The NFL calendar says it’s still spring 2026. That didn’t stop some draft nerds from plugging names into a mock draft simulator and spitting out a seven-round haul for the New York Giants. And honestly? The result looks like someone in the front office actually sat down and thought about what this roster still needs.
The Giants spent the 2026 offseason doing something they haven’t done in years — they added real depth without burning cap space on splashy, short-term fixes. They brought in Tremaine Edmunds to stabilize the linebacker room. They grabbed tight end Isaiah Likely and receiver Darnell Mooney. They didn’t trade future picks for a rental. It was boring, responsible roster building. And it worked, at least on paper. But there are still holes that need filling, and the PFF mock draft simulator (yes, that’s a thing people use) offered a version of how the Giants could fill them in 2027.
The biggest need is obvious: interior defensive line. The Giants have bodies there, but not difference-makers who consistently collapse pockets. That’s where Miami defensive tackle Justin Scott enters the picture at pick 10. Scott is a traits-first prospect, which is GM-speak for “the tape is messy but the measurable stuff is ridiculous.” He’s 6-foot-4, explosive, and moves like a much smaller player. His hand technique needs work, and he doesn’t always finish. But you don’t find 300-pound guys who can shoot gaps and live in the backfield very often. If he hits, he’s the kind of interior disruptor the Giants have lacked since Dexter Lawrence was at his peak.
The second round brings Texas offensive lineman Brandon Baker. The Giants need help at guard and tackle, and Baker can play either. He locked down right tackle for the Longhorns and didn’t allow a sack last season. That’s not a typo — zero sacks. His feet are quick enough to stay on the edge, but if he slides inside, that’s fine too. Versatile linemen who actually develop tend to stick around for a decade.
In the third round, the simulator gave the Giants BYU running back LJ Martin, the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. He runs behind his pads, finds cutback lanes in zone schemes, and has enough juice to break the occasional long run. Running backs are fungible in the modern NFL, but Martin doesn’t need to be Saquon Barkley. He just needs to be reliable.
The later rounds are where this mock gets interesting. Tennessee wide receiver Braylon Staley fell to the fifth round, which is wild considering he led the Vols in receptions as a freshman and has legitimate NFL speed. The route running is already advanced. He separates. He catches everything. Fifth-round receivers don’t usually check that many boxes.
And then there’s NC State quarterback CJ Bailey in the sixth round. At 6-foot-6 with a live arm and 25 touchdown passes last season, he’s the kind of low-cost flier every smart team takes. The odds are long. But if he develops into a solid backup or a trade chip down the road, that sixth-rounder becomes a steal.
This isn’t a draft class full of household names. It doesn’t have to be. The Giants strengthened both lines, added a playmaker at receiver, took a veteran-style running back, and gambled on a quarterback. That’s how you build something that lasts. Whether the actual 2027 draft looks anything like this is anyone’s guess. But the blueprint is solid.
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