What the New York Giants plan to do in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft will be a major topic of conversation in the coming months. The Giants will have one of the top picks in the draft, and a recent report suggested that they could look at the quarterback position, despite the presence of promising rookie Jaxson Dart already on the roster.
If they don’t go with a quarterback, though, they could look to add an offensive weapon in order to make Dart’s job easier next season, and that’s exactly what they do in the latest mock draft from Nick Merriam of College Football HQ.
Giants select Carnell Tate in first round of 2026 NFL mock draft
With the No. 2 overall selection in the mock, the Giants select Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, making him the first receiver off the board in the draft. Tate compiled over 1,800 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns during his three seasons in college.
From Merriam:
“Unless New York is selecting a quarterback in this draft, they need to prioritize surrounding Jaxson Dart with as much help as possible. A big bodied, smooth mover like Tate would help, but this could still be a competitive trade-up spot for other teams seeking quarterbacks.”
The Giants might want a larger sample size when it comes to deciding if Dart is truly their quarterback of the future. Drafting a high-level receiver early in the ’26 draft could help to maximize Dart’s chances of succeeding next season while the organization evaluates options.
If the Giants are still not sold on Dart a year from now, they could look to draft a quarterback in 2027 – a class that could be stacked at the QB spot.
Plus, Tate and Malik Nabers could potentially form a pretty dynamic pass-catching duo in New York.