NY Giants NFL mock draft: 2 picks in the top 40? PFSN turns that into 4

The New York Giants currently sit at No. 2 in the 2026 NFL Draft order, prime position to trade down with a quarterback-needy team for additional draft assets. Let’s look at a scenario where the Giants do exactly that, trading down not just once, but twice in the top 10.

Ian Cummings of Pro Football and Sports Network is out with a seven-round mock draft in which the Giants end up moving from No. 2 to No. 9. Before we discuss the players Cummings selected for the Giants, let’s list the haul of draft picks Cummings collected for New York. That, five months before the draft, seems like the detail truly worth discussing.

First, Cummings trades from No. 2 to No. 4 with the New York Jets.

The projected trade: Jets receive No. 2 pick; Giants receive No. 4 pick, No. 35 pick, 2027 second-round pick.

Next, Cummings trades from No. 4 to No. 9 with the Arizona Cardinals.

The projected trade: Cardinals receive No. 4 pick, 2027 fourth-round pick; Giants receive No. 9 pick, No. 40 pick, 2027 second-round pick, 2027 third-round pick.

Here is the end result in terms of accumulated draft picks:

Giants started with: Picks 2 and 34.

Giants end up with: Picks 9, 34, 35, 35 in 2026; In 2027, they add two additional second-round picks and a third-round pick.

That is how you maximize assets and give yourself the best chance to collect a cadre of talented young players.

Now, let’s look at what Cummings did with those picks.

Round 1 (No. 9) — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Cummings says:

There’s plenty wrong with the Giants’ defense, but most of it can be boiled down to the second and third levels. Deonte Banks didn’t pan out at cornerback, and Cor’Dale Flott is an impending free agent. New York needs to reinvest there and reinvest early.

In the 2026 NFL Draft, there’s no better pick for the Giants than Mansoor Delane. In PFSN’s CFB CB Impact database, Delane has the highest grade: An ungodly score of 99.3. For context, the next-highest CB is almost five points lower.

Delane is a mirror-motor machine in man coverage, a master space manager and processor in off-man and zone. He generates incompletions at a high clip, and he can fend off crack-and-replace blocks in support. Rarely has a CB ever been such a sure thing as this.

Valentine’s View

I have not studied Delane. Truth is, I have not studied the draft in any real sense. The last line of Cummings’ explanation, though, seems like hyperbole.

Delane’s Average Draft Position (ADP) in the NFL Mock Draft Database is No. 14. Players left on the board here include Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (No. 12, Pittsburgh Steelers) and Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods (No. 15, Kansas City Chiefs).

NFL Mock Draft Database says:

Delane’s combination of instincts, athleticism, and competitive temperament make him a prime candidate for an early-round selection in the draft. While he may not possess elite speed or length, his intelligence, route recognition, and ball skills set him apart as a polished, pro-ready corner. With the ability to excel in both man and zone schemes, Delane’s potential as a long-term starter in the NFL is promising. As he continues to refine his skills and physical development, Delane has the opportunity to become a cornerstone player in any defensive system.

Cor’Dale Flott has been the Giants’ best cornerback, and he can be a free agent.

Round 2

No. 34 — Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M

Cummings says:

The Giants’ offensive line has performed better than expected in 2025, but New York still needs a long-term solution at guard. At 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, with a stable center of gravity, active hands, power in the run game, and high-end athleticism, Chase Bisontis qualifies.

No. 35 — Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo

Tyler Nubin has not inspired confidence in his two-year stretch as a Giants starter. At 6-3, 209 pounds, with energized athleticism, veteran route vision, and voracious support ability, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren can serve as an upgrade alongside Jevon Holland.

N0. 40 — Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

Anthony Hill Jr. will function better as a run-and-chase WILL linebacker than a green dot. Still, in that attacking role, he has incredible upside with his range and agility at 6-3, 238 pounds, ability to slither through gaps, blitzing acumen, and promising coverage feel.

Valentine’s View

On a pure need basis, I have no issues with any of these. I might like a wide receiver or defensive tackle with one of these picks if the value is there.

By current rankings, this might be a touch early for Bisontis. He is No. 71 on the NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus Big Board, but a mauling guard is a need for the Giants, and Bisontis could be that guy.

McNeil-Warren is No. 52 and climbing on the NMDD Consensus Big Board. NMDD says McNeil-Warren “makings of a defensive force to be reckoned with.”

Hill is the No. 37 prospect on the current NMDD Consensus Big Board. A broken hand probably has contributed to his dropping from No. 18 when the season began. If you have watched the Giants play defense, though, you know they need linebacker help. Getting a player NMDD says can be “a sideline-to-sideline force in run defense and a disruptive presence on blitzes” would seem like a good thing.

In the end, though, the point is this draft turned two picks in the top 34 into four picks in the top 40 AND added three additional Day 2 picks in 2027. I have a hard time arguing with that.