Giants Engaged In Kayvon Thibodeaux Trade Talks; Saints Showing Interest
Similar to their Mathias Kiwanuka and Jason Pierre-Paul first-round picks earlier this century, the Giants have stacked their edge-rushing corps by drafting Arvell Reese. That came after Abdul Carter arrived in New York despite the presences of Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
While the Giants are preparing to start Reese as an off-ball linebacker — presumably with pass-down rush responsibilities a la an early-career Von Miller — a logjam has formed here. The Giants may be prepared to resolve the issue tonight. They are engaged in trade talks on Thibodeaux, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports. The Saints are among the teams showing “strong interest.”
If the Giants do not move Thibodeaux, he might not have a starting role. A fascinating NASCAR package-style setup in which all four edge rushers share the field would generate intrigue — like the Giants’ JPP-Kiwanuka-Justin Tuck-Osi Umenyiora line did during the 2011 Super Bowl XLVI-winning season — but Thibodeaux’s name has come up in trade talks for several weeks. With one year left on his contract, the former No. 5 overall pick may soon need to relocate.
The Saints have been in on Thibodeaux since February, according to NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill. In late February, a report indicated the Giants were listening on the Oregon product. Days later, they were viewed as preferring to trade him. This was well before it was viewed likely that Reese — who was closely tied to the Jets at No. 2 overall — could fall to 5.
Although a potential early-Day 3 pick has been floated as satisfactory compensation, a recent report indicated the Giants were not prepared to accept anything south of a Day 2 choice for Thibodeaux. While Chase Young, Jaelan Phillips, Yannick Ngakoue and Dante Fowler generated third-rounders (or thirds and then something else) in contract years, Thibodeaux has been inconsistent as a pass rusher. He has one six-sack season on his resume, and that 11.5-sack 2023 season looks like an outlier.
The Saints were connected to potentially trading up for Reese in Round 1. The Chiefs then viewed them as a threat for cornerback Mansoor Delane. But New Orleans did not move up the board and then left Rueben Bain Jr. there, choosing wideout Jordyn Tyson at No. 8. New Orleans returns Young and Carl Granderson but has not re-signed franchise sack kingpin Cameron Jordan, who is entering an age-37 season.
More to come.
Ty Simpson Fallout: Rams, McVay, Snead, Stafford, Lemon, Sadiq, Garoppolo, Ioane
While loosely connected to Ty Simpson entering the draft, the Rams were viewed as more likely to add a player that helped their strong 2026 roster compete for a Super Bowl title. In a move eerily similar to the Packers’ Jordan Love pick six years ago, the Rams came out of Round 1 with Simpson — who may well sit behind Matthew Stafford for multiple seasons.
Discussions about this pick pivoted from whether Simpson was a reach at No. 13 to whether Sean McVay was enthused about the selection. McVay’s post-draft presser left plenty to be desired on the latter front. For instance, McVay made this comment shortly after the choice:
“There were a lot of players that we liked, but when you do look at it, I think the thing you liked about the body of work is … let’s make one thing clear, this is Matthew’s team,” McVay said. “You get a chance to be able to address the backup quarterback.”
[RELATED: Rams Considered Joe Flacco In Free Agency]
This situation technically makes Simpson the backup quarterback — McVay went as far as to say Simpson will compete with disappointing holdover Stetson Bennett for the gig — but the Rams paid Jimmy Garoppolo barely $3MM to handle that role over the past two years. Dynamics in play here certainly separate this from merely staffing the QB2 job. With the exception of the Packers’ three-year Love developmental plan, QBs chosen in Round 1 play as rookies or, at the latest, by Year 2. Stafford is going into an age-38 season and is expected to sign an extension soon.
The Packers did add Love ahead of a Rodgers MVP season, but Stafford coming off an MVP campaign and seeing his team draft his successor is uncovered ground. No team rostering a reigning MVP quarterback has chosen another passer in the first or second round since the 1970 merger. But that is Stafford’s reality now. While this situation differs from the clunky Kirk Cousins–Michael Penix Jr. setup, as Stafford is unlikely to be benched anytime soon, a clock is almost certainly in place on his Rams tenure — rather than a Super Bowl frontrunner augmenting his current roster.
Makai Lemon was “definitely” in the mix to go to L.A. at 13, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, but this does not appear to have been a McVay-Les Snead power struggle. A personnel source informed Fowler that Simpson being there at 13 meant the Rams were taking him, going so far as to say the Alabama prospect compared favorably to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza by some in the team’s building.
McVay “absolutely” was onboard with the pick, another source told Fowler, with a separate team source indicating the duo was in lockstep by “all indications.”
“I think Sean had a chat with Matthew before last night. And that’s one thing that Matthew’s definitely earned,” Snead said, via The Sedano and Cap Morning Show (h/t Pro Football Talk’s Myles Simmons) “It’s one of the things that we’re working together to go through it. Matthew is on his way to, I would say this, a Hall of Fame career, right? And he still has gas left in the tank. And big picture, our vision’s always been, ‘Hey, let’s make the most of this time with Matthew and his teammates — let’s chase special together, however long that may [last].’ There’s no timeline on this. The longer, the better. Matthew just came off an MVP season, so if he continues playing, it’s like, this is better for everyone involved.
“And I think at the end of the day, Sean and I are going to always work together in these types of decisions. … But there was a lot that was going on into maneuvering that draft. So, we’re in lockstep. We work together. We’re collaborative. It’s him and I partnering to try to do the best for the Rams.”
Snead played in the SEC (at Auburn) around the same time Simpson’s father (Jason) was at Mississippi State. Jason Simpson, the longtime HC at Tennessee-Martin, consulted with Snead on whether Ty should declare for the draft or stay in college. Snead said Ty was a first-round-level talent, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes. Simpson received $5MM and then $6.5MM offers from Miami to transfer there for the ’26 season, according to Pelissero. Snead had his eye on Simpson dating back to the fall, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes.
These discussions commenced before Alabama’s Rose Bowl game. Miami’s second offer would have compared to a second-round guarantee, but Simpson’s No. 13 overall pact will be worth $25.77MM fully guaranteed (per OverTheCap). When Ty’s parents discussed the QB’s future with Snead before his draft declaration, Pelissero indicates the longtime Rams GM conveyed a real possibility the Rams would draft him in the first round. (While the Rams’ draft slot was not known at that point, L.A. knew where its Atlanta-obtained pick would land since the Falcons’ season had ended.)
Simpson declared for the draft Jan. 7 — three days after the Falcons’ season wrapped — and the Rams carried a rare opportunity to find a Stafford heir apparent. The team’s draft slot regularly comes outside the top 20; it landed at No. 29 this year. The Rams traded their own pick to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie, and the draft community had viewed that swap as a decision that would likely send Simpson elsewhere. The Rams were viewed as high on Simpson but were considered more likely to draft him at 29 than at 13 (or via a trade-down from 13).
Even if this was a Snead-based pick, McVay has held tremendous input since arriving in L.A. nine years ago. A source familiar with the organization’s inner workings told FanSided’s Jason La Canfora that McVay “pulls all the triggers, and especially on a quarterback.” It would be highly unlikely a coach with McVay’s track record would be overruled by his GM, leading some in the league to view McVay’s lack of post-draft enthrallment for the pick as performative for Stafford’s benefit.
McVay indeed called Stafford on Thursday, per Jones. This differed from the Falcons’ approach, as they famously did not call Cousins before the Penix pick. Stafford is on a different QB tier than Cousins, and while it will be interesting to hear the veteran passer’s thoughts on the move, Simpson will be expected to sit for a while. The move also came partially due to Garoppolo uncertainty, per Fowler, though that assuredly played a small part in this. Garoppolo, whom the Rams had wanted back, is considering retirement.
McVay said (via Jones) he does not believe this pick will affect Stafford extension talks. The Rams have reached revised deals with their five-year starter in each of the past two offseasons, but with the QB unsigned for 2027, a true extension is on the docket this year.
Stafford pursued a $50MM-plus-AAV deal last year, being allowed to explore a trade, but backed down — after aggressive Raiders and Giants pushes — and signed a reworked Rams pact that brought a $40MM early guarantee. Simpson’s status aside, Stafford will still carry considerable leverage in Rams talks. Though, it is worth wondering if Simpson’s arrival will affect how much in future guarantees the Rams will want to offer.
Tied closely to the Rams coming into the draft, Lemon fell to 20th (via an Eagles trade-up in front of the Steelers). The Rams also considered tight end Kenyon Sadiq, per Fowler, who adds Caleb Downs — had he fallen to 13 — was on the team’s radar. Dallas traded up one spot to ensure it landed Downs at No. 11. The Rams have pursued a young weapon in each of the previous two first rounds. They sought Brock Bowers in 2024 and made an offer for No. 8 overall — believed to be a Tetairoa McMillan aim — in 2025. They also were linked to Emeka Egbuka in last year’s first round.
That makes the Simpson-over-Lemon call interesting, but if the Rams are right on the passer (and they certainly have an optimal setup to develop one given McVay’s success), that will end up being the right play long term.
The Rams also received calls from teams eager to move ahead of the Ravens (at No. 14) for guard Vega Ioane, and while it would have made sense to explore sliding down and picking up assets, the team stood pat. That certainly furthers the belief McVay was firmly in Camp Simpson, despite the Crimson Tide signal-caller being a one-year college starter. Simpson, who was linked to the Cardinals and Jets (among other teams) in this draft, preferred to end up in L.A., Fowler adds.
Green Bay has seen its Love investment pay dividends, though its 2020 squad — despite a Rodgers MVP effort — fell just short of Super Bowl LV. The Packers have not been that close since, with a non-QB first-round pick potentially enough to make the difference in that Buccaneers matchup five Januarys ago. But the Packers have since extended Love, who has become an upper-crust QB. The Rams had not brought in a starter-level draft prospect under McVay, though the HC developed Snead draftee Jared Goff upon arrival.
The Simpson project will be scrutinized, but this will remain Stafford’s show for a while. The extension talks will be the next chapter to follow here, and it will be fascinating how long the Rams truly commit to their likely Hall of Fame-bound starter — and, perhaps, how long he now wants to commit to the team — now that they have his likely replacement rostered.
Cowboys’ Malachi Lawrence Was First-Round Target Of Four Other Teams
The Cowboys opened Thursday night by moving up one spot to select safety Caleb Downs at No. 11. That was followed by a small trade down the board (20 to 23) which resulted in edge rusher Malachi Lawrence being taken.
Dallas entered the draft widely expected to seek out defensive upgrades. It thus came as no surprise when Downs in particular was targeted after he fell out of the top 10. Taking Lawrence added to a pass rush group seen as needing depth, although some questions were raised about the value of the selection. Based on how Lawrence was regarded by other teams, though, he is not being viewed as a reach.
Cowboys VP of player personnel Will McClay said after the first round concluded (via NFL Network’s Jane Slater) that executives from four other teams called to inform him Dallas took their Day 1 target off the board with the Lawrence selection. No specifics were mentioned, although the latter stages of the first round included several teams opting to move down the board or out of the Day 1 order altogether. It appears that was influenced in part by the fact Lawrence was no longer available.
Over the course of his four-year tenure at Central Florida, Lawrence emerged as one of the country’s top pass rushers. He posted 19.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss from 2023-25, displaying an enticing combination of size and athleticism. Lawrence drew extensive interest leading up to the draft, making him a strong candidate to hear his name called at some point on Day 1. WFAA’s Ed Werder adds he “know[s] for certain” Lawrence would have still been a first-rounder if the Cowboys had taken another player at No. 23.
During the first season after trading away Micah Parsons, the Cowboys posted 35 sacks (good for 24th in the NFL). 2025 sack leader Jadeveon Clowney remains unsigned at this point, and a departure on his part would create the need for production from elsewhere on the depth chart. Lawrence could see a large workload as a rookie, something which likely would have also been the case had he landed with another suitor given the market he generated.
Packers, Jayden Reed Agree To Extension
Shortly before the start of the draft’s second day, the Packers have worked out an extension agreement with receiver Jayden Reed. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports a three-year deal worth $50.25MM in new money (including $20MM guaranteed) has been finalized.
Reed’s $16.75MM AAV slots him in as the 29th-highest paid wide receiver in the league, a solid deal for the Packers. The 2023 second-rounder flashed as a rookie before putting together an impressive sophomore campaign with 11.4 yards per target and 15.6 yards per reception. Both numbers ranked among the league’s top six wideouts and raised expectations entering 2025.
However, Reed suffered a broken clavicle in Week 2, forcing him into injured reserve until December. He took the time off to also undergo surgery to address a Jones fracture in his foot that he originally intended to play through. Reed returned in Week 14 and caught 16 of his 17 targets for 162 yards – an efficient but low-volume stat line – over his final five games.
Paying less than $17MM per year for an efficient slot receiver is a good bit of business for a Packers team that has generally avoided signing veteran receivers to multi-year deals. They have consistently spent draft capital at the position – including a first-round pick on Matthew Golden last year – allowing them to trade Dontayvion Wicks and let Romeo Doubs walk in free agency this offseason. Wicks, who has seen declining production in each of his three NFL seasons, received a one-year, $12.5MM extension from the Eagles. Doubs has never been as efficient as Reed and signed a three-year, $51MM deal with the Patriots that included $35MM guaranteed.
Comparatively, Reed’s contract seems to offer more upside with significantly less guaranteed money (and therefore much lower risk). He, Golden, and Christian Watson will form Jordan Love‘s top trio of wideouts in 2026, and potentially beyond if Green Bay ponies up for another Watson extension, too. He signed a one-year, $11MM deal in September during his recovery from a January torn ACL. That looked like a steal for the Packers when the 6-foot-4 wideout returned to the field in October and averaged 61.6 yards per game and 11.1 yards per target across the final 10 games of the season. Carrying that performance into 2026 could price him out of Green Bay, but it would also motivate the team to pay another proven receiver who has an established connection with their franchise quarterback.
Teams Atop Second-Round Order Receiving Calls; 49ers Open To Trading Down
4:15pm: The 49ers’ 33rd pick is a popular target for teams looking to trade up, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, who mentions Texas A&M guard Chase Bisontis among the group of potential selections.
If San Francisco does not bite on an offer, they may pursue Missouri defensive end Zion Young, Breer adds. Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams tore their ACLs last year, so Young would give the 49ers a reliable starter as the two former first-rounders make their way back to the field.
12:47pm: Many of the picks toward the back end of the first-round order changed hands last night. That resulted in several alterations to the draft list for Day 2.
As things stand, the 49ers, Cardinals and Bills own the first three picks in tonight’s second round. Several more trades can of course be expected moving forward, and NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports all three of those teams have received calls. It would come as little surprise if San Francisco in particular elected to move out of the No. 33 spot.
Per Schultz, the 49ers are considered to be “very open” to trading down. GM John Lynch authorized a move from No. 27 to 30 in a deal with the Dolphins. That was followed in short order by a trade which saw the Jets acquire No. 30. San Francisco has yet to make a selection in 2026 as a result, but Schultz notes the team is confident one of its targets will still be available even if another trade down the board takes place.
The Cardinals were long seen as a candidate to move into the back half of the first round to select quarterback Ty Simpson. With the Rams having selected him 13th overall, though, Arizona was not among the teams moving around late last night. The Cardinals added running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, and several options will be available when they are next on the clock regardless of if a trade is worked out.
The Bills were originally scheduled to select 26th overall. Things changed on multiple occasions as the first round drew to a close, however, with Buffalo opting to trade down three times. That has given general manager Brandon Beane extra capital to work with, although continuing to move down will carry risk in terms of limiting the remaining high-end prospects available when he makes his first pick. It will be interesting to see how Buffalo operates moving forward.
Earlier today, the Giants were floated as a team which could trade up from the No. 37 slot. A pairing between New York and one of the top three teams in the current second-round order could be something to watch for as the countdown to Day 2 continues.
Commanders Were Not Expecting Sonny Styles At No. 7
Sonny Styles was frequently pegged as a top-five pick during the pre-draft process, but the Cardinals and the Titans both went in other directions at Nos. 3 and 4.
That left Styles’ Ohio State teammate Arvell Reese available to the Giants at No. 5, and they quickly swooped in to select the top-ranked player on their board. New York was one of the frequently-mocked destinations for Styles, but they preferred Reese’s versatility and upside as an edge rusher.
The Chiefs then traded up to the No. 6 pick, but for LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. Styles then fell to the Commanders at No. 7, an outcome they were not expecting, per Bleacher Report’s James Palmer.
Washington was interested in trading back (thought not up) from No. 7, Palmer adds, and leapt at the opportunity to secure one of their favorite prospects in the draft.
Styles will immediately slot in as a starter in Daronte Jones’ new defense, likely partnered with free agent signing Leo Chenal. Frankie Luvu, who is entering the last of his contract, played significantly more time off the edge in 2025 relative to his previous time as an off-ball linebacker. He will likely have a bigger role as a pass rusher in 2026 with Styles working next Chenal.
The Commanders have no complaints about landing Styles, but they enter Day 2 of the draft having not addressed any of their major positions of need. Washington needs a center and could stand to add depth at tight end and running back as well. They do not pick until the third round at No. 71 overall after trading their second-rounder to the Texans last offseason for Laremy Tunsil.
Chiefs Saw Saints As Threat To Draft CB Mansoor Delane
The first trade of Thursday’s opening round saw the Chiefs swing a trade with the Browns to acquire pick No. 6. That allowed Kansas City to move up from No. 9 and take cornerback Mansoor Delane.
Especially with Jermod McCoy facing medical concerns, Delane was seen as the clear-cut top option at the cornerback position this year. That made him an enticing option for the Chiefs, a team looking to restock its secondary. But the two teams direcetly ahead of Kansas City were also candidates to take Delane.
When speaking to the media last night, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said (via ESPN’s Nate Taylor) he viewed the Saints in particular as a threat to select Delane at No. 8. Moving ahead of New Orleans – not to mention Washington at No. 7, a team which expectedly added on defense in the first round – thus became a major priority. Veach said he learned of the Browns’ willingness to move down from 6 during the league meeting, helping pave the way for yesterday’s swap.
The Chiefs had Delane ranked as a top-five player in the class, Bleacher Report’s James Palmer notes. He confirms Veach was concerned about Saints GM Mickey Loomis (no stranger to trading up in the draft) moving up to take the LSU cover man. New Orleans was named as a trade-up candidate during the build-up to the opening round, albeit with an edge rusher being seen as the target. In the end, Loomis and the Saints remained in place at No. 8 and took receiver Jordyn Tyson.
Delane will be counted on to handle a starting role right away for the Chiefs as part of their latest CB reset. Trent McDuffie was traded away earlier this offseason, while Jaylen Watson departed in free agency. Neither Rams addition on that front came entirely as a surprise, but it left Kansas City in need of reinforcements via the draft. Veach accomplished his goal of securing Delane early, and it will be interesting to see how he operates over the next two days on the trade front.
Multiple Teams Looking To Move Up In 2nd Round
Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft was packed with trades. Teams were constantly shuffling the order as they attempted to secure coveted prospects and/or extra draft capital.
The picks are expected to continue flying around on Day 2 with clubs jockeying for top talents who fell out of the first round. Several are looking to move up to the top of the second round, including the Dolphins, Saints, Browns, Steelers, and Jaguars, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He mentions four players are potential trade-up targets: Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, Tennesse cornerbacks Colton Hood and Jermod McCoy, and Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston.
The Dolphins drafted two nose tackles in Kenneth Grant and Jordan Phillips last year, so trading up for a third in McDonald would make little sense. Their cornerback room was a major liability last year and only saw marginal upgrades in free agency, so either Hood or McCoy could be targets. And of course, trading Jaylen Waddle created a major need at wide receiver in Miami. Boston could fill it.
Saints defensive tackles Nathan Shepherd and Davon Godchaux are both into their 30s and entering the final year of their contract, so the team could certainly target McDonald. They could stand to upgrade at cornerback behind 2024 second-rounder Kool-Aid McKinstry, but trading up to select another wide receiver after taking Jordyn Tyson at No. 8 overall seems unwise.
The Browns are known to have interest in wide receivers in this draft class, though Boston’s skillset may not be ideal for Todd Monken’s new offense. Cleveland could strengthen the interior of their defensive line, especially with a massive run-stuffer like McDonald. They have more talent at cornerback, but could stand to add a high-upside talent to the room.
The Steelers are likely looking to move up for a wide receiver after getting sniped for Makai Lemon by the Eagles in Round 1. They could move up as high as the 33rd overall pick, the first on Day 2, which is currently owned by the 49ers via trades with the Dolphins and Jets. San Francisco has received multiple calls about their selection and is open to moving it, per Pelissero.
Jacksonville would seem to be set at wide receiver with Jakobi Meyers, Brian Thomas, and Parker Washington. Travis Hunter is going to spend more time at cornerback in 2026, but he will still be available for some offensive packages. The Jaguars traded for defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro, this offseason, but they could still add depth, especially with DaVon Hamilton entering the final year of his contract. Similar to the Browns, they have a decent cornerback room right now but could stand to add more long-term upside.
The Jaguars also explored trading into the first round, per Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida Times-Union, though no deal materialized. General manager James Gladstone was aggressive in pursuing Hunter during last year’s draft, and his time under Rams GM Les Snead further indicates his willingness to chase his favorite prospects.
Rams Eyed Free Agent Deal For Joe Flacco
For much of the offseason, the Rams’ backup quarterback position was a talking point. The matter was settled last night when Los Angeles used the 13th overall pick on Ty Simpson.
Simpson will be counted on to handle QB2 duties in 2026, taking the place of Jimmy Garoppolo in that regard. The latter is still unsigned at this point, and retirement could be an option. A number of veterans – including Garoppolo and Kirk Cousins – were on the Rams’ radar this spring, but they were not the only ones receiving consideration.
Los Angeles “made overtures to sign” Joe Flacco during free agency, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Sarah Barshop report. The former Super Bowl MVP sought out an opportunity to start when initially on the open market, although a Rams agreement obviously would have seen him back up Matthew Stafford. In the end, Flacco opted to re-sign with the Bengals.
Stafford is under contract for 2026, but the latest round of extension talks between the 2025 MVP and the Rams are ongoing. Earlier this week, it was reported progress was being made on that front. Stafford is currently due to collect $40MM in his age-38 campaign, although the top of the quarterback market and his highly productive showing last season point to another raise being in store.
Flacco would have needed to serve as a low-cost backup had he joined the Rams. His latest Bengals pact checked in at $6MM in base value (including $4MM guaranteed) with another $3.5MM available through incentives. Instead of making a similar financial commitment in March, Los Angeles avoided a veteran contract such as that one altogether. Entering the draft, it appeared as though Garoppolo may have been in line for another inexpensive Rams pact. With Simpson now in place, however, the team can proceed without a veteran signing at the quarterback spot.
Giants To Play Arvell Reese At LB, Francis Mauigoa At G
The Giants let the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft come to them on Thursday night, landing two of the class’ most highly-regarded players in Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Miami’s Francis Mauigoa.
Reese, 20, primarily lined up as an off-ball linebacker in college but has been tabbed for a move to edge rusher in the NFL. New York, though, has three-time Pro Bowler Brian Burns, last year’s No. 3 pick Abdul Carter, and 2022 No. 5 pick Kayvon Thibodeaux on the roster. There would be little room for Reese as an edge rusher as a rookie.
Instead, the Giants are planning to keep Reese off the ball to begin his career, head coach John Harbaugh said (via FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano). He will line up on the weak side, and his versatility will keep him involved in the pass rush.
General manager Joe Schoen said (via NFL insider Jordan Schultz) that Reese was the team’s top-ranked non-quarterback prospect, so New York was more than happy to draft him and figure out where to play him later.
Mauigoa lined up at right tackle for the Hurricanes, but his 33.25-inch arms is below typical NFL standards at the position. The Giants are also set at both tackle spots with Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor, who are both signed through the 2028 season. As a result, Mauigoa will slide inside to compete for a starting guard job, likely on the right side, per Vacchiano.
That comes with an obvious caveat: Mauigoa must be healthy. A disc issue in his back popped up during the pre-draft process, and though there have been positive updates around his status, there was some concern it would affect his stock. Perhaps it did, as he was frequently mocked in the top five picks but instead fell to the Giants at No. 10. They made their own assessment of Mauigoa’s health and came away satisfied.
“We’re comfortable with it,” Schoen said (via Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper), noting that the team now employs one of Mauigoa’s former trainers at Miami. That gives them additional information on the injury, which occurred during the 2025 season, and the confidence to spend their second first-rounder on the 20-year-old lineman.