NY Giants draft 2026: How the NFL Scouting Combine changed mock drafts

With the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in the rearview mirror, thoughts on some of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft have evolved. That means post-Combine mock drafts looks different than earlier ones.

Let’s look at a handful of post-Combine mock drafts from some of the major players in the NFL Draft media to see how things may have changed for the New York Giants.

Jordan Reid (ESPN)

Reid posted a two-round mock draft on Tuesday.

Round 1 (No. 5) — Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Reid writes:

The last time an off-ball linebacker was picked in the top five was 2019, when the Buccaneers took Devin White. So while it’s rare, Styles’ skill set pairs really well with the defense coach John Harbaugh will likely bring to the Giants. Styles dazzled at the combine and can be the boisterous presence that Harbaugh’s Ravens teams often had at middle linebacker. The 6-foot-5, 243-pound defender is a converted safety who has the intangibles and potential to wear the green dot right away as a rookie.

This, of course, is the same thing I did in my most recent mock draft. By the time we get to our weekly mock draft tracker on Friday I think Styles to the Giants is going to emerge as a trend in mock drafts.

An interesting non-Giants note in Reid’s mock draft is that he has Georgia left tackle Morgan Freeling going No. 6 to the Cleveland Browns after an impressive Combine. Freeling is OT1 in this class. He has Francis Mauigoa of Miami going No. 11 to the Miami Dolphins, and Spencer Fano of Utah falling to the Carolina Panthers all the way down at No. 19.

Round 2 (No. 37) — Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

Reid writes:

If the Giants can’t re-sign right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, they could pivot to a younger option. Iheanachor makes a lot of sense here as a right tackle to protect Jaxson Dart. Iheanachor is a high-upside player who’s still growing into the position after not playing football in high school.

When he saw this mock draft, BBV’s Chris Pflum messaged me that this draft would be a “home run.” I agree, IF the Giants don’t re-sign Eluemunor. If they re-sign the veteran right tackle, I would prefer one of the top two guards left on the board, Emmanuel Pregnon of Oregon or Chase Bisontis of Texas A&M. Or, a different position entirely.

The Athletic (NFL executives)

While at the Combine, the Athletic’s Mike Sando polled a general manger, two assistant GMs, and a VP of player personnel for their top picks. Following is how the Round 1 consensus ended up for the Giants.

Round 1 (No. 5) — Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

Per Sando, three of the four executives chose Mauigoa.

An exec who questioned New England’s selection of left tackle Will Campbell at No. 4 last year thought the offensive tackles atop this draft were safer picks.

“The New England guy was limited physically,” this exec said. “These guys (Mauigoa and Spencer Fano) are not.”

For context, here is the executives’ consensus top 10:

1. Las Vegas Raiders — Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2. New York Jets — Arvell Reese, LB/Edge, Ohio State
3. Arizona Cardinals — David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
4. Tennessee Titans — Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
5. Giants — Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
6. Cleveland Browns — Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
7. Washington Commanders — Reuben Bain, Edge, Miami
8. New Orleans Saints — Makai Lemon, WR, USC
9. Kansas City Chiefs — Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
10. Cincinnati Bengals — Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

I can’t even talk about the Giants’ pick here. I am literally stunned that neither Styles nor Ohio State safety Caleb Downs are in this top 10.

Trevor Sikkema (PFF)

Round 1 (No. 5) — Carnell Tate, WR, Miami

Sikkema writes:

Tate had an opportunity to grab the WR1 title by the horns since both Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon did not do any athletic testing at the combine, but he came up short with a 4.53-second 40-yard dash. That doesn’t hurt his stock, in my opinion, but it keeps him in the conversation with the other three. Still, his range likely starts here at No. 5 to give Jaxson Dart two legitimate deep-threat receivers in 2026.

I get it. Mauigoa went No. 3 to Arizona in Sikkema’s mock, and Styles went No. 4 to the Titans. I would prefer Downs here, but that’s me. This is certainly a defensible selection that will make the Giants better.

Lance Zierlein (NFL)

Round 1 (No. 5) — Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

Zierlein writes:

The Giants take a swing on a high-upside cornerback who missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from an ACL tear.

Zierlein has left the reservation here. The only defense is that he gave LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane to the Titans at No. 4.

Still, McCoy can’t be the pick this early. His tape is fantastic and he might end up being a great player, but he did not play in 2025 because of a torn ACL and then refused to get on the field at the Combine and show teams he was healthy. This after some reports that he was practicing with the Volunteers last fall and has been healthy for quite some time.

As much as I like what I have seen of the player, and he might have been CB1 in the draft had he played last season, you just can’t take him here.

Downs, Mauigoa, Styles, Tate, Lemon, and Love all still on the board.