The New York Giants enter the upcoming offseason with multiple roster holes and limited flexibility to address them. According to Over the Cap, the Giants currently rank 19th in projected 2026 salary cap space, with roughly $17.5 million available. While they still control their first- and second-round picks, New York no longer owns a third-round selection after trading it to Houston as part of the Jaxson Dart deal during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Holding the No. 2 overall pick, the Giants may be best positioned to capitalize on quarterback-hungry teams rather than making the selection themselves. Moving down the board to stockpile draft capital could be the smartest path forward — and that’s exactly the scenario laid out in Nick Baumgardner’s latest mock draft for The Athletic.
Giants Deal No. 2 Pick to Browns
Baumgardner’s mock begins with the Las Vegas Raiders selecting Oregon quarterback Dante Moore at No. 1 overall, setting the stage for a rush to secure the next quarterback off the board. With that pressure mounting, the Cleveland Browns emerge as the team willing to strike a blockbuster deal with New York.
Baumgardner notes that the Giants are in an ideal position. They no longer need a quarterback and have enough young talent on the roster to believe a step forward is possible. Trading down, he argues, could be a critical part of accelerating the rebuild by adding much-needed assets.
Cleveland, meanwhile, finds itself in a similar quarterback predicament as Las Vegas, prompting the Browns to aggressively pursue their long-term answer under center. While specific compensation isn’t detailed in the mock, a jump from No. 6 to No. 2 would almost certainly require significant value in return.
The Browns are well-positioned to make such a move after acquiring Jacksonville’s 2026 first-round pick in the deal that sent Travis Hunter to the Jaguars. Using that trade as a framework, the Giants could potentially walk away with two first-round picks in 2026 and an additional second-rounder in either 2026 or 2027 — a massive boost to their draft arsenal.
Giants Land Carnell Tate at No. 6
After trading down, the Giants select Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the sixth overall pick. The move pairs Tate with Jaxson Dart and Malik Nabers, giving New York a formidable young receiving core.
While the 2027 wide receiver class is expected to be loaded with elite talent, Baumgardner emphasizes that the 2026 group shouldn’t be overlooked. Tate, along with Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson and USC’s Makai Lemon, projects as a potential No. 1 receiver at the NFL level. Tate’s size and physicality, in particular, make him an ideal complement to Nabers.
With Wan’Dale Robinson likely headed for free agency, the Giants can’t afford to rely solely on Darius Slayton as the No. 2 option. Tate would immediately fill that void, providing Dart with a dependable, big-bodied target as he enters his second season.
If New York exits the draft with Carnell Tate and a surplus of additional picks, the offseason would represent a massive win for the franchise — and a clear signal that the Giants are fully committed to building around their young quarterback.
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