The New York Giants have made a rather surprising selection with their second-round draft choice.
The New York Giants made a surprise pick on Day 1 by selecting Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese with the fifth overall pick, and with the 37th overall selection on Friday, they raised eyebrows yet again.
The Giants decided to select Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood with their second-round draft choice, passing on other prominent corners like Jermod McCoy — Hood's Tennessee teammate — and Clemson's Avieon Terrell.
New York also passed on the opportunity to select a defensive tackle like Lee Hunter or Christen Miller following the Houston Texans' decision to trade up and steal Kayden McDonald right in front of it at No. 36.
Hood registered 50 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, an interception and eight passes defended this past season and put forth a very impressive performance at the Scouting Combine, posting a 4.44-second 40-yard dash time and also managing the second best total score among cornerbacks at NFL.com.
But whether or not Hood was the correct pick over McCoy and Terrell is the question.
Colton Hood. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.McCoy was viewed by many as the best overall cornerback talent in this year's class, but he missed all of 2025 due to a torn ACL, so there were health concerns. However, he had an impressive showing at his Pro Day, which alleviated some of those worries.
Then there is Terrell, the physical, tenacious defender who has slipped in recent weeks, but was once considered a potential mid-to-late first-round pick.
Hood stands a shade under six feet tall and weighs 193 pounds, so he doesn't have the most ideal size for a cornerback. He does, however, have clear ability to play outside, and he is versatile enough to play in the slot, as well.
The 21-year-old began his collegiate career at Auburn in 2023 and spent one year with the Tigers before transferring to Colorado. After residing in Boulder for one season, Hood made his way to the Volunteers, where he enjoyed his best NCAA campaign.
Barring a trade, the Giants now do not pick again until the 105th overall selection, which is in Round 4 on Saturday afternoon.
New York still has a glaring need at defensive tackle and also needs help at wide receiver.
NY Giants Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Giants. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.