What exactly should the New York Giants do here?
The New York Giants sacrificed their fourth and fifth-round NFL Draft picks on Friday night, trading up to No. 74 in Round 3 to select wide receiver Malachi Fields.
I loved the Fields selection and think he is going to be an absolute stud. He filled a big need, and now, Jaxson Dart should have no shortage of weapons to throw to in 2026.
The problem? Now, the Giants have just three sixth-round picks on Day 3, and they still don't have a defensive tackle.
New York surely wanted Ohio State star Kayden McDonald at No. 37, but watched as the Houston Texans traded up one spot ahead of Big Blue to steal him. The Giants then selected Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood.
New York needed a cornerback, as well, so I get the Hood pick. But with guys like Lee Hunter and Christen Miller having still been on the board when the Giants selected, it was definitely a tough decision.
Now, John Harbaugh and Co. must figure out what to do on the interior of their defensive line heading into the final day of the draft.
Darrell Jackson. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.Of course, New York can always sign one of Calais Campbell or DJ Reader after the draft, and Darius Alexander can play alongside of whoever the team adds. But it also would have been nice to add a run-stuffing prospect at the position.
There are still plenty of really good interior defenders on the board. Darrell Jackson, Zxavian Harris, Gracen Halton, DeMonte Capehart and Rayshaun Benny, to name a few. But chances are, they will all be gone by time the Giants are on the clock for their first Day 3 selection at No. 186.
The dream is that one of Jackson, Harris or Capehart somehow slip, but the chances of that actually happening are very slim.
New York's decision to trade Dexter Lawrence was entirely understandable. Lawrence wanted out, and the Giants reaped the 10th overall pick in return. Even executives around the league were shocked by New York's haul.
The problem is that the G-Men had a hole on the interior even before they jettisoned Lawrence. Now, it's a gaping chasm, and there may not be much they can do about it with what's left of the draft.
It's an absolute must for the Giants to sign a veteran defensive tackle in free agency. Either Campbell or Reader would suffice. Shelby Harris is available, too, but he isn't quite as good as the former two.
Otherwise, New York's run defense will be every bit as porous as it was in 2025.
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