Matt Citak

The 2026 NFL Draft is officially underway.

The Giants, armed with two picks inside the top 10, have emerged from the first round with Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese (No. 5) and Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (No. 10).

Before we get into what NFL analysts are saying, here are the Giants' remaining draft picks.

2026 New York Giants Draft Order:

Round 1, Pick No. 5 -Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

Round 1, Pick No. 10 -Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami

Round 2, Pick No. 37- Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Round 4, Pick No. 105

Round 5, Pick No. 145

Round 6, Pick No. 186

Round 6, Pick. No. 192 (from MIA)

Round 6, Pick No. 193 (from DAL)

Round 1, Pick 5 - Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

CBS Sports' Mike Renner

Grade:A+

"The Giants just became the scariest edge-rushing group in the NFL and truthfully it's not even close. Their third down packages are going to be a true sprint to the quarterback. Reese has special play strength for someone with 4.46 speed. And he's only scratching the surface at 20-years old."

Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic

Grade:A+

"The Giants likely can't believe their luck. Reese has the most upside of any defensive player in this class, and he's versatile and explosive. When you combine him with Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and perhaps Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Giants now have a ferocious pass rush. And, as we saw a generation ago, that recipe makes Super Bowl jambalaya.

"Reese (6-4, 241) conjures up comparisons with former Penn State (and current Green Bay Packers) pass rusher Micah Parsons and rightly so. Both were lethal pass-rushing linebackers in college and projected as edge defenders in the NFL. In his first season as a starter at Ohio State, Reese was a consensus first-team All-American and racked up 6.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 69 total tackles."

Matt Verderame, Sports Illustrated

Grade:A+

"New York is amassing one heck of a front seven. With Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibadeaux and Abdul Carter up front, the Giants now have Reese alongside Tremaine Edmunds at the second level. For new coach John Harbaugh, he has his Roquan Smith in East Rutherford."

Danny Kelly, The Ringer

Grade: A+

"The draft couldn't have fallen any more perfectly for the Giants to this point, with a couple of surprise picks leading to an Arvell Reese mini-slide. New York lands my top-ranked player here in Reese, a hyperversatile playmaker who can make an impact from both the off-ball linebacker and edge rusher spots. The Giants will have to prove they can fully maximize Reese's skill setand that means figuring out how to split his time on the edge and off the ballbut with Brian Burns and Abdul Carter already on the roster, New York's coaching staff won't have to force Reese into doing only one thing. Reese brings some potential variance because of his tweener profile, but he has as much upside as any player in this draft. I absolutely love this pick for New York."

Charles McDonald, Yahoo! Sports

Grade:A+

"This is how you get value in the top five of the draft. Reese easily could've been the second overall pick and nobody would have batted an eye. To get him here is a bit further than most people thought he would fall, and the Giants need to replenish front seven talent after trading away Dexter Lawrence. Reese can play any linebacker or edge rusher moving forward at a high level."

Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News

Grade: A

"The Giants take advantage of Reese falling a few spots after Bailey to get the most impactful defender available with Love and Tate off the board. Reese is a versatile weapon in the Micah Parsons vein who has shown some pass-rush juice to go with his lateral rangy playmaking. He gives them a little more ground coverage than former college teammate Sonny Styles."

Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report

Grade:A

"The New York Giants should be thrilled, because Arvell Reese was almost universally seen as a top-three pick throughout the lead up to this event. Clearly, head coach John Harbaugh brought a little bit of the Baltimore Ravens with him to New York, because his previous team was known for getting great value on the regular."

Rob Rang, Fox Sports

Grade: A-

"This is a fascinating selection for the Giants, as Reese gives the Giants as formidable a trio of edge rushers as there is in the NFL, teaming, of course, with recent top-10 selections Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Reese's ability to play the off-ball linebacker position, as well as project as a dynamic pass-rusher gives head coach John Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson an awful lot of flexibility. And unlike some of the coaches who passed on Reese, Harbaugh has the security to give him time to develop."

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today

Grade:A-

"Reese was the top-ranked overall player on many analysts' big boards (including ours). He can detonate blockers and ball carriers alike, which will surely come in handy for bolstering the league's 31st-ranked run defense. The pass-rush plan might take some time to coalesce, but the Micah Parsons comparisons - while lofty - are not unfounded."

Mark Schofield, SB Nation

Grade:A-

"In today's NFL the most important spot on the field remains seven yards behind the center. You need a quarterback that can throw from there, linemen that can protect that spot, and defenders that can attack it. The Giants now have some talent on their defense front with the addition of Arvell Reese. There will be some refinement needed if he moves to the edge full-time, and he can still offer some athleticism on the second level if the Giants want to use him in an off-ball role, but they have given themselves some options here at No. 5, and I love when a team seems to have a plan."

Next Gen Stats

No. 1 Best Value Pick of the First Round - Arvell Reese

"Long viewed as a possible option for the Jets at No. 2, Reese gave the Giants a top-of-the-board talent at No. 5 overall. New York did not have to force the pick, which made this a clean best-player-available swing on a front-seven chess piece with real positional flexibility -- one who can slot in alongside Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

"At 241 pounds, Reese ran a 4.46 40 and reached 22.58 mph at the NFL Scouting Combine, according to NGS tracking data, the second-fastest top speed among edge rushers in this year's class. That speed showed up in movement drills, too: He hit 15.01 mph in the run-the-hoop drill and 14.20 mph in the defensive line pass-rush drill -- both top-two marks among edge defenders. Pair that athletic profile with an 84 production score and a 20-plus pressure rate in his lone season as a starter (according to PFF), and it is easy to see why the Giants viewed him as a high-end value pick with immediate sub-package juice and long-term upside."

Bradley Locker, Pro Football Focus

Most-improved units after Round 1:New York Giants linebackers

"Amid wide-ranging predictions with their two top-10 picks, the Giants opted for a pair of reliable, talented players in Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa. In particular, New York's top rookie figures to significantly overhaul its linebacker room...

"While Reese was projected by some as an NFL-level edge rusher, his off-ball skillset highlighted by his prodigious closing speed, ability to read and react and block deconstruction will fit right in for John Harbaugh's defense, which is already stacked at edge defender. More specifically, Reese's 86.5 run-defense grade and 6% missed tackle rate give him high upside at linebacker."

Ben Linsey, Pro Football Focus

Grade:Very Good

"Reese is a tremendous athlete who plays with physicality, and there's plenty of room for growth at just 20 years old. This marks back-to-back years in which the Giants have used an early pick on a pass rusher with off-ball experience (Abdul Carter in 2025), providing versatility to their defensive front and pass-rush packages."

Bucky Brooks, NFL.com

"With Tate off the board, the Giants select a dynamic athlete in Reese who possesses the speed, explosiveness and power to win. He should fit seamlessly into Dennard Wilson's defense alongside Brian Burns, making the Giants' front an absolute headache for quarterbacks. I expect the hybrid playmaker to be a force from the jump in New York."

Pro Football Focus

"Reese doesn't have much experience working as a traditional edge rusher, but that doesn't mean he can't impact the quarterback as a pass rusher, even if he ends up playing primarily off-ball for New York. Reese is a tremendous athlete who plays with physicality, and there's plenty of room for growth at just 20 years old. This marks back-to-back years in which the Giants have used an early pick on a pass rusher with off-ball experience (Abdul Carter in 2025), providing versatility to their defensive front and pass-rush packages."

Round 1, Pick 10 - Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami

Chad Reuter, NFL.com

Day 1 Grade:A

"Getting Reese at fifth overall was excellent value. The team has decisions to make with three former first-round edge rushers on the depth chart (Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux), but Reese can play inside or outside for the Giants because of his athleticism and strength at the point of attack. I'm excited to see how he excels as a three-down player as his rookie season progresses.

"The selection of Mauigoa wasn't a surprise since Big Blue desperately needed a starting right guard. He was a right tackle in college but mauls opponents in the run game and is sturdy in pass protection, making him a natural fit inside."

Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic

Grade:A

"Mauigoa is a terrific run blocker, the heart of Miami's offense and as reliable as it gets. This has been a terrific draft for the Giants. Arvell Reese at No. 5 is outstanding value and there were some in the NFL who considered Mauigoa as this draft's top offensive lineman. Could be an immediate guard, maybe a long-term tackle. Either way, he'll be a factor in New York."

Rob Rang, Fox Sports

Grade: A

"Mauigoa starred at right tackle for The U, but I believe the Giants will move him inside to right guard. His girth and power make him an ideal fit for New York, a club looking to adopt the run-heavy attack John Harbaugh preferred at Baltimore. I actually like this fit even better than Spencer Fano in Cleveland one pick earlier despite the left tackle position being more valued than interior blockers."

CBS Sports' Mike Renner

Grade:A-

"The Giants lock in the missing piece to their starting five with Mauigoa. He'll kick inside to right guard for now, where he'll be a butt-kicker in the run game. His ability to move people off the line of scrimmage is special for a player who hasn't even turned 21 yet. Jaxson Dart is somewhere celebrating."

Mark Schofield, SB Nation

Grade:A-

"When the Giants swung last weekend's trade with the Cincinnati Bengals to secure this selection, many thought one potential path for them was Mauigoa at No. 5, and perhaps Tyson at No. 10. Another option was Mauigoa at No. 5, and the best defender available at No. 10. Now, the Giants get Arvell Reese at No. 5 an elite upgrade to their defensive front and a mauler in Mauigoa at No. 10. The process is commendable."

Mike Jones, The Athletic

Day 1 Winner:Giants

"The Giants had two top-10 picks and devoted those resources to acquire two foundational pieces that should help upgrade both their offensive and defensive fronts. With the fifth pick, they took Ohio State pass rusher Arvell Reese, and five picks later, they took offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa."

Ben Linsey, Pro Football Focus

Grade:Good

"Mauigoa is a powerful run blocker who is coming off a 2025 season at Miami in which he earned an 87.0 PFF pass-blocking grade at right tackle."

Bucky Brooks, NFL.com

"This is a meat and potatoes draft for the Giants as they snag a mauler for their O-line. The physical Mauigoa is a smart run blocker who bullies defenders at the point of attack. Jaxson Dart should be pleased with this pick."

Pro Football Focus

"There's a good chance Mauigoa starts his career on the interior, where the Giants have a more immediate need after bringing back Jermaine Eluemunor at right tackle. However, he provides potential tackle flexibility in case of injury or future roster movement. Mauigoa is a powerful run blocker who is coming off a 2025 season at Miami in which he earned an 87.0 PFF pass-blocking grade at right tackle."

Round 2, Pick 37 - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic

Grade:A

"The Giants continue to make a case for the best draft of 2026. Hood was a first-round talent at a position of need, and the Giants plucked him in Round 2. He should be an immediate starter."

Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News

Grade:A

"Hood appealed to the Giants because of his physical frame and toughness he uses to make a lot of plays in coverage. He is a value with limited pop at corner with Paulson Adebo and Greg Newsome II."

Sports Illustrated

Grade:A

"Hood is the third corner off the board and presents an immediate fixture in the secondary for new coordinator Dennard Wilson, who prioritizes physical coverage."

Mike Renner, CBS Sports

Grade: B+

"New defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson gets himself one of the better press-corners in the class. Hood is physical at the line of scrimmage and has top-end speed to make up ground deep. While he can get a little overly aggressive, he's still one of the younger corners in the class, just turning 21, with room for development."

Mark Schofield and James Dator, SB Nation

Grade:B+

"Known in the process as the "other" Vols corner, injury concerns for Jermod McCoy switched their order. Hood is a little on the smaller side at 5'11 but he had really good ball skills, solid discipline, and he was No. 29 on our Top 100 big board. The transformation to the Giants defense is here, and Hood is a guy who can do work in a John Harbaugh system."

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today

Grade:B+

"Hood is more of a long-term investment than an immediate solution, but he can match up with bigger receivers who threaten defenses downfield."

Eric Edholm, NFL.com

"Hood's teammate, Jermod McCoy, must wait longer, but this is a very respectable pluck early in Round 2 for the Giants, who are off to a strong start in this draft. Hood has long arms, covers with patience and has a strong competitive spirit. He's leaner and hasn't been a ballhawk, but this upgrades the secondary."