The NFL trade deadline has come and gone.
The Giants did nothing.
OK, so what now, as they try to build around quarterback Jaxson Dart?
Well, there’s a very good chance the Giants — with or without Joe Schoen in the general manager seat — will draft a wide receiver in 2026.
Before Tuesday’s deadline, Rashid Shaheed got dealt (Saints to Seahawks), as did Jakobi Meyers (Raiders to Jaguars).
Meanwhile, these potential receiver trade options stayed put: Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins), Chris Olave (Saints), Brian Thomas (Jaguars) and Calvin Ridley (Titans).
Yes, the Giants will get Malik Nabers back next season as Dart’s No. 1 receiver. But it’s clear that Darius Slayton is not a long-term solution at the No. 2 outside receiver spot, even though his rough-so-far contract means he will return in 2026.
The Giants just drafted Nabers at No. 6 in 2024. So it seems unlikely they would use their first-round pick (currently No. 5) on a receiver. As for their other premium picks (in the first three rounds), they are at No. 36 in Round 2 — and don’t have a third rounder, because of the Dart trade up.
After the second round, the Giants currently aren’t scheduled to pick until No. 104 in Round 4.
So realistically, if they want to get a difference-making receiver, they’d probably have to take him in Round 2. That likely will be a high second-round pick, since Giants stink yet again, at 2-7.
There are some intriguing receivers in the 2026 draft. Here’s a look at the receivers rated among the top 65 overall prospects by Pro Football Focus:
• Jordyn Tyson (fifth), Arizona State
• Makai Lemon (10th), USC
• Carnell Tate (17th), Ohio State
• Denzel Boston (24th), Washington
• Chris Brazzell (26th), Tennessee
• KC Concepcion (27th), Texas A&M
• Deion Burks (41st), Oklahoma
• Ian Strong (42nd), Rutgers
• Elijah Sarratt (45th), Indiana
• Chris Bell (46th), Louisville
• Jakobi Lane (51st), USC
• Germie Bernard (55th), Alabama
• CJ Daniels (65th), Miami
How many of those 13 receivers will go in the first two rounds?
We obviously have a long way to go until next spring’s draft. But at this point, it’s all about the future for the Giants.
It seems highly unlikely they could get Tyson or Lemon early in the second round. Ditto for Tate probably, though it’s early. Any of those other 10 receivers could be an option there.
The caveat, of course, is that plenty can change between now and the draft, in terms of players’ performances in games and pre-draft workouts.
But with the Giants deciding to retain their 2026 picks at the trade deadline, the focus now turns to the next big question: What will they do with those picks to help Dart, especially at receiver?
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