The Giants.com crew members discuss how the moves in free agency will affect the draft next month.

John Schmeelk: The Giants are not entering the draft staring at one specific spot on the roster where they have to do something or the team's chances of success this season would be severely compromised. Are there still needs, specifically on the interior of the offensive and defensive lines? Sure. But those spots, given the players still available in free agency, can be filled by veterans down the road. As we enter the third week of free agency and most of the NFL's cap space gets filled, the remaining veterans still on the market become more likely to wait until after the draft to decide where they want to sign based not only on money but opportunity. Teams likewise might sweeten the pot for specific players if they were not able to augment certain positions in the draft.

In other words, the Giants have the freedom to pick the best players, almost regardless of position. In the case of tiebreakers, they might still lean towards positions where there is both immediate and long-term need. It's important to remember drafts are not conducted for one season. Joe Schoen and John Harbaugh also need to consider what positions might look like in 2027. Greg Newsome II, Darnell Mooney, and Calvin Austin III were all reportedly signed to one-year deals. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Roy Robertson-Harris, Micah McFadden, and Deonte Banks are on the last year of their contracts. John Michael Schmitz and Jon Runyan are on the last year of their contracts. It's important to plan ahead for all front offices when it comes to building a roster.

There are enough needs all over the roster where the Giants can focus on talent acquisition rather than filling holes. The Giants just need to pick good football players, and they will find their way onto the field. It doesn't have to be a home run. Doubles will do just fine. Find an impact player that will help on either side of the ball. The work the Giants did in free agency will allow them to do that.

Dan Salomone: Coaches and general managers will be in Phoenix next week for the NFL Annual Meeting, and I'm guessing the question of "positional value" will come up once or twice during media sessions. And I think I know the answer.

It will go something like what John Harbaugh said at his introductory press conference: "To me, the number one thing is we have to have guys that love football. You just have to. It's football. What are we here for? What do we do? What is this building for? It's for football. This is a football team."

He's not trying to build the best quarterback room.

He's not trying to build the greatest arsenal of skill players.

He's not trying to build the most dominant pass rush.

He might be trying to build the best group of special teamers.

Jokes aside, the bottom line is he doesn't seem like a coach who will be dictated by perceived positional value. The real value of a player is if he can help his team walk off the field on Sundays with more points than the opponent. Harbaugh did that 193 times with Baltimore, including a big one that included confetti at the end.

The Giants haven't been able to do that enough recently, and that's why they are picking at No. 5. It's also the reason they can't rule out any position, other than quarterback, in the draft.

That is the one luxury they did not have a year ago. In other words, the biggest thing that will affect this upcoming draft is not free agency. It was the 25^th pick in the 2025 draft. Jaxson Dart's presence sets them up to take the best player available – in every round.

Matt Citak: In an ideal world, teams want to address needs during free agency in order to free them up to simply take the best player available during the draft. As John mentioned, the Giants did a good job of addressing some of the holes on the roster over the last few weeks. But the only signing that I believe truly takes that position out of the running for either of the team's first two picks would be the re-signing of right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor.

Between Eluemunor and Andrew Thomas, the Giants should be set at offensive tackle for the foreseeable future. But all of the other positions that were considered needs at the beginning of the month, even the ones that saw some veterans added in free agency, could still be in play at No. 5 and No. 37.

With the fifth overall pick, the Giants will have an opportunity to add a game-changing player. Their moves in free agency did nothing to change this fact. At least one, if not more, of Ohio State's impact players should be on the board when the Giants get on the clock. That group consists of linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, safety Caleb Downs, and wide receiver Carnell Tate. All four of those prospects are likely still in play for the Giants, and any of the four would instantly provide that respective position group with a tremendous boost. Maybe the Giants decide to shore up the depth in their cornerback group with the selection of LSU's Mansoor Delane or Tennessee's Jermod McCoy. Maybe the team chooses to beef up Jaxson Dart's protection with the selection of Miami's Francis Mauigoa, who has trained at all five positions on the offensive line, or Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane. Or maybe they decide to select arguably the most talented player in the entire draft in Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.

The draft is now officially less than one month away. While more players can and likely will be added to the roster over the next few weeks, I don't expect there to be any additions that will drastically alter the team's draft plans. Come April 23rd, I expect the Giants to select whichever player sits at the top of their draft board once they are on the clock at No. 5, regardless of position.