The New York Giants will have the opportunity to address every position of need in the 2026 NFL draft.
In the latest mock draft from The Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer, the Giants do exactly that. Instead of selecting a wide receiver or defensive lineman with the No. 5 overall pick, they choose Ohio State safety Caleb Downs to strengthen their secondary.
The Giants don’t have the most screaming need for a safety vs. other positions,s but they can’t ignore the fact that Downs is a do-everything transcendent defender who will help on multiple levels.
Downs was a unanimous first-team All-American in 2025. His physical tools and range as a safety suggest he has the potential to transform the Giants’ secondary as early as next season.
Defensive tackle, wide receiver, and center are among the positions of need, and there is not a single area the Giants fail to address after selecting Downs.
New York takes Georgia defensive tackle Christen Miller at No. 37 overall, followed by Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge at No. 105, Oklahoma wide receiver Deion Burks at No. 145, and California cornerback Brent Austin at No. 186.
The Giants need to keep supporting Dexter Lawrence and the rest of their front. Miller’s relentless upfield disruption is a great fit.
Miller recorded 1.5 sacks and four tackles for loss in 2025. He projects to add depth to the defensive tackle position in New York, where an incumbent starter next to Dexter Lawrence is viewed as a necessity for the Giants. Rutledge allowed only five total pressures on the season without surrendering a sack at right guard.
Burks recorded 620 receiving yards for Oklahoma last season. Austin recorded 13 passes defensed in 2025. The previous year marked the last time he recorded an interception, with two picks at South Florida.
Utah linebacker Lander Barton is selected at No. 192, and Kentucky wide receiver Kendrick Law is taken at No. 193 in the sixth round to wrap up the Giants’ projected selections on day three of the draft.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants leave no stone unturned in Vinnie Iyer’s latest mock draft
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