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.
View photos of players arriving to sign their contracts at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
Patrick Ricard
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
Darnell Mooney
Isaiah Likely
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
K Jason Sanders
Jason Pinnock
Tremaine Edmunds
Ar'Darius Washington
G Aaron Stinnie (64)
Patrick Ricard
OLB Zaire Barnes (46)
Jason Pinnock
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
Isaiah Likely
OL Joshua Ezeudu (75)
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
K Jason Sanders
Elijah Campbell
Tremaine Edmunds
Isaiah Likely
Patrick Ricard
Isaiah Likely
Greg Newsome II
Tremaine Edmunds
K Jason Sanders
Tremaine Edmunds
K Jason Sanders
Ar'Darius Washington
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
G Aaron Stinnie (64)
Isaiah Likely
Tremaine Edmunds
Greg Newsome II
Darnell Mooney
Patrick Ricard
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
OLB Zaire Barnes (46)
Elijah Campbell
Ar'Darius Washington
Tremaine Edmunds
Patrick Ricard
Ar'Darius Washington
Greg Newsome II
Patrick Ricard
Isaiah Likely
Jason Pinnock
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 25th pick in the 2025 draft. Jaxson Dart's presence sets them up to take the best player available â in every round.
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
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.
View every move made by the New York Giants during the 2026 cycle.
QB Jake Haener - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 3)
OLB Trace Ford - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 3)
OL Kendrick Green - Practice Squad Veteran (October 2)
OL Darian Kinnard - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 2)
OLB Jihad Ward - Free Agent Signing from MIN Practice Squad (October 1)
DL Josh Tupou - Practice Squad Veteran (October 1)
DL Josh Tupou - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 30)
QB Jake Haener - Practice Squad Exception (September 30)
WR Braxton Berrios - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (September 29)
WR Charlie Jones - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (September 29)
OLB Brian Burns - Reserve/Injured (September 29)
WR Odell Beckham Jr. - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 29)
DL PJ Mustipher - Practice Squad Exception (September 29)
QB J.J. McCarthy - Acquired (from MIN) for 2027 Fifth Round Pick (September 28)
QB Jake Haener - Waived, No Recall (September 28)
QB Jake Haener - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (September 26)
WR Braxton Berrios - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 26)
LB Malik Harrison - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 26)
QB Jaxson Dart - Reserve/Injured (September 24)
DL C.J. Ravenell - Practice Squad Exception (September 22)
OL Ryan Schernecke - Practice Squad (September 22)
OL Kingsley Eguakun - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 22)
DB Elijah Jones - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 22)
WR Braxton Berrios - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
LB Malik Harrison - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
CB Nikko Reed - Free Agent Signing (from LAC PS) (September 18)
CB Paulson Adebo - Reserve/Injured (September 18)
CB Jaden Robinson - Practice Squad (September 17)
OL Ryan Schernecke - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 17)
DL Josh Tupou - Free Agent Signing from NYG PS (September 16)
WR Dalen Cambre - Practice Squad (September 16)
RB Phil Mafah - Practice Squad (September 14)
WR Dalen Cambre - Waived, No Recall (September 14)
WR Dalen Cambre - Free Agent Signing (from NYG PS) (September 12)
WR Braxton Berrios - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 12)
LB Malik Harrison - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 12)
WR Darius Slayton - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 7)
G Jon Runyan Jr. - Signed, 2-year contract extension (September 7)
QB Jameis Winston - Signed, 2-year contract extension (September 7)
LB Malik Harrison - Practice Squad Veteran (September 3)
DL Ben Barten - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 3)
OL Geno VanDeMark - Practice Squad (September 2)
DB JT Woods - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 2)
OL Kingsley Eguakun - Practice Squad (September 1)
WR Charlie Jones - Practice Squad Veteran (September 1)
OL Darian Kinnard - Practice Squad Veteran (September 1)
DB Elijah Jones - Practice Squad Exception (September 1)
DL Ben Barten, WR Dalen Cambre, FB Grant Finley, OLB Trace Ford, DB Raheem Layne, LB Chandler Martin, OL Ryan Schernecke - Practice Squad (August 31)
WR Braxton Berrios, WR Jalin Hyatt, DL Josh Tupou - Practice Squad Veteran (August 31)
QB Jake Haener, DB J.T. Woods - Practice Squad Exception (August 31)
OL Jarrod Gray - International Practice Player Signing (August 31)
CB Korie Black - Reserve/Injured / Designated for Return (August 30)
CB Art Green, K Ben Sauls - Waived, Injury Settlement (August 30)
DL Anquin Barnes Jr., DL Ben Barten, S Beau Brade, WR Dalen Cambre, FB Grant Finley, OLB Trace Ford, WR Xavier Gipson, RB Eric Gray, OL Jarrod Gray, QB Jake Haener, WR Jalin Hyatt, OL Jake Kubas, LB Chandler Martin, LB Darius Muasau, OLB Caleb Murphy, DL Zacch Pickens, OL Ryan Schernecke, S J.T. Woods - Waived, No Recall (August 30)
QB Brandon Allen, WR Braxton Berrios, TE Tanner Conner, DL Marlon Davidson, OLB Khalid Kareem, S Raheem Layne, OL Evan Neal, OL Lucas Patrick, DL Josh Tupou - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 30)
RB Damon Bankston, LB Anfernee Orji, WR Kobe Prentice - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
CB Ugo Amadi, TE Josiah Deguara, DL Leki Fotu, WR Isaiah Hodgins, OL Brenden Jaimes - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
WR Calvin Austin III - Reserve/Injured (August 27)
OL Joshua Ezeudu - Traded (to KC) for 2028 Seventh Round Pick (August 26)
TE Josiah Deguara - Free Agent Signing (August 26)
WR Kobe Prentice - Free Agent Signing (August 26)
WR Ryan Miller - Waived, No Recall (August 24)
DL Ben Barten - Claimed (off waivers from NYJ) (August 19)
OL Daniel Faalele - Traded (to JAX) for 2027 Sixth Round Pick (August 18)
RB Najee Harris - Free Agent Signing (August 18)
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster - Terminated, Vested Veteran (August 18)
QB Jake Haener - Free Agent Signing (August 17)
LB Chandler Martin - Free Agent Signing (August 17)
RB Dante Miller - Waived/Injured (August 17)
DB Sam Webb - Reserve/Retired (August 16)
DB Ugo Amadi - Free Agent Signing (August 13)
DB Sam Webb - Free Agent Signing (August 13)
CB David Long Jr. - Terminated, Vested Veteran (August 13)
CB DJ James - Waived/Injured (August 13)
S JT Woods - Free Agent Signing (August 10)
DL Sam Roberts - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 10)
OL Brenden Jaimes - Free Agent Signing (August 8)
CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse - Waived/Injured (August 7)
FB Grant Finley - Free Agent Signing (August 6)
TE Tyler Moore - Waived, No Recall (August 6)
DB David Long Jr. - Free Agent Signing (August 5)
DB D.J. James - Free Agent Signing (August 5)
DL Roy Robertson-Harris - Reserve/Injured (August 5)
WR Beaux Collins - Waived/Injured (August 5)
LB Anfernee Orji - Free Agent Signing (July 30)
DL Ben Barten - Waived, No Recall (July 30)
TE Thomas Fidone II - Passed Physical (July 28)
DL Sam Roberts - Passed Physical (July 28)
DL Marlon Davidson - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
TE Tyler Moore - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
DL C.J. Ravenell - Waived, Non-Football Injury (July 25)
LB Cam Jones - Waived, No Recall (July 25)
DL C.J. Ravenell - Claimed (off waivers from TEN) (July 7)
CB Rico Payton - Waived/Injured (July 7)
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster - Free Agent Signing (June 2)
K Jason Sanders - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (June 2)
WR Odell Beckham Jr. - Free Agent Signing (June 1)
WR Braxton Berrios - Free Agent Signing (June 1)
OL Jarrod Gray - Free Agent Signing: Exempt/International Player (June 1)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Reserve/Injured (June 1)
LS Zach Triner - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (June 1)
LB Arvell Reese - Selection List Signing (May 29)
OL Francis Mauigoa - Selection List Signing (May 27)
DL Josh Tupou - Free Agent Signing (May 27)
T Reid Holskey - Waived, No Recall (May 27)
OLB Khalid Kareem - Free Agent Signing (May 14)
CB Thaddeus Dixon - Reserve/Injured (May 14)
CB Colton Hood - Selection List Signing (May 12)
RB Damon Bankston - Free Agent Signing (May 8)
WR Malachi Fields - Selection List Signing (May 7)
DL Bobby Jamison-Travis - Selection List Signing (May 7)
OL J.C. Davis - Selection List Signing (May 7)
LB Jack Kelly - Selection List Signing (May 7)
DT Anquin Barnes, DL Ben Barten, CB Thaddeus Dixon, LS Ben Mann, OL Ryan Schernecke, K Dominic Zvada - Free Agent Signing (May 7)
LB Swayze Bozeman - Waived, No Recall (May 7)
DL Elijah Chatman - Waived, No Recall (May 7)
WR Courtney Jackson - Waived, No Recall (May 7)
DL Marlon Tuipulotu - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (May 7)
DL DJ Reader - Free Agent Signing (May 6)
DL Zacch Pickens - Claimed off Waivers from KC (May 5)
DL Leki Fotu - Free Agent Signing (April 30)
DL Shelby Harris - Free Agent Signing (April 30)
LB DeMarvin Leal - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (April 25)
LB Jack Kelly - Selected in the 6th Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 193 overall) (April 25)
OL J.C. Davis - Selected in the 6th Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 192 overall) (April 25)
DL Bobby Jamison-Travis - Selected in the 6th Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 186 overall) (April 25)
WR Malachi Fields - Selected in the 3rd Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 74 overall) (April 24)
CB Colton Hood - Selected in the 2nd Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 37 overall) (April 24)
OL Francis Mauigoa - Selected in the 1st Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 10 overall) (April 23)
LB Arvell Reese - Selected in the 1st Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 5 overall) (April 23)
DL Dexter Lawrence - Traded (to CIN) for 2026 First Round Pick (No. 10 overall) (April 19)
QB Brandon Allen - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 13)
OL Daniel Faalele - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 9)
WR Ryan Miller - Exclusive Rights Signing (April 7)
OL Lucas Patrick - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 6)
WR Da'Quan Felton, DB Patrick McMorris, DB T.J. Moore, DB Myles Purchase - Waived, No Recall (April 6)
K Graham Gano - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 30)
LB Cam Jones - Free Agent Signing (March 25)
LS Zach Triner - Free Agent Signing (March 24)
DL Sam Roberts - Free Agent Signing (March 23)
DB Elijah Campbell - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 20)
OL Joshua Ezeudu - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
WR Darnell Mooney - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
S Jason Pinnock - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 16)
WR Calvin Austin III - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
LB Zaire Barnes - Free Agent Signing (March 14)
P Jordan Stout - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 13)
CB Greg Newsome II - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 13)
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
S Ar'Darius Washington - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
CB Art Green - Re-signed (March 12)
TE Isaiah Likely - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
FB Patrick Ricard - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
LB Tremaine Edmunds - Free Agent Signing (March 12)
T Jermaine Eluemunor - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
K Jason Sanders - Free Agent Signing (March 11)
Chris Board - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 11)
P Jamie Gillan - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 11)
OL Evan Neal - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 11)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 11)
LB Micah McFadden - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 11)
OLB Caleb Murphy - Re-signed (March 10)
S Anthony Johnson - Waived, No Recall (March 10)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Re-signed (March 6)
T James Hudson III - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 6)
LB Bobby Okereke - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 4)
WR Courtney Jackson - Free Agent Signing (February 13)
LB DeMarvin Leal - Reserve/Future (January 22)
DT Marlon Tuipulotu - Reserve/Future (January 13)
G Jake Kubas - Reserve/Future (January 7)
LB Swayze Bozeman - Reserve/Future (January 5)
TE Tanner Conner - Reserve/Future (January 5)
OLB Trace Ford - Reserve/Future (January 5)
T Reid Holskey - Reserve/Future (January 5)
S Patrick McMorris - Reserve/Future (January 5)
CB Myles Purchase - Reserve/Future (January 5)
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