The New York Giants sent shockwaves throughout the NFL when they traded All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday. Though Lawrence is a massive departure for the Giants’ defense, both figuratively and literally, they got a great return back with the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Though Lawrence has been one of the best interior defenders in the NFL for some time, he’s coming off a down year in 2025. He finished as just the No. 38 defensive tackle by PFSN’s DT Impact metrics this past year, having placed in the top 20 each of the previous three seasons.
After the trade, the Giants now have two of the first ten selections in this year’s NFL Draft, as they already had the No. 5 pick in the draft from their own draft slot. With Round 1 just a few days away, this trade should provide a major shakeup to the first round.
Now that the Giants have shaken up this class after trading Lawrence, here’s an updated mock draft for their haul in the 2026 NFL Draft. Whether it’s New York or any of the other 31 NFL teams, feel free to make your own mock draft using PFSN’s Mock Draft Simulator.
Sonny Styles, Ohio State | LB
Round 1, No. 5 Overall
Though it’s a little less so now that Lawrence is gone, the narrative was that the Giants’ defensive line was great, but the back seven was shaky. With an edge rotation consisting of Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux, New York should now focus on other positions of a defense that was the tenth-worst by PFSN Defense Impact Metrics.
Sonny Styles has developed from a raw athlete into one of the top prospects in the entire 2026 NFL Draft. His instincts have shown plenty of improvement over time, and he’s an explosive, well-built athlete with a large tackling radius and the ability to make plays in coverage.
Caleb Downs, Ohio State | S
Round 1, No. 10 (via Bengals):
It’s admittedly wishful thinking for Giants fans to hope Caleb Downs falls to No. 10 overall. However, the simulation didn’t take him in the first nine picks, and that tracks with recent NFL history; no safety has gone in the top 10 since Jamal Adams in 2017. I expect that to change in 2026.
As of this writing, Downs is my top overall prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. The fact that he plays safety makes estimating a draft slot for him in a mock draft difficult, but there’s no denying the tools he brings to the table.
He’s a significant, physical, athletic, intelligent safety with good ball skills in coverage and the fluidity to cover a lot of ground as a two-high or single-high safety. He’s the real deal.
Lee Hunter, Texas Tech | DT
Round 2, No. 37
The Giants got stellar value acquiring the No. 10 overall pick for Lawrence, but that leaves them with a hole at the nose tackle position. It could be tough for them to replicate his impact, but there are plenty of talented defensive tackles who could pull off a 1-technique or a true nose assignment well at the NFL level.
At around 330 pounds, Lee Hunter is a monster of a man who can plug up gaps well in the run game with two-gapping abilities. He’s also a freak athlete for someone his size, though, and his closing speed is impressive for a nose tackle. Sound familiar, Giants fans?
Ja’Kobi Lane, USC | WR
Round 4, No. 105
After addressing the defense with the first three picks, the Giants would be wise to turn their attention to the offense here. The likes of Darnell Mooney and Isaiah Likely should be upgrades for the passing game, but Jaxson Dart could still use another weapon or two to assist him going into the second year of his NFL career.
Ja’Kobi Lane was more of a complementary weapon than a true WR1 for USC, but he’s a 6’4″ receiver with tremendous ball skills and better athleticism than most his size. His physicality and coordination would make him a strong X receiver, giving the Giants some size at the position.
Ephesians Prysock, Washington | CB
Round 5, No. 145
The Giants brought in Greg Newsome II this offseason, and he projects as a starting cornerback alongside Paulson Adebo on the perimeter of their defense. That should be fine in the short term, but they’re in need of some depth at the position.
With a strong 9.74 Relative Athletic Score, Ephesians Prysock has the physical tools worth taking a shot on in the NFL. Namely, he’s 6’3″ and ran a 4.45 in the 40-yard dash at the combine. On tape, his route recognition processing speed could be a little more consistent, but he’s a fluid mover with a large catch radius worth developing.
Caden Barnett, Wyoming | G
Round 6, No. 186
If the value was better at each of these selections and the roster was more well-rounded, the Giants would be taking a guard earlier than Round 6. It’s entirely possible they do; Jon Runyan and one of Daniel Faalele or Evan Neal don’t exactly inspire confidence as a starting duo. They address other needs here, but they should still draft a guard anyway.
Affectionately named the “Vanilla Gorilla“, Caden Barnett enters the NFL with three years of starting tape at Wyoming, also having started a few games as a freshman in 2022. He’s a nasty lineman with a rugged demeanor and a strong frame, and he brings surprisingly good acceleration off the line of scrimmage. His technique is still a major work in progress, but the mentality and physical tools are there.
Aamil Wagner, Notre Dame | OT
Round 6, No. 192
Reportedly, New York views 2025 fifth-round pick Marcus Mbow as a swing tackle, rather than a competitor for a starting guard spot. He provides some upside along the offensive line as a potential future starter, but bringing in some more depth behind him could be smart if the board shakes up well enough at offensive tackle, as it does here.
Aamil Wagner’s 34 1/2-inch arms and impressive mobility give him plenty of potential if he lands in the right system. He demonstrates good burst coming off the snap and solid agility in pass protection.
At 6’6″, he’s underweight at 306 pounds. He’ll need to get a stronger anchor and improve his pad level, but in the sixth round, you’re not expecting him to start right away, anyway.
John Michael Gyllenborg, Wyoming | TE
Round 6, No. 193
Between Likely and Theo Johnson, the Giants feel set at tight end as far as the regular contributors go. That said, if they find a draft prospect they like, they could bring someone in to compete with the likes of Chris Manhertz, Tanner Conner, and 2025 seventh-round pick Thomas Fidone II for the third-string spot on the depth chart.
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Ohio State isn’t the only school with multiple players picked in this mock. John Michael Gyllenborg’s stats were better for Wyoming in 2024, but he’s an elite athlete at tight end with a 4.60 40-yard dash and a 9.78 RAS. He’s fluid across the seam, has nice burst coming out of his breaks, and can work himself open against soft spots in zone coverage.
