The NFL Draft 2026 is finally here, and the first round on Thursday night is shaping up to be a historic landscape-shifter. While the Las Vegas Raiders have made it no secret that they will secure Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, the rest of the board is where the real chaos begins. Mendoza marks only the second time in Raiders history they’ve held the top spot, the first being the infamous JaMarcus Russell selection in 2007, and he represents the eighth quarterback to go #1 in the last decade.
Beyond the Raiders’ savior, the draft capital across the league is massive. The Pittsburgh Steelers lead the pack with 12 total picks, while the Ravens, Dolphins, Patriots, and Jaguars follow closely with 11. However, the true intrigue lies with the six teams holding multiple first-round selections. Specifically, the New York Giants are sitting in a rare position of power, holding both the 5th and 10th overall picks, a scenario that has historically redefined franchises overnight.
The Rare Two Top-10 Club: Lessons from Recent NFL History
Having two picks in the top 10 is a luxury few teams ever experience. In the last 20 years, only five teams have pulled it off, and the results have ranged from franchise-altering success to cautionary tales. The New York Giants will join this elite list on Thursday, following in the footsteps of the Cleveland Browns (2018), New York Jets (2022), Giants themselves (2022), Houston Texans (2023), and Chicago Bears (2024).
The Houston Texans arguably provided the best blueprint for success in 2023. By snagging quarterback C.J. Stroud and immediately trading back up for edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., they secured the cornerstones of a perennial playoff contender. Anderson’s recent 3-year, $150 million extension, making him the highest-paid non-QB in history, proves just how valuable those top-tier slots are.
Similarly, the New York Jets used their 2022 haul to land Sauce Gardner (#4) and Garrett Wilson (#10), both of whom secured Rookie of the Year honors. While Gardner was traded midseason to Indianapolis for a massive haul of picks, his impact allowed the Jets to weaponize their draft board once again in 2026.
Even the Chicago Bears‘ 2024 duo of Caleb Williams and Romeo Odunze showed that pairing a rookie QB with an elite weapon can accelerate a rebuild. As the Giants prepare to walk this path again, they look back at their own 2022 success with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal, who have become the pillars of a roster that is now one of the most intriguing in the NFC.
Giants’ 2026 Strategy: Can Two Top-10 Picks Make Them a Dark Horse?
Entering the draft with the 5th and 10th picks puts the New York Giants in a “no-excuses” territory. While other teams like the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs are desperate to fix rosters after disappointing 2025 seasons, the Giants have a unique foundation already in place. Under the leadership of John Harbaugh and with second-year quarterback Jaxon Dart ready to take the next step, these two top-10 picks are the final pieces of the puzzle.
With the Jets (#2 and #16) and Cowboys (#12 and #20) also holding significant top-20 capital, the trade market is expected to be hyper-active. However, the Giants’ position at #5 and #10 allows them to either land a generational talent at receiver to aid Dart or further solidify a defense that Harbaugh intends to make the most physical in the league.
If the Giants make the right selections, as the Texans did with Stroud and Anderson, they will be a “dark horse” and try to become legitimate contenders in a very competitive division led by the Philadelphia Eagles in recent years. For a fanbase that has weathered a decade of ups and downs, the 2026 class is the most realistic shot at returning to glory.
