PITTSBURGH — The 2026 NFL Draft was underway Thursday night, and the New York Giants used two picks inside the top 10 to reshape the front end of their class. They took Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese with the No. 5 pick in the first round, then followed by selecting Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa at No. 10.
Reese put on a hat after being chosen by the Giants with the fifth overall pick, while Mauigoa posed with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after hearing his name at No. 10. For a team with two first-round picks near the top of the draft, the opening round delivered immediate help on defense and along the offensive line.
The Giants entered the night with two picks inside the top 10, giving them unusual draft capital at a stage when most teams are already forced to wait for the board to fall their way. That made Thursday, April 23, 2026, a pivotal moment for the franchise as it began building its 2026 draft class in Pittsburgh.
There was still more work ahead after Round 1. New York's remaining draft board included Round 2, Pick No. 37, listed as Colton Hood, a cornerback from Tennessee, leaving the Giants with another chance to add to a class that already had a linebacker and an offensive lineman at the top.
That is the part that matters for ny giants news: the Giants did not just add two prospects, they spent premium first-round capital on two positions that usually come with immediate expectations. The next pick will show whether Thursday was the start of a full roster reset or just the first bold step in it.
