The 2026 NFL Draft is less than two weeks away, and New York Giants fans are waiting with bated breath to see who they draft fifth overall. While they can go a number of directions in the first round, it’s the second round I want to explore here.
The Giants hold the fifth pick in the second round, and 37th overall. It’s easy to overlook the second day of the Draft, but picks 32-40 typically see overflow from the first round.
New York’s pick here will heavily depend on who they take fifth overall. If they draft Sonny Styles out of Ohio State, they won’t be looking at linebacker here. If they go another route, then anything can happen. Here are four players who have flown under the radar, but could be extremely undervalued.
In the event that the Giants take anybody other than Sonny Styles on day one, Jacob Rodriguez is a perfect day two pick, and my personal favorite at pick 37. The Texas Tech linebacker is 6’1” and 231 pounds with 30 7/8” arms and a terrific football IQ.
In 2025, the Giants ranked 23rd in the NFL in forced fumbles (10), and their run defense ranked 31st in yards allowed (145.3). Linebacker is a heavy need, and a turnover machine would be perfect.
Rodriguez has been a quiet killer over the last two years. In 2024, he recorded 77 solo tackles (led conference), 127 combined tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss (TFLs), five sacks, and three forced fumbles. In 2025, he logged 63 solo tackles (led conference again), 128 combined tackles, 11 TFLs, one sack, fur interceptions, and a conference-leading seven forced fumbles.
As with any player, Rodriguez has weak spots. He occasionally bites on misdirection and play-action, and gave up plays in coverage last year. His athleticism and ability to stuff the stat sheet more than compensate for that.
Rodriguez ran a 4.57-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and recorded a 1.6-second 10-yard split. He’s a linebacker who plays with urgency and will fight to make a play on every down. He’s exactly the kind of player the Giants need in new defensive coordinator Denard Wilson’s defense.
One of the biggest headaches for the Giants in 2025 was a lack of wide receiver depth. Second-year superstar Malik Nabers tore his ACL in Week 4, and Wan’Dale Robinson stepped up as the lead target. Behind him were veteran Darius Slayton, former third-round pick Jalin Hyatt, and, later, a returning Isaiah Hodgins.
The Giants lost Robinson to free agency and signed Calvin Austin III and Darnell Mooney. They also signed tight end Isiah Likely, who has the ability to line up as a slot receiver. They are still without a true, long-term option to pair with Nabers at the top of the depth chart.
Germie Bernard’s last two seasons at Alabama showed a steady increase in production. In 2024, he recorded 50 receptions (led team) for 794 yards and two touchdowns. He followed that up in 2025 with 64 receptions for 862 yards (both led the team) and seven scores. He spent his first two years at Michigan State and Washington, logging only 41 catches for 547 yards and four touchdowns.
Bernard isn’t going to torch defenses on the deep ball, but if Nabers comes back at full strength, he won’t need to. He’s versatile and can play both inside and outside. He accelerates quickly and has clean footwork. He’s 6’1” and 206 pounds with 9 7/8” hands and runs a 4.48-second 40-yard dash.
The great thing about a player like Bernard is that he’s proven to get better over time. With Austin, Mooney, and Slayton out there, he won’t need to immediately make an impact, but he can grow into a multi-year starter. He has all the makings to be a wildly consistent and reliable player with a long career.
New York will likely be searching for a long-term solution at offensive guard in this year’s Draft. Oregon’s Emmanuel Pregnon is 6’4”, 314 pounds, with 33” arms and 11” hands. He has exceptional hand placement in his blocks and adjusts well if he loses at first contact.
The Giants are seemingly rotating players at guard, signing Daniel Faalele and Lucas Patrick, while re-signing Evan Neal. The carousel allows Pregnon to ease his way into the lineup, instead of being thrown to the wolves right away.
The Giants’ superstar defensive tackle, Dexter Lawrence, requested a trade on April 6th. If he’s moved, their Draft capital will certainly look different, but they’ll need to fill that spot. Georgia’s Christen Miller currently ranks 37th on PFF’s big board.
Miller is 6’4” and 321 pounds. Through all four years at Georgia, he played in 43 games, recording 31 solo tackles, 64 combined tackles, four sacks, and 11.5 TFLs. He’s not a dominant force, but he’s a consistent presence along the interior line.
The Giants will be looking at the pass-rush of Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux to wreak havoc. Someone like Miller could be effective at drawing double teams, allowing any of those three to break loose. It’s also hard to argue against many Georgia Bulldogs, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
The Giants have plenty of options at fifth overall. Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, Carnell Tate, and Sonny Styles are top prospects, along with Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love. Their second-round pick might be just as important here. Without a third-rounder in this Draft, Big Blue will need to strike gold on the only two picks they have in the top 100.
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