EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen said at a pre-draft news conference in East Rutherford, N.J., that the team will select the best player available in the upcoming NFL draft and will not exclude positions such as safety, inside linebacker, running back, or guard. Schoen indicated the Giants would consider prospects at positions that historically have not been prioritized at the top of the draft.

"Maybe it's not the surplus positions or the higher-paying positions when you get into free agency [at the top of this year's draft]." Schoen said. "We're going to take the best player available and we're not going to rule any of those [positions] out."

Schoen made the comments while addressing reporters about the team's approach to the upcoming selection.

Prospects at the positions Schoen referenced include Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, running back Jeremiyah Love, inside linebacker Sonny Styles, and guard Olaivavega Ioane. Historically, those positions have been selected near the top of the draft only rarely.

Only two safeties in the 21st century have been taken in the top five picks of the NFL draft: Sean Taylor and Eric Berry. Only four guards have been selected in the top 10 picks this century: Quenton Nelson, Brandon Scherff, Jonathan Cooper, and Chance Warmack.

The Giants' own recent first-round history has concentrated on other positions. In their past six top-10 draft picks, the team has selected two offensive tackles, two edge rushers, one quarterback, and one wide receiver.

In the 2022 NFL draft, the Giants selected Evan Neal with their first-round pick. In 2023, they selected Deonte Banks in the first round, followed by Malik Nabers in the first round of the 2024 draft. In the 2025 NFL draft, the team selected Abdul Carter with its first-round pick and traded back into the first round to select quarterback Jaxson Dart.