Story perspectives

Giants Draft Kelly, Fields, Davis as McFadden Mulls Recovery

5/2/2026

Summary

Giants Draft Kelly

Giants drafted linebacker Jack Kelly in the sixth round, 193rd overall, to compete with linebacker Micah McFadden for a roster spot.
Giants drafted Notre Dame receiver Malachi Fields in the third round, 74th overall, and tackle J.C. Davis at 192nd overall.
Guard Jon Runyan, on a deal, allowed 31 pressures and two sacks in 2025 while linebacker Micah McFadden missed season with a Lisfranc injury after signing an extension.

Summary

Giants Draft Hood

Giants selected cornerback Colton Hood at No. 37 after the Texans signed defensive tackle Kayden McDonald.
Head coach John Harbaugh called Hood a “pit bull,” stressing a new emphasis on physical play.
GM Joe Schoen traded three picks to move up for Notre Dame receiver Malachi Fields, calling him a “power forward.”
Giants added veteran Shelby Harris.
Giants are targeting nose tackle DJ Reader and evaluating RB Damon Bankston for special-team duties.

Summary

Likely Signs

Tight end Isaiah Likely signed a three-year, $40 million contract, becoming the Giants’ biggest free-agency addition.
The franchise allocated $169.2 million to free-agency deals, ranking seventh in total NFL spending according to Spotrac.
General manager Joe Schoen said the Giants are ready to compete after a 4-13 season with five lost fourth-quarter leads.
Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson plans to deploy rookie linebacker Arvell Reese at the Will spot, adding flexibility to edge-rush packages.

Summary

Giants Draft Condemned

NFL executives condemned the Giants’ draft haul as incoherent.
One executive said the team should have taken linebacker Sonny Styles instead of Arvell Reese, calling him a disappointment.
Critics noted that trading Dexter Lawrence II for the No. 10 pick left a gap after his $28 million one-year extension.
Analysts warned that Reese, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns and Abdul Carter will form a pass-rush quartet hard for any offensive line to block.

History

Historical Context

After Jim Fassel guided the Giants to a 10-5-1 NFC East title in 1997, the 1998 campaign slipped to 8-8, leaving the quarterback spot open. In 1999 GM Ernie Accorsi signed former Panthers first-overall pick Kerry Collins to a five-year, $16.9 million contract, the franchise’s first big-ticket QB deal, a spending model echoed in later roster moves.

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Giants Draft Kelly

Giants drafted linebacker Jack Kelly in the sixth round, 193rd overall, to compete with linebacker Micah McFadden for a roster spot.
Giants drafted Notre Dame receiver Malachi Fields in the third round, 74th overall, and tackle J.C. Davis at 192nd overall.
Guard Jon Runyan, on a deal, allowed 31 pressures and two sacks in 2025 while linebacker Micah McFadden missed season with a Lisfranc injury after signing an extension.

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