Giants news, 5/2: Deonte Banks fifth-year option declined

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From Big Blue View

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Giants decline fifth-year option for CB Deonte Banks | Pro Football Talk

Giants cornerback Deonte Banks is now set to become a free agent next spring as the team has declined Banks’ fifth-year option, setting up 2026 to be the final year of his rookie contract. If the Giants had elected to pick up Banks’ option, they would have owed him $12.633 million guaranteed in 2027. Banks is set to earn $2.6 million in base salary for 2026.

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The Giants selected Banks with the No. 24 overall pick of the 2023 draft. He’s appeared in 45 games with 35 starts, recording 28 total passes defensed with two interceptions. He has not recorded a pick since his rookie year.

Giants have Harbaugh-esque draft leaning on big, physical players | ESPN.com

Harbaugh said New York added a bunch of players this offseason who are giants, both literally and figuratively. Which is necessary for a team that wants to run power concepts on offense and impose their will on defense. Not the other way around.

It’s not abnormal for a new coach and regime to want guys who fit their mold. And that is what has happened with the Giants so far this offseason. They’ve brought in players who fit what Harbaugh wants to do on the field. It’s a process that will likely even take another full offseason to complete.

With Harbaugh having more say in personnel than Giants coaches of the past, they finally seem to have an identity. The draft was the latest step in putting the pieces in place for Harbaugh and his newly installed staff.

Joe Schoen discussing the Giants offseason, John Harbaugh

2026 NFL Draft: New York Giants draft recap | PFF

The Giants used the No. 5 overall pick on Ohio State‘s Arvell Reese. A top-two talent on the PFF Big Board, Reese provides a physical, downhill presence with the athleticism to mirror the impact of 2025 pick Abdul Carter. New York landed Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa at Pick 10. Mauigoa, who earned an 87.0 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2025, offers immediate flexibility as a dominant run blocker on the interior or a long-term answer at tackle.

Illinois tackle J.C. Davis represents a major steal at pick 192. Ranked No. 147 on the Big Board, Davis posted the class’s highest PFF grade (87.8) and dominated in the run game with an 86.7 run-defense grade. Overall Grade: A

Why rival NFL execs are raving about the Giants, Jets and Raiders | FanSided.com

“John will know how to use Reese,” one longtime personnel executive with a keen understanding of Harbaugh told me. “That’s the perfect player for him. He is going to build a big, tough team. He understands cold weather football. You can see it in this draft.”

“You can just see the impact he’s had on that entire franchise,” said one general manager. “It’s like there’s an adult in charge now. Trading Lawrence is tough, but you have to take the 10th pick if the player wants out and you can’t make it work. I thought they had a great draft.”

6 NFL Draft team fits that are so good, rookies can become instant stars | SB Nation

Arvell Reese, LB, New York Giants — 1st round, 5th overall. It might seem like a copout to throw the top player on our big board on this list, but it really can’t be overstated how perfect a fit Reese will be on the Giants. The best trait Reese brings to the pros is his unbelievable scheme flexibility, which translates to chaos in the NFL. Essentially he’s a player that can be moved all around the formation into basically any position in the front seven and find a way to make an impact.

The only thing that can hamper a player like this is a lack of talent around them. If a chaotic linebacker like this finds himself being the only threat on the field then it becomes easy for a team to bracket them and neutralize that ability. This simply is not possible when it comes to the New York Giants. Opposing offenses have to account for Brian Burns on every down, then worry about a rotation of Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux coming off the edge. With two solid pass rushers in on snaps it creates the ultimate canvas for Reese to wreak havoc.

Sixteen Day 3 NFL draft picks who could compete for starter snaps as rookies in 2026 | NFL.com

16. Bobby Jamison-Travis, Auburn · DT. I’m expecting the Giants to sign a veteran before training camp or after final cuts to bolster the nose tackle spot left open by the Dexter Lawrence trade. However, Jamison-Travis has a quick first step to go with strong hands that he uses to shed blockers in the run game. Quality play in training camp and the early part of the season could give him a chance to lock up a starting spot by midseason.

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Darius Slayton surgery has no bearing on Giants’ Odell Beckham Jr. interest | New York Post

Wide receiver Darius Slayton had offseason surgery for a core-muscle injury but he is expected to be ready to roll for training camp and this physical issue has nothing to do with any interest the Giants have in signing Odell Beckham Jr., The Post has learned.

Slayton, the longest-tenured Giants player — he arrived in the 2021 NFL Draft — tried to fight through the core-muscle injury but decided surgery was his best course of action.

Giants-Odell Beckham reunion: Latest update on if it will happen | NJ.com

It remains possible the Giants will reunite with Odell Beckham, their once-great wide receiver.

Here’s what general manager Joe Schoen told NFL Network on Thursday about the situation: “We worked him out a couple of weeks ago, and he did a good job in terms of that. We’ll continue to have conversations with his camp and see where it goes.”

Making Sense of Every NFL Backfield After 2026 NFL Draft | Bleacher Report

RBs: Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary, Eric Gray, Dante Miller. Regardless of how the Giants list Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. on the depth chart, they’ll both have significant roles. Skattebo is a rugged ball-carrier who will dish out and take punishment after contact, though he can also catch out of the backfield. The 5’11”, 215-pounder hauled in 24 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns last season.

That said, on passing downs, the Giants can feature Tracy, who played wide receiver in college. As an elusive playmaker, the receiver-turned-tailback can be a dynamic threat in Big Blue’s offense. He’s racked up over 1,000 scrimmage yards in back-to-back campaigns.

Albert Breer on the Joe Schoen/John Harbaugh relationship