The New York Giants have gotten the hardest part out of the way. John Harbaugh is expected to be the franchise’s newest head coach.
Now the real work begins, as the new braintrust of Big Blue figures out a way to turn around a franchise that has a 55-109-1 record over the last 10 years.
Free agency will play a big factor in the new-look Giants, but who they select at No. 5 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft will also be a crucial decision for Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen.
In Dane Brugler’s latest mock draft from The Athletic, he has New York landing a new playmaker for Jaxson Dart to work with.
Giants Mock Draft Lands WR Jordyn Tyson
Brugler projects the New York Giants to select Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson with the No. 5 overall pick.
“The Giants will be drawn, understandably, to Caleb Downs’ potential impact on the back end of the defense, or to the chance to address their offensive line with Francis Mauigoa,” wrote Brugler.
“But Tyson would add an immediate offensive playmaker who could help a young quarterback take the next step in his development. Obviously, expected new head coach John Harbaugh will influence this selection.”
Tyson would be a fantastic addition to the Giants’ wide receiver room, and the development of Dart will certainly play into the decision of what player Big Blue will select with their first-round draft pick.
While Caleb Downs is certainly a heck of a prospect, selecting a safety with a premium draft pick is not the most popular choice.
But it’s something Harbaugh would at least think about, considering how good a player Kyle Hamilton turned out to be for the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens selected the Notre Dame safety with the 14th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and you could argue he’s the best defensive player on the roster.
Downs could provide the same impact for the Giants’ lowly defense.
Francis Mauigoa would also be a solid selection, given right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor is an impending free agent.
The Miami prospect is considered the best offensive tackle prospect in the upcoming draft class and would provide long-term stability to an offensive line that has mostly seen short-term fixes throughout Schoen’s tenure.
Do the Giants Need a Wide Receiver?
But the fact of the matter is, the New York Giants are desperate for help at the wide receiver position.
Malik Nabers’ knee injury is serious, and he indicated at the end of the season that he may not be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season.
“Malik Nabers says he’s ‘not really sure’ if he’s going to be ready for Week 1 of next year. It depends how his body feels,” reported SNY’s Connor Hughes.
New York’s leading receiver from the 2025 season, Wan’Dale Robinson, is an impending free agent, and there’s no guarantee he’ll return to the Giants.
He’s coming off the most productive season of his career and figures to find himself a massive payday at the top of the free agent wideout market, possibly pricing himself out of the Giants’ range.
That would mean Dart would be relying on the likes of Darius Slayton and Theo Johnson early on in 2026, and if New York wants their hopeful franchise quarterback to continue developing, that’s not a recipe for success.
Drafting Tyson would give Dart a premier weapon to work with in his sophomore NFL season and, when Nabers comes back, provide a lethal one-two punch in the passing game.
Giants Mock Draft Supplies Jaxson Dart With New Weapon