Just like that, the Giants are in position to initiate some serious roster upgrades.
Well, perhaps “just like that” is a bit flippant, considering the past week and the angst created by what turned into an old-fashioned money disagreement between a team and a player. And not just any player. Dexter Lawrence was the best the Giants put on the field in a three-year span, but not in 2025, which was a sticking point that eventually led to a disgruntled Lawrence drawing a line in the sand and the Giants reluctantly acceding to his trade demand.
The destination is Cincinnati and the return is the No. 10 pick in Thursday’s draft. This makes the Giants the power brokers on draft night. There are six teams wielding two first-round picks, but the Giants are the only team with two in the top 10, also in possession of their own No. 5 pick based on last season’s 4-13 record. The Jets, with picks No. 2 and No. 16, are closest to the Giants in terms of premium draft positioning.
Instead of trying to locate one immediate impact player, the Giants can set their sights on finding two of them. What an opportunity for their new head coach, John Harbaugh, who in 18 years with the Ravens never got to select two players in the first round in the same draft. Heck, the highest pick Harbaugh ever had in Baltimore was No. 6, used in 2016 to get offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley. Now he has two shots up high in the first round to import marquee talent and shape the roster to conform with his vision of what a winning football team looks like.
The possibilities for the Giants are not endless, but they sure are considerable. They can stay at Nos. 5 and 10 and select two players capable of moving in as Day 1 starters. They can look to trade down from No. 5 or No. 10 to gain an additional pick in the second round and recoup a third-round pick to make up for the one they lost moving up last year to get Jaxson Dart.
Ah, yes, Jaxson Dart.
At No. 10, the Giants might be able to augment the offense around their second-year quarterback with support in the form of another weapon — wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is a name to watch — and another protector — Olaivavega Ioane is the best guard in this class. So, instead of having to choose between offense and defense in the first round, the Giants could get one of each. Or two on the same side of the ball.
The entire draft now looks different. A new draft simulation, factoring in the trade, had these players available at No. 10: linebacker Sonny Styles, safety Caleb Downs, Tyson and another receiver, Makai Lemon, cornerback Jermod McCoy and offensive tackle Spencer Fano. Imagine the Giants taking running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 5 and pairing him with Ioane. Harbaugh in a finger snap could lean on a punishing rushing attack. Imagine getting Love to kick-start the offense and one of the two Ohio State studs — Styles or Downs — to add juice and verve to the defense.
If there are any concerns about Malik Nabers regaining his peak form coming off ACL surgery, bringing Tyson into the mix would give Dart two No. 1 wideouts to work with. Other than an injury history that needs to be investigated, Tyson has the skill set to be a pass game-changer. General manager Joe Schoen traveled last Thursday night to Tempe, Ariz., for dinner with Tyson and was on the scene for Tyson’s workout last Friday. The Giants will know all they need to know about him.
Taking one of the top cornerbacks in this draft at No. 5 seemed an overreach. But Mansoor Delane or McCoy at No. 10? Solid value.
How about trading down from No. 10? In one draft simulation, the Giants were offered the No. 13 pick and a second-round pick (No. 61 overall) from the Rams. In another simulation, the Giants could get No. 17 and a second-round pick (No. 50 overall) from the Chiefs.
None of this guarantees anything. The Giants in 2022 were sitting pretty with picks Nos. 5 and 7, and selected edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux and offensive tackle Evan Neal, anticipating they would be cornerstones for years to come. Thibodeaux is a solid player with injury issues, and Neal goes into the “bust” category as he clings to a spot on the roster.
Before shipping Lawrence out, the Giants were concerned that they had to wait 68 spots after picking at No. 37 before they were on the clock again at No. 105. That concern can be replaced by the real possibility that their options are plentiful and help should be on the way.
