ESPN's Field Yates comes out with new mock draft
The last time ESPN's Field Yates released a mock draft was in Week 14, when he projected a wideout to the Giants with their first pick.
The draft analyst just came out with his latest mock draft, in which he went in a different direction for the Giants' top selection.
With the fifth overall pick, Yates has the Giants selecting Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
"This is my first curveball, as many early mock drafts have linked the Giants to a wide receiver or offensive tackle in this spot," wrote Yates. "Those are completely understandable, especially if Wan'Dale Robinson and/or Jermaine Eluemunor depart in free agency. But Downs has my attention as the first pick of the John Harbaugh era.
"Perhaps no current coach better understands the value of top-flight safety play, as Harbaugh coached Ed Reed and Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore. While the Giants have starters in Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin, Downs has the upside to change an entire defense as a force multiplier with his deep range and in-the-box skills."
The talented safety started off at Alabama, where he was named SEC Freshman of the Year after registering 107 total tackles (70 solo), two interceptions, four passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery across 14 games.
Following Nick Saban's departure, Downs entered the transfer portal and eventually landed at Ohio State.
Downs only got better during his two seasons with the Buckeyes. He was named Unanimous All-American, Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, and first-team All-Big Ten after both of his seasons in Columbus.
Listed at 6-feet and 205 pounds, the young safety played a big role on the Ohio State defense during the program's run to a National Championship in 2024.
After his standout 2025 campaign, Downs also took home the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back, along with the Lott Trophy and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
Here are the top 5 picks from Yates' latest mock draft:
- Las Vegas Raiders - Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
- New York Jets - Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State
- Arizona Cardinals - Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
- Tennessee Titans - David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
- New York Giants - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his first ranking of the top 50 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
No. 50 Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
No. 49 Chase Bisontis, IOL, Texas A&M
No. 48 Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
No. 47 Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
No. 46 Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
No. 45 Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
No. 44 Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
No. 43 Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
No. 42 Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
No. 41 Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
No. 40 Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
No. 39 Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
No. 38 T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson
No. 37 Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
No. 36 Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
No. 35 R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma
No. 34 Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
No. 33 Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
No. 32 KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
No. 31 Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
No. 30 Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
No. 29 Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
No. 28 Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
No. 27 Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
No. 26 Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
No. 25 Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
No. 24 Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
No. 23 Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
No. 22 CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
No. 21 Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
No. 20 Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
No. 19 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
No. 18 Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
No. 17 Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M
No. 16 Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
No. 15 Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State
No. 14 Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
No. 13 Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
No. 12 Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
No. 11 Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State
No. 10 Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
No. 9 Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
No. 8 Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
No. 7 Makai Lemon, WR, USC
No. 6 Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
No. 5 Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
No. 4 David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
No. 3 Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State
No. 2 Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
No. 1 Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
View the players set to become free agents when the new league year begins on March 11.
TE Daniel Bellinger (Unrestricted Free Agent)
S Dane Belton (Unrestricted Free Agent)
DL D.J. Davidson (Unrestricted Free Agent)
OLB Victor Dimukeje (Unrestricted Free Agent)
T Jermaine Eluemunor (Unrestricted Free Agent)
OL Joshua Ezeudu (Unrestricted Free Agent)
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (Unrestricted Free Agent)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (Unrestricted Free Agent)
LS Casey Kreiter (Unrestricted Free Agent)
LB Neville Hewitt (Unrestricted Free Agent)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (Unrestricted Free Agent)
TE Chris Manhertz (Unrestricted Free Agent)
LB Micah McFadden (Unrestricted Free Agent)
OL Evan Neal (Unrestricted Free Agent)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (Unrestricted Free Agent)
WR Gunner Olszewski (Unrestricted Free Agent)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (Unrestricted Free Agent)
C Austin Schlottmann (Unrestricted Free Agent)
OL Aaron Stinnie (Unrestricted Free Agent)
G Greg Van Roten (Unrestricted Free Agent)
QB Russell Wilson (Unrestricted Free Agent)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (Restricted Free Agent)
LB Zaire Barnes (Restricted Free Agent)
OLB Caleb Murphy (Restricted Free Agent)
OLB Tomon Fox (Restricted Free Agent)
CB Nic Jones (Exclusive Rights Free Agent)
CB Art Green (Exclusive Rights Free Agent)
WR Ryan Miller (Exclusive Rights Free Agent)
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