"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.
With the draft a mere one week away, let's take a look at the second-round predictions from two of the best draft analysts in the business - ESPN's Mel Kiper and The Athletic's Dane Brugler, both of whom projected safety Caleb Downs to the Giants at No. 5 in their latest mock drafts.
Pick at No. 37: Keylan Rutledge, IOL, Georgia Tech
Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 316 pounds
2025 Stats: 13 games, 801 offensive snaps, 396 pass block snaps, 0 sacks and 5 total pressures allowed
Accolades: First-Team All-American (2025), 2x First-Team All-ACC (2024, 2025), Brian Piccolo Award (2025), First-Team All-CUSA (2023)
"Rutledge started 43 games in college and gave up only two sacks. He could slide into a starter's role as a rookie."
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his fourth ranking of the top 50 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
No. 50 Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
No. 49 R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma
No. 48 Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
No. 47 Keylan Rutledge, IOL, Georgia Tech
No. 46 Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF
No. 45 Zion Young, Edge, Missouri
No. 44 Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
No. 43 Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
No. 42 Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
No. 41 Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
No. 40 Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
No. 39 Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
No. 38 Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
No. 37 Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
No. 36 Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
No. 35 Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
No. 34 Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
No. 33 Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
No. 32 Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
No. 31 Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
No. 30 CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
No. 29 KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
No. 28 Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M
No. 27 Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
No. 26 Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
No. 25 Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
No. 24 T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson
No. 23 Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
No. 22 Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
No. 21 Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State
No. 20 Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
No. 19 Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
No. 18 Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
No. 17 Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
No. 16 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
No. 15 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. 9 Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
No. 8 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. 37: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 231 pounds
2025 Stats: 14 games, 128 total tackles (63 solo), 1 sack, 11 tackles for loss, 7 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 defensive touchdown, 4 interceptions, 6 passes defensed
Accolades: Unanimous All-American (2025), Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2025), 2x First-Team All-Big 12 (2024, 2025), Bronko Nagurski Trophy (2025), Butkus Award (2025), Lombardi Award (2025), Check Bednarik Award (2025), Pony Express Award (2025)
"Rodriguez has a very average size profile, but his athletic versatility has made him a more instinctive linebacker and helps him play decisively. He should immediately compete for a starting role in the NFL." -- from Dane Brugler's The Beast
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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