After the New England Patriots‘ rapid ascent to the top of the AFC with head coach Mike Vrabel and second-year quarterback Drake Maye, there’s hope that the New York Giants can achieve the same quick turnaround with John Harbaugh and Jaxson Dart.
It won’t be easy, but the path has been shown to the Giants.
The work begins this offseason, where New York owns two premier draft picks at the top of the first and second rounds in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Harbaugh can begin shaping the Giants‘ roster how he sees fit.
In the latest mock draft from A to Z Sports, Joe DeLeone has Big Blue grabbing two players who would be essential in a 2026 Giants turnaround.
Giants Land Caleb Downs at No. 5 in Mock Draft
DeLeone projects the New York Giants to select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the No. 5 overall pick.
“I’m a massive proponent of the Giants taking Downs because of the significant potential impact he’d have in resolving multiple issues,” wrote DeLeone.
“Now that John Harbaugh is the coach, it makes even more sense considering the roles of elite safeties in his defenses. While he’s not the same build as Kyle Hamilton, he can be a multi-purpose weapon for the Giants.”
Picking a safety in the top five isn’t the most popular idea, but given Downs’ talents and abilities, I think the selection is more than just.
The Giants should be in the business of finding good players, and Downs is absolutely a great player.
ESPN’s draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. has Downs ranked as the sixth-best prospect on his big board.
“He diagnoses quickly thanks to excellent pre-snap instincts, and that allows him to play faster than his straight-line speed might suggest. Plus, Downs is solid in coverage, and he is a very reliable open-field tackler,” wrote Kiper.
He may not be Kyle Hamilton right away for New York, but he would certainly go a long way in improving the Giants’ awful defense.
Giants Select Caleb Lomu at No. 37 in Mock Draft
With the fifth overall pick in the second round, DeLeone has the New York Giants selecting Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu.
“The offensive line needs to be regarded as a glaring need this offseason. Having a stout unit to protect Jaxson Dart is paramount. If Lomu were to fall this far, the Giants need to pounce, as he has the tools and frame to be a plus starting tackle in the NFL,” continued DeLeone.
With incumbent right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor set to test unrestricted free agency this offseason, the Giants will be in desperate need of a new offensive tackle.
After all of general manager Joe Schoen’s short-term fixes over the last few years, New York hopefully gets a long-term solution with Lomu here.
On Kiper Jr.’s big board, the Utah tackle is the 22nd-ranked prospect, which would make him quite the steal with the No. 37 overall pick.
“Lomu has tremendous upside; he is consistent in pass protection and really excellent as a run blocker. It’s his agility and quickness that stand out most, and I think he’s going to excel in predraft testing and combine events. Lomu does a good job keeping his feet, and he adjusts well to secondary moves from pass rushers,” said Kiper Jr.
It’s no guarantee the Giants can pull a worst-to-first like the New England Patriots, but with a draft class like this, they’re on the right track to turning New York football around.
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