Giants Predicted to Trade Out of Fifth Pick

As the 2026 NFL Draft is now just three weeks away, the clearest picture of how the first round of picks might turn out is coming into focus as evaluations are completed and all 32 teams finalize their big boards.

Like any opening night of the event, there are still some folks in the draft world waiting to see if an unexpected trade shakes things up, particularly within the top 10 selections, where some highly coveted athletes are ready to make their mark on an NFL roster from day one.

The New York Giants, who sit at the No. 5 spot on April 23rd, are the most likely franchise that many think could be the gatekeepers to a potential exchange that flips the first-round order on its head.

Even with their moves in free agency, the Giants still have work to do. They do not have much extra capital to satisfy their need for depth. They hold only two selections in the top 100 picks and three of their seven total in the sixth round.

GM Joe Schoen recently told reporters that the well has all but run dry on cap space to utilize on any serious free agent deals, leaving their options limited to ensure this year’s rookie class is as strong as possible.

The best route would be to seek out a trade from their No. 5 pick, as Bleacher Report predicted in their list of draft prognostications with under a month to go till the Las Vegas Raiders go on the clock.

But is that truly in the organization’s best interest as they round out John Harbaugh’s team? Here’s a look at the pros and cons and what we believe they should do.

What Could the Giants Gain From a Trade?

New York Giants offensive line | Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Giants currently hold the No. 5 and 37 picks in the first rounds of the draft, and their laundry list of needs has only been slightly shortened by their work in free agency.

While they managed to reel in a few strong weapons for quarterback Jaxson Dart, a powerful fullback in Patrick Ricard to elevate the rushing attack, and a couple of experienced guys for the secondary and special teams, a few of those areas could still use some depth to account for the injury bug that tends to impact them during the season.

More importantly, the Giants have yet to do much with their offensive line and establish a tougher presence on the defensive front. They have noticeable gaps at the center and guard positions, and are hoping to find a player who can step up against the run and help Dexter Lawrence in the trenches.

The thought was that the franchise would bring back starting right guard Greg Van Roten to satisfy their need at that spot and keep the same starting five intact for the 2026 season, but a deal has yet to come together with the veteran run protector, and it's left a major concern as New York hopes to better protect Dart next fall.

That is where a potential trade could come in and help the Giants in their quest for extra draft capital to address these lingering roster issues.

They are within the most coveted range of picks where other teams might come calling to try to push a deal that allows them to move up and snag one of the most talented prospects in the class, such as Jeremiah Love or Sonny Styles.

The Giants are clearly interested in that same set of gifted players, and John Harbaugh seemed to raise the temperature on the Love angle with his comments at the owners' meetings in Arizona this week, when he labeled Love a “very, very good player”.

It would be hard to pass up on a direct line shot to choosing one of those players at No. 5, but if the Giants found the right partner, they could move down a few slots in round one and still have a good shot at adding one of the class’s best pass protectors.

Along with that choice, the Giants could ask for the reverse of the deal to land them a couple of picks in the third round, where they currently have none after trading their third-round pick to the Houston Texans in order to move up and take Jaxson Dart at No. 25 in last year’s draft.

Suddenly, Big Blue would be looking at a premier offensive lineman with their first choice and holding a few more selections to improve their outlook at the end, when they round out their weak spots with developmental talent.

Should the Giants Answer the Phone if a Trade Suitor Calls?

New York Giants GM Joe Schoen and head coach John Harbaugh — General Manager Joe Schoen, left, and new New Giants Head Coach John Harbaugh | Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The answer to this big question, as laid out in the previous section, is that it depends on the team that is knocking down the door of the Giants’ war room and the level of offer they’re willing to offer the organization to shift down from their perch in the top five.

Any potential package has to be compelling enough that the Giants aren’t giving up more ground in the first and second days of the draft than they already have.

They are in a position to improve their roster with a proven prospect who will step into the lineup from day one and impact their ability to win football games in numerous ways.

The good news is that under Joe Schoen, the Giants have slowly learned from their previous draft mistakes and are ready to do right by John Harbaugh as he seeks to turn the ship around in 2026.

Meaning they should not be expected to accept a fleece-type deal, and if the market for their pick is truly as competitive as it sounds, they won’t budge unless an irrefutable offer arises.

Sign up for our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook and X for the latest news, and send your mailbag questions to us.