The New York Giants need to be in tanking mode if they want to have the top pick in the 2026 NFL draft, but even if they win their Week 18 game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, January 4. Basically, if the Giants lose the game and get help from some other teams help, including the Raiders wining their Week 18 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Giants could take that No. 1 slot.
“Winning for the first time since October didn’t completely crush the Giants‘ chances of picking first, but they’ll need to lose to the Cowboys and get help from other teams — including the Raiders, of course — to return to the No. 1 slot,” Dan Parr of the NFL’s website states. “Had the Giants lost to Vegas on Sunday, they would have locked up the first selection. Seven teams still have a chance to secure the second overall pick heading into Week 18.”
Either way, they’re picking high, and that gives the New York Giants power going into the 2026-27 season. Now, the Giants are being predicted to have a love tringle of sorts in the NFL draft, with Oregon quarterback Dante Moore somehow being part of it.
Oregon Quarterback Dante Moore Expected to Be a Top Pick
So, if the Giants are picking No. 2 in the draft, AJ Schulte of A to Z Sports believes the Cleveland Browns will want quarterback Dante Moore of Oregon. That’s where the Giants come in. No, he doesn’t think the Giants will replace Jaxson Dart. Instead, he sees a swap happening.
“The Browns are in complete desperation mode and are willing to pay just about any price not to be stuck in quarterback purgatory again or have to have Deshaun Watson play another snap in a Browns uniform,” he notes in the piece. “With their bevy of picks they’ve acquired over the Travis Hunter et al trades, Cleveland gives the Giants whatever they ask for to jump the Jets for a quarterback.”
Giving the Giants “whatever they ask for” sound pretty good, right? It would be difficult for the New York Giants, who already have a solid quarterback in Dart, to say not to getting anything they want to give the Browns this pick.
Schulte, of course, also expects the Las Vegas Raiders, if they get the first pick, to take quarterback Fernando Mendoza of Indiana.
In a separate piece for A to Z Sports, Joe DeLeone makes the case that Dart belongs in New York as the team’s signal-caller. “Like any rookie, Dart produced promising performances and concerning lowlights,” he states. “Many critics said Bears quarterback Caleb Williams would be a bust, and he just led the Bears to an NFC North title.”
New York Giants May Favor Wide Receiver Jordyn Tyson of Arizona State
So, who will the Giants pick? Dalton Wasserman of PFF believes wide receiver Jordyn Tyson of Arizona State is the pick.
“While the Giants’ head-coaching situation remains a question mark, the franchise’s goal should be to build around Jaxson Dart. New York exits Week 17 ranked 30th in PFF receiving grade,” he states in a piece out on December 28.
He adds, “Malik Nabers should return to full health in 2026, but the Giants need another dynamic weapon. Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, who finished his 2025 season with an 85.9 PFF receiving grade, should be an easy plug-and-play option alongside Nabers.”
Oregon QB Dante Moore May Be Part of Giants’ Draft Strategy