’ most urgent need, depth and leadership remain essential.
Michael Taaffe was a captain on one of the nation’s best defenses, which ranked 17th nationally with an 85.4 defensive impact grade. A former walk-on, Taaffe emerged as the emotional and vocal leader of a Texas defense loaded with NFL talent.
With Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin already in place, Taaffe offers valuable depth, special teams potential, and high football character, traits that matter in the later rounds.
Round 6, Pick 189: WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
Double-dipping at wide receiver makes perfect sense.
Malachi Fields is a classic height-weight-speed prospect whose potential remains largely untapped. Stylistically similar to Darius Slayton, Fields gives the Giants a chance to reset the clock at the position with a younger, higher-upside option.
PFSN’s big board ranks him as a top-20 wide receiver, making this an excellent value in the sixth round. Outside of Nabers, no receiver on the roster is a lock to remain through 2026 under a new regime, making this a smart developmental swing.
Round 6, Pick 190: OT Niki Prongos, Stanford
Late-round picks are about tools and projection, and Niki Prongos fits that mold perfectly.
At 6’7”, 310 pounds, Prongos boasts prototypical tackle size and solid athletic traits. While he may not be ready to start immediately, his upside is intriguing as the Giants continue reshaping their offensive line.
Keeping Dart upright is a two-part equation: better decision-making from the quarterback and a sturdier wall in front of him. Prongos represents the latter, offering long-term potential and valuable competition in the trenches.
Impact of John Harbaugh’s Arrival on Giants’ Draft Plans
Harbaugh’s availability may have surprised many, but the Giants capitalized, landing a respected leader known as a players’ coach who consistently gets the most out of his teams. His experience and strong connections to top assistant coaches should help him quickly establish a winning culture and a well-built staff.
Harbaugh’s arrival could also impact the Giants’ roster-building and draft strategy. Known for emphasizing the trenches, it wouldn’t be surprising to see added investment in the offensive line to better protect Dart, as well as continued focus on strengthening the defensive line.
With uncertainty surrounding Skattebo’s injury timeline, the running back position could also be addressed earlier than expected. Overall, this hire has the potential to positively reshape the direction of the franchise.
Harbaugh is expected to bring longtime offensive coordinator Todd Monken with him from Baltimore, and the offense should look drastically different from what Giants fans are used to. That’s great news for Dart, Cam Skattebo, Malik Nabers, and a young offensive core that can learn from a coach who’s truly been there and done that.
Monken typically brings a pro-style system, but he’s proven he can adapt and innovate, most notably with Lamar Jackson, tailoring his play-calling to his personnel. That flexibility should pay dividends for a dual-threat quarterback like Dart, even if the emphasis is on developing him as a pocket passer.
Skattebo stands to benefit as well, as Monken’s offense leans toward a downhill rushing attack that perfectly matches his physical running style. All in all, it’s a fit that’s hard not to get excited about.
They always give the Giants the worst mock draft