Big Blue View
The 2025 NFL season is finally in the books, and we now know that the New York Giants hold the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
As the fifth team to put in their selection, there will only be four players the Giants won’t be able to draft — that’s just math. The trick will be figuring out which four players will be off the board when the Giants are on the clock.
The Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals have the first three selections, and each is pretty desperate for a quarterback. The question of how many quarterbacks are drafted in the Top 3, however, will be answered by how many declare.
Right now, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is widely expected to declare for the draft. There are more questions regarding Oregon’s Dante Moore and significantly more questions regarding Alabama’s Ty Simpson. There are good reasons for both to declare, though another year in college would likely be better for their long-term success.
Drafting fifth, with three quarterback-needy teams ahead of them, the Giants should probably hope that all three passers declare.
But let’s get to the prospects — and I’ll note that these aren’t in any order of preference.
Tate is Justin Jefferson to freshman mutant Jeremiah Smith’s Ja’Marr Chase, though Tate sports an athletic profile more reminiscent of Tee Higgins or A.J. Green.
He’s a long, lean receiver who wins less through dominant athleticism than with elite route running and body control. He has truly excellent hands with ZERO drops in 2025 and an 85.7% catch rate in contested situations. His route running and ball skills allow him to win at all levels of the field and he’s able to produce as a deep threat as well as a possession receiver.
Tate has been a very popular pick for the Giants in early mock drafts, most recently in Todd McShay’s first post-season mock draft. While Wan’Dale Robinson did rack up 1,000 yards, the injury to Malik Nabers put the Giants’ depth issues at receiver on full display.
Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson could fit here as well, but I opted to go with Tate’s pedigree as an Ohio State receiver.
Mauigoa (pronounced Mau-e-no-a), has been brought up quite often with respect to the Giants and their potential needs along the offensive line.
Mauigoa is a stout offensive lineman who’s played more than 2,600 snaps at right tackle over the last three season. He’s a powerful run blocker at 6-foot-6, 315 pounds and also a reliable pass protector at the collegiate level, giving up just three sacks and four hits over the last two seasons.
There’s a belief that Mauigoa’s frame and demeanor can also translate inside to guard. Whether that means that Mauigoa could perhaps start his career at guard for a team like the Giants and eventually move to right tackle, or whether he’s viewed as a “guard only” will have...
