New NFL Draft Rumors on Giants' Links to Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs After Dexter Lawrence Trade

The New York Giants have two picks in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL draft after trading defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 10 selection, and they reportedly have multiple Ohio State defensive players on their radar.

"They love both of these players," draft analyst Todd McShay (10-minute mark) said of New York's interest in safety Caleb Downs and linebacker Sonny Styles.

New York already had the No. 5 pick as its own selection and now has the chance to add two impact players in the early going after landing the 10th pick from Cincinnati. If it plans on leaving the draft with both Downs and Styles, it might want to take the latter first.

After all, McShay said the Washington Commanders will take Styles with the seventh pick if the linebacker is still on the board.

Given that as the backdrop, the Giants could take Styles at No. 5 and hope Downs falls to 10th. It could also attempt to trade up from the No. 10 slot and position itself accordingly to take both Buckeyes prospects.

The latest mock draft from B/R's NFL Scouting Department projected the Giants to take Downs at No. 5, although that was before they had the 10th pick thanks to the Bengals trade. 

Even at five, the safety may be a steal. 

Caleb Downs Highlights

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B/R's NFL Scouting Department ranked him as the best overall player in the draft on its latest big board of prospects, while Styles checked in at No. 6 overall and the second-best linebacker behind his Ohio State teammate, Arvell Reese.

Downs was a national champion, back-to-back All-American and the 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in his two seasons with the Scarlet and Gray and was often the chess piece who could line up near the line of scrimmage and stop the run, patrol the back end of the secondary and serve as a ball hawk on throws up the middle.

As for Styles, he is versatile enough to drop back into coverage, play a traditional linebacker role against the run or blitz the quarterback off the edge.

Their presence would immediately bolster a New York defense that finished last season 26th in the league in points allowed, so it should come as no surprise the front office is at least interested with Thursday's draft approaching.