New York Giants fans might not want to think about the 2026 NFL Draft in December 2025, but that’s where we are right now. The upside is that the draft comes with a new level of intrigue and possibility for the Giants.
And to that end, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler makes a modest trade in his first mock draft. He projects the Giants moving from second overall to fourth overall, and gets a top flight weapon for Dart.
The Giants aren’t a “rebuilding” team anymore thanks to Jaxson Dart, but can instead transition to building for 2026 and beyond. Dart has flashed high level play and doesn’t look like a rookie much of the time. He processes like a veteran, playing with great situational awareness and delivering his passes with timing, touch, and precision both in and out of structure. The problem has been that there’s only so much Dart can do with a collection of “Number 3” options.
The Giants’ offense has played far above their available talent level this year, and that’s largely due to the play of Dart. Dart will allow the players around him to play up to their potential, so now the challenge is raising that ceiling as high as possible.
(Note: Brugler doesn’t expand on the trade compensation. Simply that the Giants trade with the Raiders)
4. NY Giants – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
(via Las Vegas Raiders)
Brugler writes:
I didn’t expect Tate to be this high when I started this exercise, but it speaks to the unpredictability of this year’s top 10.
The Buckeyes pass catcher is impressively detailed as a route runner, especially on vertical patterns, and his length and focus make him a ball winner at the catch point. Tate would complement Malik Nabers really well and reflect the Giants’ desire to surround their young quarterback, Jaxson Dart, with more help.
Raptor’s thoughts
I can’t say that I would be upset with this pick, at least depending on how the next few months shake out. Whether it’s Tate or Jordyn Tyson, I believe adding a true “1b” receiver might be the best way to protect Jaxson Dart and allow the Giants’ offense to dictate to defenses.
Tate’s size, detailed route running, sticky hands, and ability to be a deep threat as well as a possession receiver would complement Malik Nabers and Dart extremely well. It could be the same type of pairing as Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, and Eli Manning back in the day.
At this point I do expect Jermaine Eluemunor to be extended, and there could be some good replacements for Greg Van Roten on the free agent market.
I’m not opposed to adding to the offensive line in the first round, and I don’t think Eluemunor should prevent the Giants from drafting a tackle if there’s a potentially great one available. But that will depend on who declares and how they’re ultimately evaluated.
That said, I’d like everyone to think back to the run where Dart got rocked on the sideline. Ignore the uproar about him learning to step out of bounds and ask if he should have been in that position to begin with.
That wasn’t a designed run, nor did the protection crumble. That was a scramble in which Dart took it upon himself to make a play when his “playmakers” were unable to get open. My argument is, and has been, that the Giants need to go get the weapons to make sure he can be aggressive in attacking the defense without feeling like he needs to pick up the slack himself.
Adding a true “1b” receiver would allow players like Hodgins or Wan’Dale Robinson to be the “No.3” receiver, as opposed to a de facto No.1. It would allow much more room for Theo Johnson, Daniel Bellinger, Tyrone Tracy, and Cam Skattebo to work.
Most importantly, forcing the defense to double cover two “Number 1” receivers would allow the coaching staff to scheme open options for Dart so he can safely get rid of the ball, or give him an option downfield that’s single-covered for aggressive strikes.
The Giants wouldn’t have to even consider coaching the aggressiveness out of Dart, and would instead harness it.
By the way, I’m not opposed to adding a defender if the value demands it. If the ultimate evaluation of Caleb Downs or Mansoor Delaine says that they are The Pick, then you make the pick.
I get that the defense has been most fans’ biggest pain point this year, and I’ll write about the defense as a whole soon enough. But that’s beyond the scope of this piece. And besides, ultimately Dart is the future. The Giants’ first, and only, priority needs to be building around him.
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