Big Blue View
There is a clock ticking for the New York Giants and their new head coach John Harbaugh. The inexorable process that is leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft is under way. And while the Giants have their next head coach, they need to get a coaching staff together.
January 14th was the hard deadline for underclassmen to declare for the upcoming draft. The Panini Senior Bowl also released its final (barring withdrawals or late invites) roster with declarations made. Senior Bowl practices will be begin on January 27th, and the Giants will want the overall structure of their coaching staff in place when they descend on Mobile.
Coaches take a much more active role in scouting starting at the Senior Bowl, and having offensive and defensive coordinators in place is crucial for helping the team focus their efforts efficiently.
We don’t know yet what schemes the Giants will call in 2026, but we do know the players that will be at the Senior Bowl and take a quick look at some of the players to watch.
Ja’Kobi Layne (WR, USC) – If the Giants opt to pass on a receiver in the first round, Lane is an intriguing name for the second round. He probably won’t be a star or a “WR1” if Malik Nabers goes down or isn’t ready, but he is a big, physical receiver who can tilt 50/50 balls in his favor, keep the chains moving on third down, or be a factor in the Red Zone.
Jalon Kilgore (S, South Carolina) – Kilgore is an interesting option for the Giants with Dane Belton entering free agency. He was best described as a “nickel defender” for the Gamecocks, lining up all over their Back 7, though he’s listed on the Senior Bowl roster as a safety — indicating that’s where the NFL views him. Kilgore is a good athlete at 6-foot-1, 211 pounds (unofficial), with enough speed to cover ground in zone coverage as well as hip fluidity to cover in the slot.
J.C. Davis (OT, Illinois) – Davis is a stoutly built tackle (listed at 6-foot-5, 335 pounds), and the NFL may ask him to move to guard. However, he’s also been a remarkably dependable blocker for Illinois, with upside in both run blocking and pass protection. He isn’t on the national radar yet and lands as a fourth-round prospect on Pro Football Focus’ draft board and a fifth-rounder on the Consensus Big Board. However, he could climb dramatically if he has a good week of practice.
Caleb Banks (iDL, Florida) – Banks has a real chance to be a first round draft pick. He’s a powerful defensive tackle (6-foot-6, 330 pounds) who also has some pass rush chops and upside. He missed most of the season with an injury, but he returned for Florida’s final two games and has a golden opportunity to put him right back in the conversation for the top interior defenders in the draft.
**Davison...
