FlurrySports projects three possible New York Giants draft targets with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, including Ohio State’s Sonny Styles.
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After yet another disappointing season, with just a 4-13 record, the New York Giants have plenty of reasons for optimism for once. Quarterback Jaxson Dart looks like the real deal, star receiver Malik Nabers is on the mend, and Cam Skattebo is looking like the running back of the future. With John Harbaugh now at the helm and the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Giants have all the pieces needed to break out this year if they can hit on their first-round pick.
With plenty of talented prospects available at fifth overall, here are three players New York Giants draft targets with their first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
New York Giants Draft Targets at No. 5
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Arvell Reese will likely be the first linebacker off the board, but that doesn’t mean that Sonny Styles won’t be better than him when all is said and done. While there were times that Reese’s play overshadowed Styles and everyone else on last year’s loaded Ohio State Buckeyes defense, there were also plenty of times Styles looked like the best player as well. There is also no doubt that Styles shows up in big games as well, which was seen when he was clearly the best defensive player on the field in the Big Ten Championship game against Indiana this past season.
The draw for Sonny Styles to the New York Giants is obvious: the Giants need another starting linebacker badly. Styles would easily be able to start right off the bat and bring a tenacity that John Harbaugh and New York fans will love to see. He is solid in run defense and in pass coverage and flies around the field with a speed not usually seen at the position. On top of that, he is an absolutely massive human being. Styles is 6’5″ and weighs 244 pounds, which not only makes it difficult for ball carriers to get past him, but also allows him to be able to match up with tight ends in passing downs if called upon.
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Simply put, Caleb Downs may just be the best prospect in the entire 2026 NFL Draft, so there is no doubt he is considered among the top New York Giants draft targets. With the Las Vegas Raiders likely going for Fernando Mendoza and the next three teams before the Giants with different needs, it seems likely Downs could fall to the Giants. Should he be available, the New York Giants should run to get their pick in immediately. The Giants’ defense wasn’t too bad, all things considered, last year, but a player like Caleb Downs would completely revolutionize their defense.
What makes a prospect like Downs so prized is his ability to play wherever needed in the secondary. While his main position is safety, he also has experience coming down and playing as a slot cornerback as well. He has an incredible motor and is as sure a tackler as you are going to see. He uses his eyes to read the offense and put himself in positions to make plays. As a willing participant against the run, there is so much to like about him. His fit for the Giants would be seamless as he could start immediately at safety and possibly even as a slot cornerback if needed.
While it’s more than likely he’d be the starting safety, again, his versatility would allow the Giants to put out whatever looks they wanted when he’s on the field. With an already underrated defensive line, adding him to the secondary would be problematic for opposing offenses.
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
You can never go wrong drafting a player from Ohio State, which is why the Buckeyes’ Carnell Tate is also a good draft target for the New York Giants with the fifth overall pick. The Giants have solid pieces on both sides of the ball, but last year proved that they need a second receiver badly. While any team would suffer after their top receiver was lost for the season due to injury, the Giants suffered more than they should have. Outside of Malik Nabers, the best receivers on the Giants are Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III. None of those players brings any confidence to Dart and Giants’ fans, which is why drafting Tate at this spot makes sense.
Make no mistake about it, Carnell Tate is the best receiver in this draft. He has the most trustworthy pair of hands of any receiver in this draft, as seen by his zero total drops last year, and is fantastic at tracking deep balls at full speed. Tate catches 50/50 balls more often than not and has good size too, at 6’2″ and just under 200 pounds. While he may never be the “superstar” wide receiver that Malik Nabers is, that isn’t what he will be asked to do. His presence will allow Nabers to get lighter coverage and have an easier time getting open.
Even when Nabers is still blanketed in coverage, Tate is more than capable of making a play and getting himself open. Giving Jaxson Dart and this offense another weapon would quickly take them to one of the more talented offenses in the league when fully healthy.
