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Just before we were all ready to submit our final mock drafts for the 2026 draft season, the New York Giants and Cincinnati Bengals decided they were going to throw us a curveball and make a move that will have major implications for Thursday night’s festivities.
The Giants now have two top-10 picks after acquiring the 10th overall selection from the Bengals for Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. While the trade was just agreed to on Saturday night, we’ve already learned how New York potentially plans to use its two top-10 picks — and that could lead to a top-five surprise.
Of course, the Giants-Bengals trade isn’t the only draft news ahead of Thursday night’s first round. So we polled our sources around the league for the latest on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson and his draft status.
Here’s what we learned about the Giants’ draft plans, why the Bengals made the trade and what to expect from Simpson in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Huge change in draft order could lead to another offensive pick in the top five
Ralph Vacchiano: A few days ago, it felt like a lock to many that the Giants would take a defensive player with the fifth overall pick in the NFL Draft. But now they have two picks in the top 10 for the second time in five years, after acquiring the 10th overall pick from the Bengals for Dexter Lawrence.
They’ll almost certainly use one of them on a defenseman, but it’s not so clear what they’ll do with the fifth.
“It has to change their mindset,” one NFL executive told me. “There are a couple of elite offensive players that didn’t seem like a good fit for them, given how bad their defense has been and what we think Harbaugh will focus on. Now they can grab one at 5, and it’s possible they still get the defensive player they wanted all along at 10.”
It’s all speculation at the moment, but many NFL sources believe the Giants were focused on either Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles or Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at 10 — players who could emerge as leaders on the Giants’ defense. Opinions were divided on which player Harbaugh preferred. And many seem to think that one, and perhaps both, could still be there at 10 o’clock.
And that would open up some intriguing possibilities at No. 5. Much of the immediate speculation was on Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, who an NFL scout told me last week “may be the best receiver in this draft when it’s all said and done.” He was considered one of the most “underrated” players in this year’s class, though he has risen in media derision and is now likely considered a top-10 pick.
The 6-foot-3, 203-pounder, who impressed scouts in his limited pro day workout on Friday, would give the Giants a dangerous 1-2 punch at receiver playing next to a healthy Malik Nabers. He would also be insurance in case Nabers, who is recovering from a torn ACL, needs some time to regain his old form.
“If [Tyson] is as good as I think he is, the Giants would be attacked for the next few years,” the director said.”[Quarterback] Jaxson Dart would have everything he needs.”
Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson might be headed to New York after Saturday’s trade. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Two other intriguing offensive options for the Giants at No. 5 are Notre Dame running back Jeremyiah Love, Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate and Miami (Fla.) offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa (or whoever they rate as the best tackle in the draft).
“The fifth pick gives them the opportunity to probably be one of the top two offensive playmakers in the draft or the top offensive lineman, and they need both,” the scout told me. “And then if they can land either Styles or Downs at 10, that’s a home.”
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Why the 10th pick wasn’t worth much to the Bengals
Vacchiano: The shock and surprise that the Bengals, of all teams, would give up the 10th overall pick in a trade was generally met with a touch of understanding. The way things seem to be set up on draft day, few thought the draft would break the Bengals’ way.
There is no defensive tackle worthy of anything close to a top-10 pick. The top edge rusher will most likely be gone, along with the top corner and likely the top linebacker as well. Nothing was locked in, of course, but they faced a board where they might not be able to find immediate help on defense where they needed it most.
“I think they knew they were in a really bad place that things were breaking down,” an assistant general manager from the NFL told me. “They could get a really good player at 10, but probably not at a position they need. And they’re not looking at two to three years down the road. They obviously think they can make it now.”
The Bengals certainly have the offense to do it as long as quarterback Joe Burrow is healthy. But their offseason focus has been on rebuilding the statistically worst defense in the league. They brought in some help in free agency, such as edge rusher Boye Mafe, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and safeties Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger. But they were still looking for a true game-wrecker after losing Trey Hendrickson.
Lawrence has a better chance of being that than anyone they thought they could get at No. 10.
“They had to trade down,” one NFC scout told me. “That’s the only thing that would have made sense unless they just wanted to add another piece to their offense. It wouldn’t help them. They’re desperate to fix their defense. So the 10th pick might be a really high price to pay, but it also made a lot of sense.”
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Is Ty Simpson a first round pick? Opinions are still mixed on where the Alabama QB lands
Eric D. Williams: With less than a week to go and Ty Simpson’s draft stock seemingly on the rise, league sources I spoke with still aren’t sold that the Alabama quarterback will be a first-round pick.
One NFL executive told me he doesn’t believe Simpson is a first-round talent. He identified the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers as potential fits.
However, another league source familiar with the position believes a team could move up to secure Simpson’s services in the first round.
“I could see somebody trading up to 32 with the Seahawks so they can get a fifth-year option as a first-rounder,” the league source told me. “The fifth-year option would be nice. The Ravens traded up to get Lamar [Jackson] for that reason. Great move.
“Ozzie Newsome had the guts to do that on the way out.”
The league source went on to say he likes Simpson playing in a pro-style offense under offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb at Alabama. However, the league source still has concerns with Simpson’s size (6-1, 212 pounds) and the fact that he only started 15 games in college.
“He’s smooth,” the league source told me. “He sees the field well. He anticipates well. It’s easy to project him in the NFL because of the type of offense he ran in college. I’d be concerned about playing him early, though, because he hasn’t played in many games. That’s a concern as a first-rounder for me.”
The league source mentioned the Cardinals, Steelers, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys as potential landing spots.
One NFL agent I spoke with, meanwhile, believes Simpson will be a second- or third-round pick.
“The only team I could see taking him in the first round [and it would be a very bad move] is Arizona,” the NFL agent told me. “The Cardinals have a bad roster. They should add more picks, not give up picks to move up to get someone they don’t have to move up for.”
The agent compared Simpson to Matt Corral, Sam Howell and Desmond Ridder coming out of college, all quarterback prospects who rose during the draft but so far have failed to make it in the NFL.
“The talk is all media, not teams,” the NFL agent said of Simpson’s late rise up the draft board. “It wasn’t shocking when Will Levis didn’t go in the first round or Malik Willis was drafted in the third round. They were better prospects than Simpson. He’s more like Corral and Sam Howell.”
