The New York Giants are going to have to earn their respect on the field in 2026. The presence of head coach John Harbaugh and a widely-acclaimed 2026 NFL Draft haul have not been enough to move the needle when it comes to post-draft NFL Draft power rankings.
The first thing you notice when you step back and look at the Giants’ draft class is that there was a big emphasis on getting bigger. Yes, the Arvell Reese pick was the showstopper, and the Colton Hood selection earned some worthy buzz in Round 2. But the remainder of the picks were focused on size and physicality — and that’s not to suggest Reese and Hood don’t play with an edge, because they do. It felt like a promising start to the John Harbaugh era, piggybacking off a relatively strong rest of the offseason. I still think the Giants have a big need in the defensive interior after trading Dexter Lawrence, but there might be some workable (cheaper) veteran options to consider. All in all, the arrow is pointing up for the G-Men, but can they translate that into wins?
They had a nice draft to help both units up front, which was important. But the real key is Jaxson Dart’s continued growth.
The first-round edge rusher joins a pass-rushing group that includes Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and, at least for now, Kayvon Thibodeaux. Tackle Francis Mauigoa may have a bigger impact on wins and losses, but Reese should put up eye-popping stats.
Armed with two top-10 picks, they came away with arguably the draft’s best LB (Arvell Reese) and best offensive lineman (Francis Mauigoa). Then they landed one of the best corners in Round 2 (Colton Hood) and a top-10 WR in Round 3 (Malachi Fields). John Harbaugh’s first draft was fantastic.
In theory, the addition of head coach John Harbaugh will make the New York Giants a more formidable force in the NFC East.
Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens teams weren’t always elite, but they were typically in the playoff conversation.
On paper, New York’s roster is better, too, though the loss of Dexter Lawrence will be felt. Arvell Reese has the potential to be a special defender. Isaiah Likely, Darnell Mooney, Francis Mauigoa and Malachi Fields give Jaxson Dart a much-improved supporting cast.
The question is whether Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers will return from injury and be at 100 percent early in the year. It also remains to be seen if Harbaugh can convince Dart to protect himself.
If the Giants can avoid significant injury issues, they can push for playoff contention.