The New York Giants walked into draft night with a pair of top-10 picks after trading Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals, but they nearly got blindsided by two conference rivals. According to a behind-the-scenes report from Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein, the Giants were this close to losing out on their first-round tackle — all because two NFC teams tried to cut in line.
The drama unfolded when the Cleveland Browns moved down from No. 6 to No. 9, allowing the Chiefs to snag cornerback Monsoor Delane. That shuffle opened the door for two unnamed NFC squads to call the Browns and try to trade ahead of the Giants, who were sitting at No. 10. Their target? Miami’s star offensive lineman, Francis Mauigoa.
Browns Stood Their Ground
Neither team could sweet-talk Cleveland into a deal. The Browns stuck to their board and selected Utah tackle Spencer Fano with the ninth pick. A league source told Epstein that the two NFC teams were clearly trying to block the Giants from grabbing Mauigoa, but the Browns weren’t about to let history repeat itself — unlike the Cowboys, who jumped the Steelers in a similar scenario earlier in the draft.
“We’re getting the best tackle in this entire draft,” Browns scout Zach Ayers declared, hyping up Fano. “This kid’s rare combination of athleticism, quickness, strength, and his ability to excel in pass protection is truly something special. He’s an excellent run blocker. He’s gritty, he’s tough, he’s rangy. And the most important thing: This is the best person in the entire draft.”
Ayers didn’t stop there. He praised Fano’s character, calling him “the highest-character guy I’ve done in the 10 years I’ve been on the road.” He added, “Whatever goal or expectation we have of Spencer as a person, his goals and expectations are going to be higher than ours.”
The Giants, meanwhile, came away with their own haul — Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa — but Epstein’s reporting shows just how cutthroat the draft can be. Two NFC teams were willing to wheel and deal, but the Browns held firm, and the Giants dodged a bullet.
This kind of behind-the-scenes maneuvering is a reminder that every pick is a chess match. For the Giants, it was a close call. For the two NFC teams, it’s a missed opportunity that might haunt them down the road.
In other NFL news, LT on the Mend: Giants Legend Lawrence Taylor Showing Signs of Recovery and NFL Teams Lining Up for Tryouts with Undrafted Heisman Finalist Diego Pavia are making headlines. Also, Mel Kiper Jr. Names 3 NFL Teams as 2026 Draft's Biggest Losers has fans buzzing.
