The Giants Just Got Two Top-10 Picks and the Draft Is About to Get Weird

The New York Giants and Cincinnati Bengals dropped a bomb on the 2026 NFL Draft less than a week before it kicks off. New York grabbed the 10th overall pick from Cincinnati in exchange for star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. That gives the Giants two top-10 selections, while the Bengals are heading into their first draft without a first-round pick since 1989. Yeah, you read that right.

Cincinnati was supposed to use that pick to patch up a leaky defense. Now? Nobody knows what the Giants are actually going to do with it. They could swing for a pass-catching weapon like Jordyn Tyson or a defensive monster like Caleb Downs. The whole thing is a mess of possibilities, and that's the point. This draft is shaping up to be unpredictable as hell.

The No. 1 Pick Is Locked. Everything Else Is a Guessing Game

Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is a lock to go first overall. Every expert agrees on that one. But after pick one? It's chaos. Draft analysts Nate Davis of USA TODAY Sports, Jordan Reid at ESPN, and Jonathan Jones from CBS Sports all released new mock drafts this week, and they don't line up once you get past the Raiders grabbing Mendoza.

Take the Jets at No. 2. USA TODAY and CBS Sports both have them taking edge rusher David Bailey from Texas Tech, but ESPN's Reid is convinced they'll grab linebacker Arvell Reese from Ohio State instead. Reid's reasoning is solid too: Reese has more unrealized upside and can play both linebacker and edge rusher with explosive power. Bailey is the more polished pass rusher right now, but Reese is the wildcard.

The Cardinals at No. 3 can't even get unanimous love. USA TODAY projects Reese going there, while both ESPN and CBS predict they'll nab offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa from Miami, who has the flexibility to play tackle or guard.

The Giants' Big Decision

With their new No. 5 pick courtesy of the Lawrence deal, New York has options. USA TODAY's Davis sees them grabbing safety Caleb Downs from Ohio State to pair with new franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart. CBS Sports thinks differently, projecting running back Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame, viewing him as a top-five talent on the tier of guys like Bijan Robinson or Saquon Barkley.

The Lawrence trade just reset everyone's expectations. We're five days out, and nobody really knows how this first round unfolds. That's what makes this draft must-watch.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.