"Make the Case" is officially back on Giants.com for the 2026 NFL Draft.
In this series, we look at projections provided by analysts and then ask you, the fans, to weigh in on what the Giants should do in the draft.
Draft week is here, and with it comes the Giants now selecting twice in the top 10. Here are the first-round predictions for the Giants at No. 5 and No. 10 from ESPN's Jordan Reid and NFL Media's Bucky Brooks.
Pick at No. 5: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 244 pounds
2025 Stats: 14 games, 82 total tackles (46 solo), one sack, 6.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one interception, three passes defensed
Accolades: First-Team All-American (2025), First-Team All-Big Ten (2025), Second-Team All-Big Ten (2024), CFP National Champion (2024)
"John Harbaugh teams have historically had a commanding presence at middle linebacker. There hasn't been an off-ball linebacker drafted in the top five since 2019 (Devin White), but Styles is a rare linebacker prospect in a draft class that lacks true high-end options at high-leverage positions. Styles' size, instincts, movement ability and continued development make him an ideal fit in the middle of the Giants' defense."
Pick at No. 10: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Height: 6-feet | Weight: 206 pounds
2025 Stats: 14 games, 68 total tackles (45 solo), one sack, five tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two interceptions
Accolades: 2x Unanimous All-American (2024,2025), Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2025), 2x Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year (2024,2025), Jim Thorpe Award (2025), Lott Trophy (2025), 2x First-Team All-Big Ten (2024, 2025), CFP National Champion (2024), Second-Team All-American (2023), SEC Freshman of the Year (2023), First-Team All-SEC (2023)
"The Giants added another top-10 pick over the weekend in the Dexter Lawrence II trade, and they can use it to keep addressing the defense. It has been nearly a decade since a safety was picked in the top 10 (Jamal Adams, 2017), but Downs is fully worthy of breaking that streak. He is one of the smartest football players I've ever studied, and he has the versatility and sure tackling skills to complement that intelligence. He trusts his coverage instincts, allowing him to routinely make plays against the pass and in run support. Downs would be a perfect addition to John Harbaugh's defense."
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his fourth ranking of the top 50 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
No. 49 Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
No. 44 R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma
No. 57 Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
No. 47 Keylan Rutledge, IOL, Georgia Tech
No. 40 Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF
No. 45 Zion Young, Edge, Missouri
No. 53 Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
No. 43 Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
No. 51 Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
No. 42 Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
No. 35 Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
No. 34 Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
No. 36 Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
No. 39 Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
No. 41 Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
No. 31 Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
No. 38 Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
No. 33 Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
No. 37 Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
No. 29 Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
No. 32 CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
No. 25 KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
No. 28 Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M
No. 23 Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
No. 30 Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
No. 21 Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
No. 27 T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson
No. 26 Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
No. 24 Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
No. 18 Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State
No. 22 Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
No. 20 Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
No. 17 Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
No. 16 Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
No. 15 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
No. 19 Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
No. 14 Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
No. 13 Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
No. 12 Makai Lemon, WR, USC
No. 11 Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State
No. 10 Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
No. 8 Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
No. 9 Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
No. 7 Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
No. 6 Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
No. 5 Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State
No. 4 David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
No. 3 Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
No. 2 Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
No. 1 Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Pick at No. 5: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Height: 6-foot-0 | Weight: 212 pounds
2025 Stats: 12 games, 199 rush attempts for 1,372 yards (6.9 avg.) and 19 touchdowns; 27 receptions for 280 yards and three touchdowns
Accolades: Unanimous All-American (2025), Doak Walker Award (2025)
"Love will team with Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers to give Jaxson Dart a stellar supporting cast that will help the second-year pro grow. In fact, this pick is only New York's first gift to the 22-year-old quarterback in this mock ..."
Pick at No. 10: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 203 pounds
2025 Stats: 9 games, 61 receptions for 711 yards and 8 touchdowns
Accolades: 2x First-Team All-Big 12 (2024, 2025), Third-Team All-American (2025)
"Taking an oft-injured pass catcher is a risky proposition, but Tyson is a dominant lead receiver with big-play potential. If the Arizona State standout avoids the injury bug, the Giants will have a dynamic pairing on the perimeter with the acrobatic playmaker joining Malik Nabers to give New York co-WR1s."
NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks revealed his updated position rankings for the 2026 NFL Draft.
QUARTERBACKS | 1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana | 2. Ty Simpson, Alabama | 3. Carson Beck, Miami | 4. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU | 5. Drew Allar, Penn State
RUNNING BACKS | 1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame | 2. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame | 3. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska | 4. Jonah Coleman, Washington | 5. Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas
WIDE RECEIVERS | 1. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State | 2. Carnell Tate, Ohio State | 3. Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee | 4. Malachi Fields, Notre Dame | 5. Denzel Boston, Washington
SLOT RECEIVERS | 1. Makai Lemon, USC | 2. Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana | 3. Zachariah Branch, Georgia | 4. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M | 5. Antonio Williams, Clemson
TIGHT ENDS | 1. Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon | 2. Max Klare, Ohio State | 3. Dallen Bentley, Utah State | 4. Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt | 5. Joe Royer, Cincinnati
TACKLES | 1. Spencer Fano, Utah | 2. Francis Mauigoa, Miami | 3. Caleb Lomu, Utah | 4. Kadyn Proctor, Alabama | 5. Monroe Freeling, Georgia
GUARDS | 1. Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State | 2. Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M | 3. Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon | 4. Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech | 5. Ar'maj Reed-Adams, Texas A&M
CENTERS | 1. Connor Lew, Auburn | 2. Logan Jones, Iowa | 3. Jake Slaughter, Florida | 4. Sam Hecht, Kansas State | 5. Brian Parker II, Duke
DEFENSIVE TACKLES | 1. Peter Woods, Clemson | 2. Caleb Banks, Florida | 3. Lee Hunter, Texas Tech | 4. Kayden McDonald, Ohio State | 5. Christen Miller, Georgia
DEFENSIVE ENDS | 1. Rueben Bain Jr., Miami | 2. Akheem Mesidor, Miami | 3. Keldric Faulk, Auburn | 4. Zion Young, Missouri | 5. Derrick Moore, Michigan
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS | 1. David Bailey, Texas Tech | 2. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M | 3. T.J. Parker, Clemson | 4. Gabe Jacas, Illinois | 5. R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
LINEBACKERS | 1. Arvell Reese, Ohio State | 2. Sonny Styles, Ohio State | 3. CJ Allen, Georgia | 4. Anthony Hill Jr., Texas | 5. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
CORNERBACKS | 1. Mansoor Delane, LSU | 2. Jermod McCoy, Tennessee | 3. Colton Hood, Tennessee | 4. Chris Johnson, San Diego State | 5. Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
NICKELBACKS | 1. Avieon Terrell, Clemson | 2. Keionte Scott, Miami | 3. D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana | 4. Keith Abney II, Arizona State | 5. Bud Clark, TCU
SAFETIES | 1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State | 2. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon | 3. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo | 4. Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh | 5. A.J. Haulcy, LSU
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