Possibly the best defensive player in this draft, John Harbaugh must not have believed his luck when Reese was still available as the Giants were on the clock. At 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, Arvell Reese has the frame NFL teams are looking for in a modern linebacker, and he backed it up with All-Conference production at Ohio State.

Beyond the measurable traits, Reese brings an identity. The Giants have emphasized building a roster that reflects toughness, resilience and competitiveness. This selection fits squarely within that philosophy. While not quite polished, Reese's game is beyond versatile. Under defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, he split time as a rusher off the edge and outside linebacker at Ohio State.

With this pick, the Giants are selecting someone to do more than just tackle ball carriers in the A-gap. Brian Burns is approaching 30 and will earning over $21 million each of the next two years. By the end of Reese's rookie deal, he's likely the Giants' every down pass rusher opposite Abdul Carter—a great spot to be in for Big Blue.

Ceiling: Micah Parsons

Floor: Barkevious Mingo

Prediction: Brian Orakpo

Widely considered the top offensive lineman in this draft, the Giants addressed a major need by selecting Francis Mauigoa with the tenth pick. At 6-foot-6, 330 pounds, Mauigoa has the prototypical size and strength NFL teams covet up front, and he backed it up with Freshman All-American and All-Conference production for the Hurricanes.

He plays with intensity, finishes blocks and consistently sets the tone at the line of scrimmage. While still developing technically, his game is built on rare traits including length, balance and power, giving him one of the highest ceilings in the class. He dealt with an asymptomatic herniated disk during his time at Miami, but it hasn’t been viewed as a long-term concern. The Giants’ addition of trainer Adam Bennett, who worked with Mauigoa for years at Miami, clearly gives convinced the G-Men of his ability to stay on the field.

With Jermaine Eluemunor back in the fold at tackle, Mauigoa projects inside early at right guard, where his power and movement skills can translate immediately. He has the tools to grow into a cornerstone piece of the unit, possibly becoming their right tackle of the future by the end of his rookie contract.

Ceiling: Penei Sewell

Floor: Trent Brown

Prediction: Tristan Wirfs

In desperate need of talent, the Giants added a physical defensive back with loads of upside to their secondary by selecting Colton Hood in the 2nd round. Around 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Hood has the size and length teams look for in a modern corner. Scouting reports consistently highlight his physicality in coverage, his willingness to challenge receivers at the catch point and his urgency when the ball is in the air, aligning with the Giants’ emphasis on toughness on the defensive side. Colton Hood comes from a football background, his uncle Roderick Hood was an NFL defensive back who was coached by none other than current Giants head coach John Harbaugh.

While still developing consistency in technique, particularly with footwork and transitions, his instincts and playmaking ability give him a strong foundation to build on. With this pick, the Giants are investing in a defensive back with the tools to compete early in sub-packages and grow into a larger role over time. In a division built around the passing game, Hood has the traits to develop into a reliable presence in coverage and a key piece of the defense moving forward after the departure of Cor'Dale Flott and the disappointing performance of 2023 first rounder Deonte Banks.

Ceiling: Jaycee Horn

Floor: Ahkello Witherspoon

Prediction: Charvarius Ward

A big-bodied receiver with intriguing upside, the Giants added to their offense by trading up for Malachi Fields in the 3rd round. At around 6-foot-4 and over 210 pounds, Fields has the size and catch radius teams look for on the outside, giving quarterbacks a large target area and a reliable presence in contested situations.

Fields brings a physical edge to the position. His game is built on using his frame to shield defenders, leading Giants GM Joe Schoen to call him the "power forward" of the Giants reveiver unit. While still refining his route running and separation ability, his body control and ball skills give him a foundation to develop into a more complete receiver. Having expended significant draft capital to move up and get him, the Giants feel confident they found a player who can fill a complementary role early while growing into a larger part of the offense over time.

Ceiling: Tee Higgins

Floor: Quentin Johnston

Prediction: Drake London

A late-blooming defensive lineman with a powerful interior presence, the Giants added to their defensive front by selecting Bobby Jamison-Travis with the 186th pick. At over 300 pounds, Jamison-Travis brings the size and strength teams look for inside, and he developed into a disruptive presence during his time at Auburn Tigers football after beginning his football journey later than many of his peers. Jamison-Travis brings a driven and grounded mentality to the position. He once aspired to follow Shaquille O’Neal into basketball before turning to football in eighth grade, and he steadily built his game from that point forward. He has pointed to his sophomore year of high school as the moment his development accelerated, a period where he began to earn recognition and establish himself on the field.

It's no secret that the New York Giants have been looking for a Dexter Lawrence-sized replacement to anchor the defensive line. After being leapfrogged by the Houston Texans in the 2nd round to draft Ohio State's Kayden MacDonald, the Giants still manage to add depth along the interior defensive line. His background and physical tools give him a foundation to compete for a rotational role while continuing to develop at the next level.

Ceiling: Arik Armstead

Floor: Khalil Davis

Prediction: Roy Robertson-Harris

A battle-tested offensive lineman with a proven track record of production, the Giants added J.C. Davis to their re-tooled offensive line at #192 overall. At 6-foot-4⅜ and 322 pounds with over 34-inch arms, Davis brings the size and length teams look for at tackle, and he backed it up with consistent performance across multiple stops, finishing his career at Illinois Fighting Illini football with First-Team All-Big Ten honors after starting every game.

Beyond the measurable traits, Davis brings a resilient and hard-working mentality. His path from junior college at Contra Costa to New Mexico Lobos football and then Illinois reflects steady development, including a First-Team All-Mountain West season and strong grading metrics, where he ranked among the top tackles in the nation, leading PFF to label J.C. Davis as a "major steal" in the 6th round. Davis posted the class's highest PFF grade (87.8) and dominated in the run game with an 86.7 run blocking grade.

Davis projects as a swing tackle with the ability to compete for a role while contributing to a unit that values size and durability up front. There are areas to improve, particularly with hand placement, body control and consistency in pass protection, but his experience, physical traits and flashes against high-level competition give him a foundation to develop into a reliable contributor.

Ceiling: Taylor Moton 

Floor: Bobby Hart

Prediction: Chukwuma Okorafor

A productive linebacker with proven pass-rush ability, the Giants added much-needed depth to their linebacker room by selecting Jack Kelly with the 193rd pick. At 6-foot-1 and 240 pounds, Kelly brings a compact, powerful frame and strong multi-year production between Weber State and BYU Cougars football, including a First-Team All-Big 12 season and multiple years with double-digit tackles for loss and high sack totals.

Beyond the measurable traits, Kelly plays with aggression and physicality. As noted by Lance Zierlein, he is “a burly linebacker with adequate play speed and desired aggression,” and he shows a strong punch against blockers along with effective timing as a blitzer. His pass-rush production reflects that role, with consistent disruption coming off the edge and in pressure packages.

With this pick, the Giants add a linebacker who can contribute on special teams and in sub-packages. Scouting reports highlight his value as a four-phase special teamer and his ability to impact passing downs as a blitzer. There are areas to improve in run defense, including consistency with leverage and block shedding, but his production, physical style and situational value give him a clear path to earning a role on the roster.

Ceiling: Zack Baun

Floor: Ben Niemann

Prediction: Nick Bolton

Dominic Zvada enters the league as an experienced, high-volume kicker with a long track record of production. Across four college seasons at Arkansas State and Michigan, he made 72 of 87 field goals, good for 82.8 percent, while converting 140 of 142 extra points. His best season came in 2024 at Michigan, when he hit 21 of 22 field goals, including a perfect 7 of 7 from 50-plus yards.

Zvada’s leg strength is clear from his career distance numbers. He made 11 of 13 attempts from 50-plus yards, with a career long of 56 yards, and also went 21 of 26 from 40 to 49 yards. While his 2025 field goal percentage dipped all the way down to 68.0 percent on 17 of 25 attempts, he remained perfect on extra points at 43 of 43 and still made multiple kicks from beyond 50 yards. As an undrafted free agent, Zvada gives the Giants legitimate kicking competition. His 2024 season showed elite accuracy and range, while his career résumé gives him enough proven production to push for a roster spot if he can stabilize the inconsistency that showed up in 2025.

Ceiling: Brandon Aubrey

Floor: Roberto Aguayo

Prediction: Greg Joseph