The New York Giants are heading toward a top 5 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. With 5½ months before GM Joe Schoen, if he still has that role, is on the clock draft analyst Todd McShay has already hit on the perfect move for the Giants next April.
In a newly-released mock draft via his ‘McShay Report’ newsletter, McShay has the Giants trading down one spot from No. 3 to No. 4. McShay used that pick to select Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, but that is almost irrelevant at this point.
The important part is the trade down. With Jaxson Dart in place, the Giants do not need to draft a quarterback. They absolutely need to take advantage of that finding a team that does, and accumulating as much draft capital to help build their roster as they possibly can.
In his mock, McShay finds the perfect partner. He has the Giants move down one spot, swapping picks with the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland uses that pick to select Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. Noteworthy, but irrelevant to our discussion.
McShay does not list the terms of the trade with the Browns. Cleveland, though, also possesses a second first-round pick, No. 19 overall. If I am the Giants GM in this spot, that is my asking price. The classic Jimmy Johnson trade chart says Cleveland’s second-round pick, No. 38, is appropriate value, but I would still try to squeeze the Browns for No. 19 in this spot. They won’t be the only bidder for the third pick in this scenario.
As for the pick of Tyson, I can certainly understand going wide receiver here. Can you take safety Caleb Downs at No. 4? If you re-sign Jermaine Eluemunor and believe in Marcus Mbow, do you need to select an offensive tackle this early?
Raptor’s thoughts
Depending on how the rest of the season shakes out, trading down is absolutely the correct choice here. I don’t necessarily think the Giants need as many picks as possible to fill out their roster, but collecting picks to help fill out their depth chart would also go a long way toward making the roster more durable while better coaching allows the young players already on the roster to blossom.
The Giants are in the catbird seat of not needing a quarterback in what looks like a top-heavy quarterback class, surrounded by teams that need quarterbacks. They’re also in the somewhat interesting position of the strength at the top of the draft perfectly matching their deepest, strongest position: edge.
Perhaps the Giants could trade Kayvon Thibodeaux and draft either Rueben Bain Jr. (DE, Miami) or Arvell Reese (LB/edge, Ohio State), but that isn’t really adding to the team so much as delaying a second contract.
Valuable, but not as much as it could be with a Franchise Quarterback on a rookie deal.
Trading down makes the value for players like Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State), Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona State), Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State), Peter Woods (iDL, Clemson), Spencer Fano (OT, Utah), or Francis Mauigoa (RT, Miami), work much better for the Giants. Staying in the Top 5 could be ideal, but there could be plenty of great options for the Giants anywhere in the Top 10.
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