Giants Add QB Protection in Latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The New York Giants are still trying to replace two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning almost six years after his retirement.
General manager Joe Schoen brought in Russell Wilson as a stopgap for 2025 and drafted Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart to potentially be the future franchise quarterback.
What’s a major factor in the success of a young quarterback in the NFL? The offensive line in front of him.
We won’t know if Dart will get a chance to start in 2025 with Wilson in place. But the veteran is on a one-year deal, so even if he doesn’t, 2026 could be his year.
That could be why PFSN predicts that the Giants will take an offensive tackle with the No. 5 overall pick in 2026 in its way-too-early mock draft.
ROUND 1, PICK 5 – New York Giants: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
“After drafting Jaxon Dart, the Giants’ quarterback of the future, it’s time to build the team around him. One surefire way to do that is to add a stud left tackle to protect him and set the tempo for the offense. Kadyn Proctor is the draft class’s best offensive tackle and is a blue chip prospect through and through. He has rare size, power and length for the position and easily creates movement in the run game.
“He still has some technical things to clean up as a pass protector, but his talent is too big to ignore.”
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 26, 2025, where it first appeared.