The optimistic view of the Giants’ draft class is that they landed two of the top-five players on their big board, their No. 1-ranked available player entering the second round and multiple starters on both sides of the ball.
The pessimistic view is that the Giants drafted an edge to play linebacker, a tackle to play guard and traded away too much for a part-time receiver.
So, which is it?
Draft weekend is a time for optimism, right?
Here are The Post’s pick-by-pick grades for the Giants’ draft class:
The Giants’ management felt like they hit the lottery when Reese — the top-rated non-quarterback on their board — was available.
Not too many simulations resulted in that outcome.
Reese was a one-year starter as Ohio State’s high-upside chess piece.
He is NFL-respected coordinator Matt Patricia’s developmental brainchild.
Many teams project Reese as an edge, but the Giants are in the perfect position to let him learn NFL game speed while playing his natural position (weakside linebacker) — next to Tremaine Edmunds, as the better block-shedder of the two — while using Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter off the edge.
He can blitz, roam the field (10 tackles for loss) and mirror tight ends in coverage.
Once Reese learns how to bend the edge and if Thibodeaux leaves in 2027 free agency, he can change positions if that’s a better fit.
But there’s nothing wrong with a Pro Bowl-caliber inside linebacker.
Grade: A
Again, the Giants were better suited to make this pick than other teams.
Why?
Because new head trainer Adam Bennett came from Miami, so no one knows Mauigoa’s medical records better.
While other teams might have been scared into one of the other eight offensive linemen drafted in the first round because of the herniated disc in Mauigoa’s back and the potential need for surgery, the Giants saw the final piece to build their best offensive line in 15 years.
Mauigoa is willingly moving from tackle, where he spent his whole career, to guard.
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Maybe Mauigoa goes back to right tackle in 2029 if the Giants move on from Jermaine Eluemunor, but the projection is he can be a Pro Bowl-caliber guard, which the Giants haven’t had since Chris Snee in 2012.
Mauigoa allowed a 1.1 percent pressure rate last season (ranked No. 3 in FBS).
Letting safety Caleb Downs fall to the Cowboys was a tough subplot to making this pick.
Grade: A-
Everyone who thought the Giants were sweating out a defensive tackle’s availability at No. 37 — especially Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald — was wrong.
The Texans traded up to No. 36 for McDonald, which was fine with the Giants, who had Hood as No. 1 on their board entering Day 2.
“Shocked” is how one NFL executive put it when asked about Hood slipping out of the first round.
He was the consensus No. 2 cornerback in the class.
Hood fits the John Harbaugh prototype as a willing tackler on the perimeter.
Oh yeah, he didn’t allow a touchdown catch last season, either, because he has the 4.44-second speed to carry vertical routes.
Harbaugh expects Hood to “compete to start.”
The depth chart is wide open after Paulson Adebo, with bargain free-agent signing Greg Newsome and Deonte Banks — two former first-round picks — taking the reps during the first practices last week.
Grade: A+
Fields was getting late first-round hype at the Senior Bowl, where Giants scouts reported back that he was the best receiver on site, per general manager Joe Schoen.
Then came a disappointing NFL Combine, where he had some drops and ran a slowish 4.61-second 40-yard dash.
The Giants had a second-round grade on Fields but no third-round pick after last season’s Jaxson Dart trade.
So, they made a bold move to trade a fourth-round pick, a fifth-round pick and a fourth-round pick in the talent-rich 2027 draft to the Browns for No. 74.
Fields is a 6-foot-4 contested-catch winner whose skills fit nicely in a receiving corps with Malik Nabers, vertical threats Darnell Mooney and Darius Slayton, and the 5-foot-9 Calvin Austin III in the slot.
Will he be ready to contribute Week 1 if Nabers is still recovering from ACL surgery?
Good player, big price to pay.
Grade: B
It was a surprise to see the Giants wait this long to address defensive tackle after trading away Dexter Lawrence from what already was one of the weakest spots on the team.
Jamison-Travis spent three years in junior college and three more at Auburn, making him a 25-year-old rookie.
The stocky 328-pounder is immovable against the run (which is what the Giants need) but doesn’t offer much of a pocket-pushing presence.
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“Character feedback from scouts is off the charts because of his pleasant personality and work ethic,” according to The Athletic.
Grade: C
After playing exclusively left tackle in college, the Giants got a look at Davis playing guard in the Senior Bowl.
He has the athleticism, including as a puller, to make up for some of his flaws in footwork and balance.
Davis joins a crowded competition for the backup interior offensive line spots, with Marcus Mbow having an early claim to swing tackle and Evan Neal, Lucas Patrick, Josh Ezeudu and Daniel Faalele all in the mix at guard.
Grade: B-
A potential fan and Harbaugh favorite here.
The former high-level BMX competitive racer is nicknamed “Cannonball.”
If that’s not perfect for an NFL special-teamer, then what is?
Praising his toughness and leadership is selling short his pass-rushing skills.
Especially as a blitzer with closing speed (10 sacks last season).
Where it gets uncomfortable is when Kelly whiffs on cutback runners and when hr is asked to play coverage.
The Weber State transfer played in 53 career games.
Grade: A-
Overall draft class grade: A
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