Could the New York Giants go in this direction in the NFL Draft?
If the season ended today, the New York Giants would own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but based on how much easier the Giants' schedule gets over the final four weeks of the campaign, the chances of them staying there seem rather slim.
New York is currently 2-11 with matchups against the Washington Commanders, Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders and Dallas Cowboys coming up, so there might be a couple of wins in there.
Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic is projecting that the Giants will finish with the No. 5 pick, and he has them making a surprise move at that spot: nabbing Utah Utes offensive tackle Spencer Fano.
"Fano is the hammer and leader of the Power 4’s best run game. Fano is an elite athlete at 6 feet 6, 302 pounds," Baumgardner wrote. "His movement skills as a puller, climber and screener remind me a bit of Detroit Lions star offensive tackle Penei Sewell, albeit in a lighter package. A dominant right tackle at Utah, Fano has the tools to play either side in the future and probably even guard if he’s ever needed there."
The Giants definitely need offensive line help, so while Fano would not be a flashy pick by any means, it certainly wouldn't be a bad one.
Utah Utes tackle Spencer Fano. Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images.New York already has a franchise left tackle in Andrew Thomas, but right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor is headed toward free agency, so the Giants could slide Fano into that slot.
Fano is widely viewed as the top offensive lineman in this year's draft class, and it will absolutely be important for Big Blue to ensure Jaxson Dart's protection moving forward.
Stabilizing the trenches with strong tackles on both sides is certainly a hallmark of a contender, and with the Giants actually having some pieces in place to take a step forward next season, snatching Fano to solidify the offensive front would be a wise move.
Personally, I would like to see New York go defense with its first pick, specifically at either defensive tackle or cornerback. But the Giants couldn't go wrong with Fano, either.
Now, it should be noted that rookie tackle Marcus Mbow has actually shown some very positive signs this year, so the G-Men may actually be thinking of giving him a chance to start in 2026 if they allow Eluemunor to walk.
But while Mbow has been impressive for a fifth-round pick, he is not even remotely close to the type of prospect that Fano is.