The Giants could land a massive trade haul for the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft — and history shows what that return could be
The 2026 NFL Draft order will soon be set for teams out of the playoff mix with one week remaining in the season. The New York Giants currently hold the second overall pick after beating the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 17. Despite not having the first overall pick, the Giants still hold an extremely […]
The 2026 NFL Draft order will soon be set for teams out of the playoff mix with one week remaining in the season. The New York Giants currently hold the second overall pick after beating the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 17.
Despite not having the first overall pick, the Giants still hold an extremely valuable asset, having the second pick. In a year with two quality quarterback prospects but no one else, teams could be effectively swindled by New York if they handle the negotiations properly.
To help paint the picture of what the Giants could net in the trade, let’s look at three recent examples of trades for the second overall picks that teams made to go after a quarterback. I did not include the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2025 trade-up for Travis Hunter because I wanted to keep it quarterback-specific.
2017 NFL Draft – Bears move up one spot for Trubisky
In 2017, the Chicago Bears moved up one slot from third overall to second overall to take UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky. In return, they sent the San Francisco 49ers the 2017 third overall pick, a 2017 third-round pick, a 2017 fourth-round pick, and a 2018 third-round pick.
This maneuver could happen with the New York Jets, who currently sit one spot behind the Giants. The Jets desperately need a quarterback to build around, and waiting around could complicate that endeavor. They can’t wait another year and let the Giants swing a trade with another team.
2016 NFL Draft – Eagles trade up for Wentz
In 2016, the Philadelphia Eagles got aggressive and jumped up to the second overall pick to land Carson Wentz out of North Dakota State. The Eagles sent the Cleveland Browns the 2016 eighth overall pick, a 2016 third-round pick, a 2016 fourth-round pick, a 2017 first-round pick, and a 2018 second-round pick. The deal also included a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft that went back to the Eagles.
Currently, the New Orleans Saints hold the eighth overall pick in this draft and are not likely to be in the hunt for a quarterback. However, the Cleveland Browns are sixth overall, and the Arizona Cardinals are fifth. Both franchises will likely be pursuing new quarterbacks this offseason and could offer the Giants similar compensation, but less than in this 2016 example.
2012 NFL Draft – Redskins trade up for RG3
In 2012, the Washington Redskins moved up from sixth overall to second overall to pick Robert Griffin III out of Baylor. To move up, Washington sent the 2012 sixth-overall pick, a 2013 first-round pick, a 2014 first-round pick, and a 2012 second-round pick. Ultimately, this was considered a fleecing and one of the worst trades in NFL Draft history because of the return Washington got from RG3.
It’s unlikely that the Giants would be able to get similar compensation from a team looking to move up. However, it does paint a picture of what could happen if the Giants do an effective enough job creating a bidding war for the pick and securing multiple first-round picks.
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