5 NY Giants NFL Draft questions with NFL IQ

Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

NFL teams are said to be incorporating artificial intelligence into their planning for the 2026 NFL Draft. So, let's see what NFL.com's newly-released AI tool, NFL IQ, would handle the draft for the Giants.

Below, five Giants draft questions with NFL IQ. These were asked before news broke that the Giants and Dexter Lawrence were at an impasse" in contract talks.

1. What are the top needs for the New York Giants?

TheNew York Giants' top 5 positional needsare :

1. WR (Wide Receiver) - NEEDThe Giants lost Wan'Dale Robinson but signed Calvin Austin to a 1-year, $4.5M contract. They need depth to complement Malik Nabers, who is returning from a torn ACL.

2. OL (Offensive Line) - NEEDRT Jermaine Eluemunor was re-signed, but RG Greg Van Roten is a UFA and Andrew Thomas has struggled to stay healthy. Keeping Jaxson Dart upright is a priority.

3. CB (Cornerback) - NEEDCor'Dale Flott departed for the Titans, leaving Paulson Adebo and Deonte Banks atop a young, inconsistent CB room. Greg Newsome was signed, but a steadier outside corner is still needed.

4. LB (Linebacker) - NEEDTremaine Edmunds replaces Bobby Okereke, and Micah McFadden returns after missing most of 2025. With Chris Board gone, depth behind the starters remains thin.

5. DL (Defensive Line) - NEEDRakeem Nunez-Roches and D.J. Davidson are UFAs, and Dexter Lawrence needs a true running mate inside. An interior presence would elevate an already strong defensive line.

2. Who are potential draft targets for the Giants at their positions of need?

Based on the Giants' top needs, here arepotential draft targetsorganized by position:

Wide Receiver (WR) - Top Need

Top Targets:

• Carnell Tate(Ohio State) - ProjectedTop 10 pick(#6 on DJ's Big Board). Daniel Jeremiah has him mocked to the Giants at #5, calling him a vertical receiver to play opposite a hopefully-healthy Malik Nabers."
• Jordyn Tyson(Arizona State) - OVR 86, Grade 6.58. Elite all-around prospect with 80 ATH and 80 PROD scores.
• Makai Lemon(USC) - OVR 83, Grade 6.58. Leads all WRs with a 91 PROD score. Projected 1st round.

Offensive Line (OL) - Critical Need

Top Tackles:

• Spencer Fano(Utah) - OVR 89, the clear OL1 with elite 93 ATH. ProjectedTop 15 pick(#13 on DJ's Big Board).
• Monroe Freeling(Georgia) - OVR 81, Grade 6.37. Projected 1st round.
• Caleb Lomu(Utah) - OVR 81, Grade 6.36. Projected 1st-2nd round.

Top Guards:

• Olaivavega Ioane(Penn State) - OVR 80, Grade 6.49. The best interior lineman in the draft, ranked#11 overallon DJ's Big Board.

Cornerback (CB) - Need

Top Targets:

• Mansoor Delane(LSU) - OVR 84, Grade 6.60. The clear CB1, ranked#8 overallon DJ's Big Board with a blazing 4.38 40-yard dash. ProjectedTop 10 pick.
• Jermod McCoy(Tennessee) - OVR 81, Grade 6.55. Projected 1st round (#15 overall).
• Colton Hood(Tennessee) - OVR 82, Grade 6.33. Elite 84 ATH score with a 4.49 40-yard dash.

Linebacker (LB) - Need

Top Target:

• Sonny Styles(Ohio State) - OVR 95, Grade 6.58. The clear LB1 and a consensusTop 10 pick(#3 on DJ's Big Board). Elite 94 ATH and 91 PROD scores.Four out of seven analystshave him mocked to the Giants at #5.

Defensive Line (DL) - Need

Top Edge Rushers:

• David Bailey(Texas Tech) - OVR 86, Grade 6.42. Elite 98 PROD score, projectedTop 5 pick(#4 on DJ's Big Board).
• Rueben Bain Jr.(Miami) - OVR 84, Grade 6.68. ProjectedTop 15 pick(#7 on DJ's Big Board).

Top Interior DL:

• Peter Woods(Clemson) - OVR 77, Grade 6.52. The top DT in the class, projected 2nd round.

Mock Draft Consensus for Giants at No. 5

Theoverwhelming favoriteisSonny Styles (LB, Ohio State), projected by 4 of 7 analysts including Daniel Jeremiah, Rhett Lewis, Nick Shook, Mike Band, and Bucky Brooks. He's praised for his elite athleticism and fit alongside Tremaine Edmunds.

Alternative picks:

• Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)- Projected by Chad Reuter and Charles Davis to support new HC John Harbaugh's run-first offense.
• Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State)- Projected by Lance Zierlein to pair with Malik Nabers.

3. Who is a better player for the Giants to select, Sonny Styles or Caleb Downs?

BothSonny StylesandCaleb Downsare elite Ohio State prospects, but they play different positions and offer distinct value propositions for the Giants at pick #5.

Sonny Styles (Linebacker)

Draft Profile:

• DJ Top 50 Rank:#3 overall
• Projected:Top 10 pick
• Grade:6.58
• NGS Scores:95 OVR | 94 ATH | 91 PROD (elite across the board)
• Measurables:6'5'', 244 lbs | 4.46-second 40-yard dash
• NFL Projections:81% starter probability | 30% Pro Bowl probability

Why Styles Fits the Giants:Styles is anexplosive three-down linebackerwith elite traits as a rusher, run defender, and cover man. He ran a blazing 4.46-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, pulling away from CeeDee Lamb and Kyle Hamilton in Simulcam comparisons.

Four out of seven analystshave Styles mocked to the Giants at #5, including Daniel Jeremiah, who praised his elite athleticism, combine performance" and fit alongside free-agent signing Tremaine Edmunds.New HC John Harbaugh's best defenses have relied on outstanding linebackers like Ray Lewis, C.J. Mosley, and Roquan Smith - and Styles fits that mold perfectly. A Styles-Edmunds duo could spark a turnaround for a defense that allowed +494 rushing yards over expected in 2025, the worst mark in the league.

Caleb Downs (Safety)

Draft Profile:

• DJ Top 50 Rank:#9 overall
• Projected:Top 10 pick
• Grade:6.50
• NGS Scores:84 OVR | 76 ATH | 81 PROD
• Measurables:5'11.6'', 206 lbs
• NFL Projections:80% starter probability | 38% Pro Bowl probability

Why Downs Fits the Giants:Downs is afiery, high-IQ safetywith strong starter probability (80%) and the highest Pro Bowl probability (38%) among the two. He's a culture-changer who can impact the game immediately.

However,safety is not listed among the Giants' top needs(DL, CB, OL, LB, WR).The Giants' biggest draft goal is to reinforce the interiors of both lines" and address the defensive front, especially with Dexter Lawrence's trade request.

The Verdict:Sonny Styles

Sonny Styles is the better pick for the Giantsbecause:

1. Positional Need:Linebacker is a clear need, while safety is not among the Giants' top priorities.
2. Elite Upside:Styles' 95 OVR score (highest among all LBs) and #3 overall ranking make him a generational talent at a premium position.
3. Scheme Fit:Harbaugh's defensive philosophy thrives with elite linebackers, and Styles' versatility (coverage, run defense, pass rush) makes him a perfect fit.
4. Mock Draft Consensus:Styles is the overwhelming favorite among analysts, while Downs is more commonly mocked to other teams (like Washington at #7).

Caleb Downs is an excellent player, but Styles addresses a bigger need, offers higher upside, and aligns better with Harbaugh's vision for the defense.

4. After Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs, who are the best options for the Giants at No. 5?

AfterSonny StylesandCaleb Downs, here are thebest options for the Giants at No. 5:

Top Remaining Options1.Jeremiyah Love(RB, Notre Dame)

• OVR:96 |Grade:6.67 |DJ Rank:#2 overall
• Why he fits:Love is thehighest-rated prospect in the entire draftby NGS Overall Score (96). He's a dynamic weapon as both a runner and receiver with elite speed (90 ATH, 96 PROD).
• Mock draft support:Chad Reuter and Charles Davis both have Love going to the Giants at #5. Reuter notes: Love's rushing and receiving abilities take the offense to the next level."
• Fit:New HC John Harbaugh's run-first philosophy makes Love a perfect complement to Jaxson Dart.

2.Carnell Tate(WR, Ohio State)

• OVR:86 |Grade:6.58 |DJ Rank:#6 overall
• Why he fits:Daniel Jeremiah has Tate mocked to the Giants at #5, calling him a vertical receiver to play opposite a hopefully-healthy Malik Nabers."
• Strengths:Tall, long wideout with outstanding ball skills and production. Tracks the ball beautifully over his shoulder and has strong hands in traffic.
• Fit:Addresses the Giants' top need at WR and gives Dart a dynamic 1-2 punch with Nabers.

3.David Bailey(EDGE, Texas Tech)

• OVR:86 |Grade:6.42 |DJ Rank:#4 overall
• Why he fits:Elite 98 PROD score and projectedTop 5 pick. Ultra-explosive edge rusher with outstanding production.
• Strengths:His ability to create short corners to the passer is exceptional," per Daniel Jeremiah.
• Fit:Addresses the Giants' DL need and pairs with Dexter Lawrence to create a dominant front.

4.Arvell Reese(EDGE/LB, Ohio State)

• OVR:84 |Grade:6.55 |DJ Rank:#5 overall
• Why he fits:Fluid, explosive athlete with elite speed and bend. Can play both edge rusher and off-ball linebacker.
• Strengths:Spectacular athlete with a combination of speed, explosiveness and power," per Daniel Jeremiah. Reminds scouts of 2025 first-rounder Jalon Walker.
• Fit:Versatile defender who can rush the passer or play linebacker, giving defensive coordinator multiple options.

5.Mansoor Delane(CB, LSU)

• OVR:84 |Grade:6.60 |DJ Rank:#8 overall
• Why he fits:The clearCB1in the draft with a blazing 4.38 40-yard dash. ProjectedTop 10 pick.
• Strengths:One of the most consistent players in this draft class... makes everything look easy in coverage."
• Fit:Addresses the Giants' CB need and provides lockdown coverage on the outside.

Consensus View

Based onDaniel Jeremiah's Top 50 rankingsandmock draft consensus, the best available options after Styles and Downs are:

1. Jeremiyah Love(RB) - Highest OVR in the draft (96)
2. Carnell Tate(WR) - DJ's mock pick for the Giants
3. David Bailey(EDGE) - Top 5 talent, elite pass rusher
4. Arvell Reese(EDGE/LB) - Versatile, explosive playmaker
5. Mansoor Delane(CB) - Best corner in the class

5. Can you rank the top 5 guard options in the draft for the Giants?

Here are thetop 5 guard options in the 2026 draft for the Giants, ranked by overall prospect quality:

Top 5 Guard Prospects - 2026 NFL Draft1.Olaivavega Ioane(Penn State)

• OVR:80 |Grade:6.49 |DJ Rank:#11 overall
• Measurables:6'4.25'', 320 lbs
• NGS Scores:74 ATH | 76 PROD
• Projection:1st round | 80% starter probability | 43% Pro Bowl probability
• Why he's #1:The clear-cut top guard in the draft, ranked#11 on Daniel Jeremiah's Big Board. Ioane has the highest grade (6.49) among all guards and elite starter/Pro Bowl upside. He's a powerful, technically sound blocker who can start immediately.

2.Emmanuel Pregnon(Oregon)

• OVR:80 |Grade:6.26
• Measurables:6'4.25'', 314 lbs
• NGS Scores:78 ATH | 79 PROD
• Projection:2nd round | 79% starter probability | 30% Pro Bowl probability
• Why he's #2:Tied with Ioane for the highest OVR (80) among guards. Strong athleticism and production scores make him a safe Day 2 pick with immediate starter potential.

3.Keylan Rutledge(Georgia Tech)

• OVR:79 |Grade:5.94 |DJ Rank:#47 overall
• Measurables:6'3.625'', 316 lbs
• NGS Scores:93 ATH | 70 PROD
• Projection:2nd round | 63% starter probability | 30% Pro Bowl probability
• Why he's #3:Themost athletic guard in the classwith a 93 ATH score. A DJ Top 50 prospect (#47) with elite movement skills and upside, though his production lags behind the top two.

4.Chase Bisontis(Texas A&M)

• OVR:78 |Grade:6.23
• Measurables:6'5.25'', 315 lbs
• NGS Scores:85 ATH | 70 PROD
• Projection:1st-2nd round | 78% starter probability | 7% Pro Bowl probability
• Why he's #4:Elite athleticism (85 ATH) and size make him a potential late 1st/early 2nd round pick. Strong starter probability but lower Pro Bowl upside than the top three.

5.Billy Schrauth(Notre Dame)

• OVR:78 |Grade:6.16
• Measurables:6'4.75'', 310 lbs
• NGS Scores:76 ATH | 76 PROD
• Projection:4th-5th round | 77% starter probability | 26% Pro Bowl probability
• Why he's #5:Balanced prospect with solid athleticism and production. Projects as a Day 3 pick with strong starter potential and surprising Pro Bowl upside (26%) for his draft range.

Key Takeaway for the Giants

Olaivavega Ioaneis the only guard worthy of the Giants' 1st-round pick at #5 overall, but he's projected to go#11 overall- meaning the Giants would need to trade down or wait until a later round. If the Giants stay at #5, they should target a different position of need (LB, WR, EDGE, CB) and address guard in Round 2 withEmmanuel PregnonorKeylan Rutledge.