As happy as they are with having nabbed linebacker Arvell Reese and offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Giants still have a Dexter Lawrence-sized hold in the middle of their defensive line.
Sticking out on the draft board entering night two as a player who could fill at least part of that considerable hole is Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, a 6-foot-2⅛, 326-pound behemoth who was not selected in Round 1.
Would the Giants, with the fifth pick in Round 2, No. 37 overall, move up on Friday night to select McDonald?
Todd McShy of The Ringer thinks they might. In a section of his subscriber-only newsletter titled “Don’t be surprsied if …”, McShay led off with the idea that the Giants could move to the first pick in Round 2 (No. 33 overall, currently held by the San Francisco 49ers) to grab McDonald. McShay wrote:
The San Francisco 49ers, who have the 33rd overall pick after a Thursday trade with the New York Jets, are said to be “very open” to moving back from that spot.
Here is part of what McShay wrote about McDonald in his scouting report:
• NY Giants Draft, Day 2: 3 trade scenarios for the Giants at No. 37 overall
A complicating factor for the Giants is they don’t have a third-round pick, so they don’t have much in the way of 2026 draft assets to trade. Do they think enough of McDonald to offer a 2027 mid-round pick?
If the Giants want McDonald, the key will be judging whether or not they can get him at No. 37, the fifth pick of Round 2. Or, if defensive tackle is what they want in this spot, are they comfortable with Lee Hunter of Texas Tech or Christen Miller of Georgia. Miller is a player the Giants hosted in East Rutherford, N.J. for a ‘30’ visit.
