The New York Giants stumble into their bye week carrying a 2-11 record with four games to go.
As things stand now, the Giants hold the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after their loss to the New England Patriots. That, strictly speaking, isn’t anything new, and the Giants haven’t moved in the draft order despite their latest loss.
More interesting is the fact that there are four quarterback needy teams directly behind the Giants, in the New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, and New York Jets.
The Giants certainly seem to have “their guy” at quarterback in Jaxson Dart. If the draft order holds through the end of the year, it could set the stage for a big trade.
The New York Jets stand out as a team primed to move up for a quarterback after acquiring multiple first round picks at the trade deadline — as well as a glaring need at the position. The Jets are behind the Saints, Raiders, and Browns, each of whom could be willing to jump up to 1st overall to fill their own quarterback need.
It’s possible that this year’s draft class could just have two passers at the top of the class. As things stand now, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is the top quarterback in the class. He has prototypical size, good arm talent and football IQ, and enough athleticism. He’s also a red-shirt junior and a three-year starter, so he’s less likely to return to school.
The class becomes a bit murky after Mendoza, as we don’t know which of the other top prospects could declare.
Alabama’s Ty Simpson could come off the board before Mendoza, but he may not declare for the draft as a one-year starter. Oregon’s Dante Moore could be a high pick as well, but is similarly inexperienced and a red-shirt sophomore.
A trade down from the top of the draft would likely be an ideal scenario for the Giants. The Giants are currently without their third round pick — used to in the trade up for Dart — while also being in the position of needing to add young talent around their young passer.
The Giants are currently 11th in draft capital with the 2nd, 34th, 102nd, 142nd, 181st, 191st, and 195th picks.
Assuming another starting caliber quarterback declares and a trade scenario emerges, there is some precedent of a team moving from the bottom of the Top 10 to the second overall pick in a “two quarterback” class.
The Philadelphia Eagles traded the Cleveland Browns the 8th, 77th (3rd round) and 100th (4th round) overall picks in the 2016 NFL Draft to move from 8th to 2nd overall for Carson Wentz. The Eagles also added their 1st round pick in the 2017 draft and 2nd round pick in the 2018 draft to complete the deal. The Giants would be unlikely to get that much from the Jets to move from 7th to 2nd, but the deal could be a useful framework.
Likewise, 7th overall could be a very good value position for a player like Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State), Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona State), Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State), Spencer Fano (OT, Utah), Francis Mauigoa (OT, Miami), Mansoor Delain (CB, LSU), or Peter Woods (iDL, Clemson).
The Jets currently have picks 7, 23 (via the Indianapolis Colts), 38, and 48 (via Dallas Cowboys) in 2026, as well as the Colts’ and Cowboys’ picks in the first round of the 2027 draft.
Turning the 2nd overall pick into the 7th, 48th, 108th and one of the Jets’ extra 2027 first rounders (or both of the Jets’ first round picks in 2026) could set the Giants up to add significant talent over the early years of Dart’s contract
Of course, the Giants would have to stay ahead of the quarterback needy teams in the draft order for this scenario to have a chance of materializing.
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