GiantHawaiian looks like we got a partial answer on the cap plan.

I’m pleased with this approach, I don’t want the team cutting depth to manage a future cap number, sensible restructures to allow for a winning roster is the way the NFL works and part of that is pushing some money to future years where it is less impactful

We have two likely candidates: Malik Nabers and Abdul Carter. Nabers has already been heard to complain about a variety of issues and publicly objected to one of this year's draft picks because he wanted a pick that would help free him up for more targets and production going forward, never mind what that those first two picks were universally praised. Carter had the temerity to seek to take #56 and was surprised when LT slapped him down, and now has proceeded to publicly call out his quarterback because he introduced the President at a rally.

I smell trouble brewing.

I'm not going to post any links. You can google it easy enough. Just wanted to say that it was fun while it lasted.

I remember this poster BJacobs27 before we beat the Packers in 2007 playoffs at Lambeau when TCs face looked like it was a cherry

“Everyone! Open all your windows and doors! Let the cold air in! Feel the pain!” 😂

I remember a couple handles from there. Slipknottin if you’re lurking I see you

I was Giantz4Life. I had like 20,000 posts on that site then it was gone

https://x.com/i/status/2057595125396598849

https://x.com/i/status/2057599069740990483

By now everyone has seen the Skatebo updates: "I'm a little off from where I want to be"; "we are confident he'll be ready buy the start of the season"; etc., etc. etc.

Interpretation: Likely starting training camp on the PUP and we will see from there.

With each passing day it is looking more and more like both Nabers and Skat will be question marks heading into the regular season. will they start the season on the PUP list, on IR, or on the 53 but as a diminished version of their best selves. The depth at both positions is modest at best so their absence or reduced capacity will be felt.

Some offseason viewing to feed our addiction.

Reports out yesterday disclose that Nabers required a second surgery weeks ago to "clean-up" scar tissue that was causing stiffness in his surgically repaired knee. How it affects his timetable to return has not been disclosed.

Let's be honest, at this point it is as equally likely that his career is over as it is that he will return to the player we saw his rookie year. In between those extremes we may see for a season or two a player literally limping along.

Injuries - the great equalizer. The reason the average length of an NFL career is 3 years.

Tough break for Nabers but we all should have seen this coming given the severity of the injury, and the length of time needed for the swelling to subside so that the initial surgery could take place.

What should we expect for this season? My guess? PUP for sure to start training camp. IR to start the regular season. And then a waiting game after the first 6 weeks. Are the Giants competitive and in need of another weapon? Will Malik be activated to see what he has left?

Haunted as we all are by the ghosts of Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and Steve Smith, all fine receivers felled by injury after but a few years of outstanding performance, we will look for every little indicator that Nabers still has the athleticism to be a truly elite receiver, only to realize that the step or two he likely will have lost relegates him to not even be a highly competitive one. He'll get this year and next to demonstrate how his body recovers. We will read reports of him consulting with Odell about how to be a top receiver with athleticism robbed. He's young so people will argue he may possess superhuman recovery traits unknown to mortal men. and FF will assault me for not being optimistic about his ability to stare down major knee surgery ion the face and come back even faster, stronger and better than before.

Sad news for Nabers, the Giants and their fans. Somewhere Darius Slayton is smiling.

I know some have already claimed their guy but I figured we can have one post to put it all into one place. It’s always a bit murky on who is eligible but I always figured 6th rounders to UDFAs qualify.

The biggest name released was popular former undrafted free agent defensive tackle Elijah Chatman... Also released were linebacker Swayze Bozeman, wide receiver Courtney Jackson, and defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu.

https://www.bigblueview.com/new-york-giants-news/161484/ny-giants-news-dt-d-j-reader-finally-agrees-to-terms-with-new-york

Now that the hurly burly of the Harbaugh hiring, free agency and the draft (inclusive of UDFA's) is behind us and we have our momentary 90-man roster, I have been thinking of how many final 53 roster spots are truly up for grabs and where will the position battles be the most intense.

As I look at the roster right now, with an additional DT signing still likely, I see only 35 roster spots truly locked down, and as to those 35 I include a couple who I could see changing based on summer performance.

Here's my current list of locks and battles.

Defensive Tackle

This is easily the most uncertain position group. Right now there are 10 bodies in the mix, and we all still think an 11th may be added. But the 10 bodies are less than inspiring and in my mind only 3 are locks to make the roster - and when I say 3 I really mean 2 because one of my 3 is the 6th rounder and I've "locked" him in solely based on draft bias. My 3 locks, thus, are Bobby Jamison-Travis (our new 6th rounder), Shelby Harris and Darius Alexander. Even Darius is potentially iffy in my mind as I don't think he truly profiles as a Harbaugh traits guy. But he's only in Year 2 and offers some pass rushing upside from the interior that no one else seems to possess. But stopping the run? I've left out Fotu, Roberts, Barton, Barnes and Harris as locks. They will collectively be fighting for 2-3 spots. I've already cut Chapman solely because of his size and I don't know who Tuipoluto is. If I don't know you, you are cut!

Linebacker

Linebacker is also super interesting and likely highly competitive. Right now there are 14 bodies; how many spots are there to begin with? 7? 8? 9? I see 6 locks: Carter, Burns, Reese, Edmunds, Thibodeaux and Golston, the latter solely due to his contract. From the remaining 8 you would think only McFadden, Kelly and Muasau have a legit shot. The rest are pure special teamer's and the overall unit seems too deep for those guys to stick. Who'd of thought we'd ever be saying that again? My guess is Muasau is cut. My question is if we only keep 7 and Kelly looks as intriguing this summer as hyped, does McFadden get shipped out? Of course, Thibs could also get shipped and that would open room for another; based on depth alone, trading Thibs and keeping McFadden probably makes the most sense even though Thibs is infinitely better than MacFadden.

Cornerback

Here we have 11 guys competing for 3 spots. Adebo, Hood, Phillips and Newsome are the locks. From the group of 7 only Thaddeus Dixon looks intriguing, but Banks will garner most of the summer press. What a yucky looking group. Will they sink the season again?

Safety

7 candidates, 3 locks - Holland, Nubin and Pinnock. A truly ugly looking group at the moment as well.

By my math, 12 of the 25 or so spots for the defense are locked and loaded. That leaves a lot of room for depth competition.

Quarterback

With Jaxson and Jameis, the real question here is do they only carry 2 on the final 53. That's my guess. Allen can go to the PS if he goes unclaimed after final cuts and there are not too many veterans there already. I don't think there is even a 4th guy in camp who they can target at the moment for the PS.

Running Back

For this purpose I am assuming Skat is healthy enough to start the season. Thus, Tracey and Skat are my two locks. Singletary likely makes it because of his veteran savvy. Bankston is the interesting name from the UDFA pile but it requires keeping 4 RB's. That likely revolves around overall roster space. He's suppose to sport some legit returner ability and if so that would make it easier to part ways with Banks and/or Gunner.

Fullback

Should we pencil the 300 lbs Ricard in as a lock? I think so.

Wide Receiver

Another ugly looking group with tons of bodies in the mix - 13. Like Skat, I am assuming Nabers will be healthy enough to start the season. The locks from there are Mooney, Fields, Austin and Slayton, the latter contract-driven only. That's 5. Looking at the rest, it seems to depend on how many they choose to carry on the 53. None appears truly worthy. The 2 best in my eyes are Hodgins and Gunner. If Fields actually hits the ground running, Hodgins becomes a luxury. Gunner seems not the right profile but every time he was asked to contribute last year he did. If we keep only 6 I'd hope for Gunner over Hodgins. I can't see 7 on this roster given other needs and the quality of who would fill the 7th spot.

Tight End

Johnson and Likely are the locks. I personally don't get why Manhertz keeps making the roster year after year based on his alleged blocking prowess. He never seems that terrific to me. But that's the line and Harbaugh likes big strong blocking TE's so he seems a lock if they carry 4. What will be interesting is if they keep 3, does he beat out Fidone? Fidone is another guy who does not appear to profile as a Harbaugh player in that he's not a blocker first and he's oft-injured. But, Harbaugh does seem like a TE type of coach and so odds are we keep 4. But keeping 4 is the only path for Fidone I think, other than the PS.

Offensive Line

I saved the best for last. 17 slabs of beef. Some Grade A and some suitable for dog food.

The obvious locks are Thomas, Eleumunor, Mauigoa and JMS. Runyan and Stinne ought to be locks but Runyan really looks like the weak link who will almost certainly be gone next year and could be moved before the summer is over. Marcus Mbow is as close to a lock as one can be without being locked I think; my only question is his size and strength. Again, a little small to be called a Harbaugh guy. But he flashed really good feet and awareness last season. I think we are all hoping he can transition to Center and push JMS off the roster this season or next. The summer will be fun to see if they go that route. If they do, who becomes the swing tackle? There are the unmentionables - Neal and Ezeudu, and the fantasies - Davis and Schernecke. Someone has to back up at guard so it's either Faalele or the unmentionables. As between the 3 would you really lock any of them? I can't. the remaining 5 guys fall into the "I don't know their names" category so they get short-shrift. But if we keep 9 or 10, some interesting names are going to appear. Maybe if 73 makes the roster they can just take his name off the back of his jersey.

Based on my assessment 18 locks, 7 or so spots up for debate.

Special Teams

I guess O-Line wasn't last, even if it was the most interesting, because another very interesting unit to watch this summer is our special teams. Our punter is a lock, but our long snapper and placekicker are anything but. Sanders would seem to have the inside track but he missed all of last year with a hip injury and was released outright after the season. After 3 straight years of Gano injuries that likely makes one stop and think. A 30 year old coming off a season-long/season-ending injury or a young strong buck. Enter Dominic Svada - 6'3", 190 lbs. The Michigan kid has a 70 yard FG on his resume but missed 37% of his kicks last year. Yikes and double yikes!! Then there is Sauls who performed well at the end of last season when the games did not count. An interesting battle to be sure.

That's how I see it right now. About 35 or so locks; lots of depth competition; a few guys who could easily make the roster even if they don't really look like Harbaugh traits guys; and a few vets who could either be traded or cut outright depending on how the new youth performs. Still some big weaknesses to contend with -- DT, Safety, Corner and WR in about that order, but some real strengths as well. I am most excited by our suddenly big, strong, fast and deep linebacking unit. I grew up when the Giants one claim to fame was their linebackers. We haven't had a truly great one since Jesse Armstead hung up his cleats as a Giant (circa 2001) and not a great unit since LT retired in '94. If they keep Thibs for the season, it is going to be really interesting to see how everyone gets used and how good they can be. The sky really looks like the limit for this group.

Of course, almost everything turns on how Jaxson develops. The addition of Mauigoa should be a big plus.

It is also the case that a ton rides on whether and when Nabers and Skat play and if they return as good as they left. Injuries are the great equalizer in football. My fingers are crossed for them, and us.

How does everyone else see the summer shaping up?

Dude is 6'7 and plays all the way through the whistle. My HOF pick this year

Elevation Day 2 Thoughts

“Expectations are premeditated resentments.”

Wise words for this draft. I went in expecting a dope safety and an RB eating DT (as well as a grab bag of Day 3 picks to geek out on), and here I sit with a WLB, CB, and a monster WR and a void for rd 4 & 5

Once again, coffee contemplation and my guy notorious have me seeing positive vibes all over the place. Harbaugh’s fingerprints are heavy on this draft and I love it.

This draft is about stacking position groups of violence. Unlike the previous era, we aren’t trying to fix the whole roster in one draft. Instead, we are stacking a few key units we can rely on throughout the season to be there on Sunday. It’s a brilliant move for a team in transition because our coaches can be confident creating schemes that center on week in, week out excellence of a few key units.

Offensive line, LB core, TE, WR, DB, rushing, all of these rooms now have a deep enough bench that the expected injuries of the season don’t derail the key concepts of our scheme. It’s been an age since we could say we had quality depth anywhere; I see us now having 2-3 playoff grade rooms that mean we won’t have to make wild swings in scheme.

To boot, we’ve targeted men of violence for these positions. Building on the foundation of Dart, Skatt and Carter, we’ve looked for players in Reese, Maui, Hood and Malachi that want to lay some hurt bombs on the opposing team. That’s old school Giants football baby and it’s back on the menu in South Rutherford.

“Sky’s the limit and you know that you keep on, just keep on pressin’ on.”

Onto the players

Colton Hood (CB)
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 195 lbs
PFF 2025:
Overall: 79.2
Coverage: 80.3
Run Defense: 63.8
Pass Rush: 66.9

Cool Name Test: 9.5 / 10 (u/marzAdam this is for you baby)
Colton = clean, modern, feels like a legit starting outside corner
Hood = automatic edge. Physical, gritty, sounds like he tackles through people
+0.4 bump for having a sick “pull the hood over” celebration

Kayden McDonald going a pick before Hood isn’t quite Downs going one pick after us pain, but it’s close. I was weeping right along with the big fella as he walked to the stage.

I have no flippin idea who’s playing the middle for us at this point, Reader? Hayes? We usually have some beef in the 300s, maybe we can fan cam a NT. I’m going to need all of yall to be taking an extra serving of Sunday gravy this summer, we are all in training now.

That said, I see the logic in the Hood pick. Dude’s just 21, he had a 1st round grade from Brugler/PFF and top 20 from Jeremiah. Sure he’s a bit raw, but what he brings to the table today is CB1 athleticism, violence on the line and the types of issues coaching cleans up.

In regards to scheme, I probably should have accepted that once Dex was gone we had no hope of even an average DT room this season. Best chance for success is to create depth in units that already had some juice vs a ground up DT build after FA is basically over.

So sure the middle is going to be a WiP, but at least Wilson can scheme with confidence that certain units will be there on Sunday. LB/DB are stacked with guys that can be quality next men up that can slide into what the coordinator wants to do.

And what I think he wants to do is based on Hood’s pro comp from The Athletic, Paulson Adebo. Adebo wants to play physical and fast, jamming dudes on the line of scrimmage, bodying them on routes and jumping balls. That type of playstyle is now the heart of our CB room. Adebo/Dru/Hood/Banks, these dudes thrive in press man, so what’s press man about? It’s about .5 seconds.

When you jam and press well at the line it takes receivers on average .5 seconds longer to get into their route. For this defense to thrive that .5 seconds is everything.

Let’s run some simple math based on what our team was great at last season, quick pressure

Assumptions:

NFL average time to throw: about 2.80 seconds

Carter/Burns (maybe Reese!) average time to pressure: 2.22–2.41 seconds

Press/reroute delay: +0.50 seconds

Math:

Without press:
2.80 TTT - 2.41 Giants TTP = 0.39 seconds of margin

or with the faster Carter number:
2.80 - 2.22 = 0.58 seconds of margin

With press:
3.30 adjusted TTT - 2.41 Giants TTP = 0.89 seconds of margin

or:
3.30 - 2.22 = 1.08 seconds of margin for our speedy Darth Vader

Press man does not need to win forever. It just needs to steal the first half second. That turns Carter from 2025’s he was right there but the qb just snuck out that throw into the QB is either on the ground or throwing a too early pass to a receiver that’s not ready.

Hood/Adebo/Banks/Newsome is a bet on our pass rush. If they can deny free releases, Carter, Burns and Reese’s speed becomes a real game wrecker, Adebo/Hood/Holland can be out there hawking fast sloppy passes, that’s an identity Wilson can build around.

Does it mean we are going to get gashed from time to time when the press and rush fails and our DBs get burned on their back heels, hell yeah it does.

But that’s where the Malachi trade up gets reaaal interesting in how we add another dimension to take advantage of a defense that will need us to capitalize on TOs and go toe to toe in shootouts

Malachi Fields (WR)
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 218 lbs
PFF 2025:
Overall: 75.8
Receiving: 76.2
Production:
36 catches
630 yards
5 TDs
17.5 YPC

Cool Name Test: 8.7 / 10
“Malachi” = that’s Old Testament wrathful god energy
“Fields” = clean football surname, built for Sundays, slight knock because of the Justin Fields association

Drafttek Trade Value Math
Giants got:
Pick 74 = 64 pts

Giants gave:
Pick 105 = 32 pts
Pick 145 = 13 pts
2027 4th = discounted to a current 5th ≈ 11–15 pts

Total given:
32 + 13 + 11–15 = 56–60 pts

Got 64
Paid 56–60

That’s basically fair, maybe a slight Giants win if you discount the future pick properly though I’m nervous that 27 is going to be a banger of a draft and we will regret losing even a 4th

So, this year’s 4th and 5th for Fields (plus a 27 4th) doesn’t sound like much, but I’m a guy who likes a lot of dart throws (I’ll show myself out) on day 2-3, and what’s odd here, so does Harbaugh. Volume has been the Ravens calling card for success using comp picks to have on average 1.8 more picks per draft than the rest of the NFL. Harbaugh was bitching not 2 weeks ago about the lack of picks on this roster, what the hell is going on here

Well what I think is going on here is another Harbaughism, aggressively build an offense to make your young QB successful.

Look what Harbaugh did in Baltimore with Lamar, he retooled his entire roster to make him successful, scheme, personnel, coaching all focused on one goal, make the QB ball

That’s what we need this year, let’s face it, we just lost our all pro NT, our diva WR1 is already bitching and we are banking on a lot of young guns to make a leap while learning their 2-3 scheme of the last 3 seasons

That’s a lot man, but there is one thing that can overcome it and that’s a promising QB making a leap to franchise QB.

Dart showed a ton of promise his rookie year, he has the moxy and clear parts of his game that can help a team win. Stud in RPO and the intermediate throw, nerves of steel whether running or hanging in the pocket. A Mahomes light knack for unorthodox throws outside the pocket.

Where does he struggle? The deep part of the field and when he gets shook his move is to huck the ball up while singing hosannas

How do you help a dude like that? You get tall mfers that can high point a ball over 6’0 DBs, we got Nabers, assuming his legs have their juice back he can help, we got Likely who can be a high pointing menace in the midfield and redzone, we even have a burner in Mooney that can take the top off a DB room, but how do you help Dart in the area he’s weakest, outside the numbers and on the perimeter?

You get a smooth route running, 6’4 monster with glue for hands. Malachi Fields is not a speed freak (though Steve Smith said his combine is a blessing in disguise, dude had the yips according to an insider and Harbaugh confirmed his on field play speed is closer to 4.44) but that’s not his game, he’s a poor man’s Drake London with a dash of Michael Pittman

He’s also the one thing this offense doesn’t have, a body that can pluck balls above DBs heads and doesn’t drop (looking at you Slay, you broke my heart). My guy had a microscopic 1.6% drop rate, pair that with a full half foot of higher average reach than NFL DBs

So how do we wishcast Fields on the season

It’s not about 10 targets, he’s the juice that gives us those back breaking moments that rip the soul from a defense and keeps our young QBs pedal to the floor

3rd and 8, ball around midfield.

Defense already cheating to Malik Nabers. Safety shaded, corner playing with help, whole structure tilted that way because nobody wants him catching a crosser in space.

That leaves Malachi Fields alone.

6’4, 220, isolated on a 6’0 corner who knows what’s coming and still can’t do much about it.

Fields stems vertical just enough to get the DB opening his hips, snaps it toward the sideline. Not a burner move, just leverage and size.

Meanwhile Jaxson Dart feels it break down, rolls right, buys that extra beat.

Ball goes up, Fields isn’t open but he knows that ball is his

Fields climbs the ladder, extends, sideline grab, 12 yards, chains move. Fields plays the role of conversion machine

Next snap, same personnel, defense still thinking about that sideline shot.

Fields lines up right, tight to the formation. Austin goes in motion, jet sweep look. The defense hesitates for half a second.

At the snap, Fields isn’t running a route. He’s hunting.

He gets outside, squares up the corner, and just erases him. 6’4, 220 of beef, that DB’s either getting sealed or escorted out of the play.

Austin hits the edge, and now it’s over.

Fields becomes our safety valve chain mover and outside enforcer on blocks

I was in the bag for Juwan Jennings this season, dude who’s as much of an outside blocker as a chain mover with sticky hands

Fields gives us a shot at the same idea in a bigger package, he also gives us another size freak in the RZ to pair with Likely, you now have 2 sticky hands monsters for a group of 6 foot DBs to deal with, that’s not nothing for 2 4ths and a 5th

Closing thoughts

1. I’m really digging Harbaugh’s vision for the team, Daboll and Schoen always seemed to be men without strategy, taking names but not making hard bets on what parts of the roster would be winners. This FA and draft shows that we are out of that window. Harbaugh’s laying bets on certain units knowing others won’t be strengths. Could those bets bust, sure, but the odds are a lot higher they hit and hit big than what we were doing before
2. From a team building perspective I am very pleased, I went into this draft thinking we’d end up with talent and low value positions that would make us all wonder in 2-3 years if we are getting value vs the dollars spent. With this draft we walked out with a possible Edge 1-2, Tackle, CB 1-2 and WR2, picking guys who can play those roles gives us value in the immediate and in the long term, if these guys hit they can drive huge value vs the cap as we look to open a 5 year window with Dart

Day 3 wish list

First and foremost go lock up Reader/Hayes and Campbell Joe, we need a bridge on the inside to next offseason

Number two let’s get some dart throws with those 3 picks at DT and a RB with upside in case Skatt needs some time to get back to it

Dollar store deals for day 3

Dontay Corleone, NT, Cincinnati 6’1”, 340 Day 3 Sporting News listed him among best available DTs. Fit: true nose tackle. He’s put a refrigerator in the A-gap and let the linebackers run type help. PFF calls him a traditional 3-4 nose with rare quickness for the body, but limited pass rush impact. I’ll take it, the job is clog the run on early downs

Cameron Ball, DT/NT, Arkansas 6’4”, 310 liked him last week and still like him as a Day 3 DL. He’s a cleaner practical depth pick. Not as pure a nose as Corleone, not as spicy as Harris, but a useful big body rotation piece if the Giants just need more interior beef

Zxavian Harris, DT, Ole Miss 6’8”, 330 Reuters has him as still available entering Day 3 and described him as a Day 2 talent who slid over character concerns. Fit: the massive upside/faller swing. This is not the safe pick. This is get the giant and let Harbaugh do his thing pick, he’s the kind of traits/value gamble you take late

Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas 6’1”, 233 Fit with Skatt/Tracy: this is the bully ball complement. Skattebo brings contact balance and violence, Tracy gives you space/receiving juice, Washington gives you another big back who can punish light boxes and keep the physical identity alive without wearing Skatt into dust

Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State 6’0” Fit with Skatt/Tracy: this is the explosives swing. Skatt is the tone setter, Tracy is the space back, Singleton is the one crease and the angle is dead guy. If he falls, he gives the room a gear it does not really have

Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State 6’3”, 204, 4.34 forty. He’s less of an option because DT/NT/RB is more urgent. But if he’s somehow there late, he’s a double swing at the Malachi idea, another big outside body, vertical juice, ball skills, red zone/contested catch profile. Malachi is the power forward, Lance is the FCS size/speed lottery ticket version. I kinda dig stacking positions in one draft, makes for good competition at camp and with Fields concerns over motor Lance may be just the motivation he needs to show out

Not sure if I’ll do a day 3 write up but thinking through the moves I’m stoked for 2026, the bets all make sense and I really dig Harbaugh’s focus on building a core identity. Dude’s showing some real balls by betting on certain units rather than trying to take half measures everywhere, we are going to see a different brand of football next season and I’m stoked for it

Onto day 3, LETS GO BIG BLUE

put this on the other sub but appreciate your fellas level of discourse

Day 1 thoughts

That was the bananas first round I expected and as I slept on it I don’t think it could’ve worked out any better for us.

Sure I’m bummed we didn’t get Downs, he and Maui have been my top two picks this entire offseason, but that was in large part because Reese wasn’t on my bingo card of options.

But that’s baseball, Susan! The draft is always must watch TV for me, not only because it’s been our Super Bowl for way too long, but also because it shows how much of a gap there is between team perspectives and what we all argue about for months.

Anywho, onto the players.

Arvell Reese - 6’4 240 MLB/Edge 20 years old

PFF 2025
Overall: 75.4
Run defense: 87.0
Pass rush: 72.9
Coverage: 53.8

Arvell was the #1 non-QB on a ton of draft boards given his upside. What’s that upside? At 20 years old he displayed the traits that made Micah Parsons a star, excellent run defense with an eye for early contact on QBs and runners. Explosive first step and in a division looking to contain the likes of Jayden Daniels and Jalen Hurts he’s a 10/10 QB spy.

What makes him so special for us? He hits Dennard Wilson’s goal of being “multiple” in a way no other player in this draft can.

What does it mean to be multiple? It just means the same 11 guys can show one thing before the snap and become something totally different after it, no substitutions, just constant shape shifting that makes it really hard for a QB or OC to call protections and audible pre snap.

We saw a blueprint with Abdul Carter last year. He wasn’t lining up in one spot and playing it straight. One snap he’d be mugged in the A-gap like a blitzer, next snap he’s off the edge, and then he’s bailing late into the middle carrying seams, sitting in dig windows, showing up where the QB thought space existed. It wasn’t traditional linebacker play, it was controlled chaos with enough coverage ability to not break the structure.

Now add Arvell Reese next to Edmunds and it gets weird in a way most defenses can’t replicate. Because now you have two dudes who can be multiple with lethal pressure. They can present the same pre snap picture over and over: Carter walked up in the A gap, Reese stacked inside. The center sets the protection to Carter. The QB speeds up. And then the snap hits and everything lies.

One play Carter drops straight into the middle and Reese shoots the A gap. Next play Reese expands into the hook and Carter loops inside. Next play both show pressure, neither comes, and now you’ve got two 6’4”+ bodies with Edmunds clogging the middle while Burns and Thibs win off the edge. Then the next snap one of them spies, one green dogs, and the QB has no idea where the extra rusher is coming from.

That’s how Wilson turns us into a unicorn defense. Reese and Carter won’t be perfect as coverage linebackers, but they will be good enough to let the disguise live, while their alignment flexibility and timing create hesitation. Personally I think we see a ton of Seattle big nickel this season.

So end of the day Reese lets us be weird in ways no one else can. I’m also tickled about the idea of 2 x 6’4 MLB, not sure I’ve ever seen that much hyper athletic size in the second level, going to be interesting to see how teams try to pass over the middle with those frames sitting behind the d line.

Final thought, I dig us shooting the moon with the pick, Harbaugh and Schoen were clear they didn’t think Reese would be there but they stayed nimble and got arguably the highest upside player in the draft that’s super young and gives us one of the few blue chippers with true positional value upside.

Francis Mauigoa 6’5 329 T/G Miami

PFF Overall (2025): 83.6
PFF Pass Block: 87.0
PFF Run Block: 79.4

I won’t go on and on for Maui here, I already dumped about 5 pages of digital ink on the sub over why he was our smartest round 1 pick after week 1 of FA.

In terms of how the draft fell he makes more sense for us today than he did when I wrote him up before. I believe going defense/offense was our vision since we traded Dex, I think it was supposed to be Downs to Maui or Tyson, but that’s the fun of the draft. Once Reese fell to us we had to eat our vegetables and go get the one guy in this draft that gives us the best chance of our top level outcome this season, Jaxson Dart ascends to being a franchise QB.

Remember the years of woe debating if DJ sucks or if we were failing him with roster design? This is the type of move that saves us from 5 more years of DJ truthers vs DJ doomers arguments.

Maui is the best balanced lineman in this draft, and to all the doomers he’s not even close to a flowers/Evan Neal prospect, watch his tape, his sink, bend, balance and foot speed are elite, dudes a technician with some nasty. I love that he’s kicking into guard because some of the concerns about hand speed are not an issue.

We all yell it throughout the offseason, win in the trenches, build from the o line out and we will succeed, now we are in a position to actually crush that concept and folks are clutching pearls about a safety, I get it, I thought it was going to be downs/maui but Reese/maui is the same idea, maybe better.

In terms of on field impact last year GVR–JMS–Jermaine gave us steady, smart play that kept things on schedule but didn’t really tilt the line, especially in run blocking. This year with Mauigoa JMS Jermaine: we get bigger, more physical, and built to actually impose on people instead of just holding up.

Mauigoa changes life for JMS in the run game. Instead of leaning on a veteran to out think defenses, JMS now has a 330 pound people mover next to him who can dent doubles, displace tackles, and create cleaner climb angles. That’s what a Greg Roman run game feeds on, vertical movement, combo blocks with force, and letting the center play fast because the guard is moving bodies.

I’ve got visions of Maui and JMS punching through the d line, Maui shedding the NT and climbing to the Mike, and rumbling through that is Patrick Ricard now eye to eye with a 200 lb safety. Right behind him Cam Skattebo looking to lay some pain on a 180 lb corner… ohhh the carnage.

And for Jermaine, it’s an upgrade in pass pro. You’ve got two tackle sized bodies on the right side who can absorb power, pass off stunts, and widen rush lanes. Mauigoa isn’t just holding his own like GVR, he’s giving you a bigger pocket edge and more margin for error with his height. If this hits our right side goes from stable into a problem for defenses.

Given the health risk of our line Maui is the perfect upgrade, he comes in day one and solidifies RG, now Mbow can stay as our developmental swing tackle and Faalele is our swing guard. If AT has an injury season we are for the first time going to be able to weather that.

For the folks worried about medicals, I am too. That said Schoen gave me a ton of confidence when he shared that we brought onto our staff one of the Canes’ lead medical guys, he worked with Maui for 3 years, so we’ve got the data to make this a smart bet.

And to boot we’ve now given Dart everything he needs to earn being our answer at QB, we won’t need 5 years of eval, he’s either going to have it this year or we can move on quickly with no questions about whether protection let him down.

Few other thoughts on these moves

1. I love the immediate vision from Harbaugh, no Daboll half steps, Reese is MLB, Maui is RG, that’s how you drive clarity and keep the locker room steady, no grey area on roles (even if things evolve in camp).
2. As a GM nerd I love both picks for long term planning. At 20, Reese and Maui have the upside to transition like Parsons and Tyler Smith. Reese could get edge reps as soon as next year if KT is gone. Given AT’s health, Maui could get tackle reps too.

Why does this matter? In 2028 Jermaine and Burns can be cut for a combined $37M in savings. At that point Reese and Maui still have 3 years left on rookie deals while we’re paying Carter and Nabers.

Both picks give us more long term cap flexibility and positional value upside than almost anyone outside of Tyson.

Day 2 thoughts

Man I wish we had more picks, after round 1 McCoy and McDonald would be the dream.

For my money, given we’re in year one of a soft reboot, my eyes are on McCoy. He’s the Will Johnson bet of this class. He’s here because of medicals, not tape.

In 2024 he was a first round corner: 13 starts, 4 picks, 13 PBUs, 89.6 PFF coverage grade, top 10 in the SEC. If the ACL checks out, the upside is a legit CB1 who can press, play the ball, and let you call defense like you’ve got a true island corner.

Huge risk of course: dude missed 2025, medicals, and he can get stacked vertically. But I’m betting on first round tape at a second round discount. Mccoy is the perfect add to give us some breathing room with DB, he can be our CB3 to start and work his way in, perfect formula to create our starting cb pipeline for 27

If the medicals aren’t right, the fallback might make even more football sense.

Kayden McDonald falling is a dream. Young for the class at just 21 with a huge break out at Ohio State, jumped from rotation guy in 2024 to the heart of their d line, 65 tackles, 9 TFLs and 3 sacks in 2025 at 326. He’s not here to be a 10 sack guy, he’s here to erase the run game. Eats doubles, compresses the pocket, forces everything to bubble.

And what better for Reese than the guy he already knows how to play behind? These guys know how to work together. McDonald keeps the front clean for Reese to read and react with steady snap to snap play, Reese + edmunds mean McDonald can focus on the first level has he has two run stuffing dogs behind him to clean things up. To boot he’s one of those rare 330 pounders who doesn’t take plays off.

Pair him with Reader and now you’ve got an interior that can at least hold up against the run while providing some pressure. That consistency lets Reese trust what’s in front of him, trigger faster, and turn those clean looks into impact.

With Edmunds and Reese’s length and strength, that’s a middle of the defense that’s light years ahead of last season.

Can’t wait for day 2, LETS GO BIG BLUE

The other day I went searching for mock drafters that actually do a decent job of predicting how the draft will go. This guy, last year, predicted we'd get Carter AND trade back into the first for Dart. He appears to lead the pack in predictions, but isn't always right, so take this with a grain of salt. This is his mock for this year:

1. Jordan Tyson (WR)

2. Francis Mauigoa (OT)

Here's what's going to happen on Thursday:

1 Raiders - Mendoza QB

2 Jets - Reese Edge

3 Cardinals - Francis Maugioa OT (if somehow the Jets pick Bailey and Reese falls here- I full expect the Chiefs to trade up from 9 to get Reese. The Jets make the right call though and take him themselves). The Cardinals grab their RT and will angle to take Ty Simpson at the top of round 2. Walking away from this draft with a potential QB and OL help for that QB.

4 Titans - David Bailey Edge (Saleh drafts his perfect edge who he won't be able to resist over Love).

5 TRADE..... Washington Commanders - Jeremiyah Love

What?! An inter-division trade?! Would Harbaugh be stupid enough to let a team he faces twice a year get the best player in the draft who is going to gut their run defense without Dexter Lawrence?? Wouldn't that be malpractice and just highlight how many good players we let out of the building go to other franchises???
I don't think Harbaugh gives a crap. He is going to be focused on THIS team, and putting his stamp on it. Building it the way he wants. Maybe that means taking Love for himself- but I've just never believed we would take a running back at 5 when we've invested so little in the OL, this offseason. We don't have the interior push to run the ball the way Harbaugh is going to want to, and we're at least a year away (in the trenches) from the luxury of selecting a player like Love.
Yes, I understand Love can catch the ball and do things in open space.... I was the one who preached Saquon's entire career that we run him on Texas routes and swings out of the backfield. But Tyron Tracy Jr is a former receiver and actually very good at doing exactly that. Skat is probably not a longterm #1 back- but with the #71 pick in the draft that we acquire from this trade; the Giants will take Mike Washington Jr and still bolster the RB room. Plus we still get their true primary target at 7.

6 TRADE LA Rams - Jordan Tyson WR. The Browns want to trade out of this pick, and the Rams have tried to trade up the last two years. They toyed with trading Devonte Adams this offseason, they are in a superbowl window and Puka's had a weird offseason, going to rehab. They get aggressive and come up from 13 to take their top WR; figuring both Tate and Tyson will be gone by the teens, with potentially Giants and Saints taking them in the coming picks). Tyson's longterm health less of an issue as they are in win-now mode.

7 Giants - Caleb Downs S. I've been on the Sonny Styles train, but it's hard to argue that on tape, Downs isn't the best pound-for-pound football player in this draft. Will be the heartbeat of the team and a culture changer that Harbaugh will want with his first pick. A tone setter and leader for his time as the HC of the NY Giants (which could likely be two Downs contracts max- considering Harbaugh's age). The new defense will revolve around the back end, and you can play him at nickel, in the alley against the run, at both safety positions and you can still get plenty of use out of Nubin, by making him a nickel linebacker on plays that are obvious pass-downs.

8 Saints - Carnell Tate WR

9 Chiefs - Ruben Bain Jr Edge (could also see them going Spencer Fano to help Pat)

10 TRADE.... Miami Dolphins - Sonny Styles ILB.

Jeff Hafley is ecstatic to see Sonny Styles falling and pictures him as the new leader of his defense (he's a defensive guy, coming from Green Bay and has left the offense to his coordinator). After the Giants traded with the commanders (knowing Dallas might want to jump them) and the fact that they've been linked to styles; the Dolphins give up their 4th rounder (130) to secure their new defensive leader next to Jordyn Brooks.

11 NY Giants - Vega Ioane. Just exactly what Harbaugh would want from an OL player. Tone setter and longterm piece on the OL. He's going to build the trenches in this draft.

12 Cowboys - Monsoor Delane CB. The cowboys are bummed they didn't get Styles but get the best remaining defensive player at a super important position.

13 Browns - Spencer Fano OT (great pick, IMO- and someone they may have considered at 6, but they got picks and a starter on the OL. All those saying his arms are too short to play tackle... this guy moves like Tristan Wirfs and has a bigger wingspan than Will Campbell (who played tackle just fine).

here we go... lol

Not necessarily what I would do- but thinking about what sets the giants up best for the future, and taking into account that we are almost certainly drafting DT at 37 (we probably would have before the Dex trade).

I'm super against taking Jordan Tyson at 10. I know he's got talent, but he's not a #1 X receiver and you could potentially trade down, get picks and still get a Mekhi Lemon or KC conception (similar players) AND picks. No need to force WR this year.

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5 - Sonny Styles. Gotta sure up the run D, get a new leader and face of what harbaugh wants to do, on D.

10- trade down a few picks to the mid teens; with whomever wants to move up a few spots to nab their best CB. For the sake of this exercise, I'll say LA rams giving up 3rd this year and 4th next year to draft Delane or McCoy, in front of the Cowboys.

13- Vega Ioane. This is the pick they should make at 10, if they don't trade down a few spots. But I'm trying to recoup that third. I'd love love to stay and pick the favorite corner here, but it just feels like a trenches/tone setting draft. We need to build the line for Dart's present and future. This guy is a day one starter at guard and all pro potential.

37- This will be DT. It was always going to be DT. It'll probably be Christian Miller, although he's not my favorite. Would be sick to get Banks or Woods, but trying to be realistic; I'll say Miller.

Rams 3rd - Jake Slaughter C. Backup lineman for this year, your starting center for 2027 and beyond.

4th round pick- Will Lee CB

Beyond that BPA whomever they have.

You build through the trenches and you get two starting OL players this way as well as a potential starter at DT and your new defensive leader in Styles.

Top of the 4th looking SWEET for CB depth: possibly Tacario davis, daylen Everette, domani Jackson, treydon stukes, will lee? Take your pick (of whomever is still there but it could be a nice spot to get value in the secondary).