2026 NFL draft: Prospects Giants should watch during Friday's bowl games

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Jan 2, 2026 - 09:49

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2026 NFL draft: Prospects Giants should watch during Friday's bowl games

Bowl season effectively wraps up on Friday with four games to close out the slate, leaving only the FCS Championship Game and the conclusion of the College Football Playoffs left to be played.

Accordingly, it will be one of the final times NFL scouts, including those from the New York Giants, have a chance to put eyes on 2026 NFL draft prospects. And while none of the games would be considered high-profile, it doesn't mean a diamond in the rough won't emerge.

With the Giants picking no worse than seventh overall come April, there will be a handful of prospects worth putting eyes on that they could target in the mid- to late-rounds.

Here is a quick breakdown of the players the Giants should key in on today.

Liberty Bowl: Navy vs. Cincinnati

Player spotlight: Cincinnati tight end Joe Royer

The Giants have invested heavily in the tight end position (through the draft) in recent years, and that could continue in 2026. Daniel Bellinger and Chris Manhertz are impending free agents, Theo Johnson has dealt with drop issues despite flashing, and Thomas Fidone was limited to a special teams role as a rookie.

Royer is widely considered one of the top tight ends available in 2026 and has a mid-round projection.

Here is what NFL Draft Buzz had to say about Royer:

Royer is a matchup problem that defensive coordinators will lose sleep over. His natural receiving ability shows up most prominently on medium routes where he displays veteran-like understanding of leveraging his frame against smaller defenders. Despite this prowess in the passing game, his development as a blocker remains a work in progress - he'll need dedicated coaching to improve his hand placement and leverage at the point of attack.
The former Buckeye turned Bearcat brings a competitive fire to every snap, fighting through tackles with a determination that sometimes borders on recklessness. This double-edged sword was evident when he fumbled in the endzone against Miami while battling for extra yards. His route running shows promise but inconsistency - at times displaying nuanced footwork that freezes linebackers, while occasionally rounding off breaks that savvy NFL defensive backs will jump.
Royer's ceiling will ultimately be determined by how quickly he can elevate his blocking to match his receiving talents. If he continues on his current developmental trajectory, he has the athletic profile and competitive mentality to become a three-down tight end who stays on the field in any situation.

Other players of note:

Navy DL Landon Robinson
Navy WR Eli Heidenreich
Cincinnati OL Evan Tengesdahl
Cincinnati RB Evan Pryor

Game notes: Cincinnati defensive lineman Dontay Corleone and linebacker Jake Golday, arguably the best prospect on either of these teams, will not play on Friday.

Holiday Bowl: Arizona vs. SMU

Player spotlight: Arizona safety Genesis Smith

We've mentioned quite a few times in this prospect previews that the Giants are likely to dabble in the safety market, which is the result of their poor personnel management at the position. After allowing Julian Love and Xavier McKinney to exit via free agency in recent years, they hung their hat on Tyler Nubin, who regressed in 2025.

They signed veteran Jevon Holland, but he also underwhelmed.

Genesis Smith represents a talented mid-round option that general manager Joe Schoen could target.

Here's what the San Diego Union-Tribune said about Smith:

Smith earned third-team All-Big 12 recognition for the Wildcats after producing 77 tackles, eight passes defensed, two forced fumbles and an interception. The former three-star recruit was a big part of an elite pass defense that allowed the fourth-fewest pass yards per game (155.9) in the nation. Arizona also permitted the lowest passer rating (95.16) in the FBS. Smith features the size (6-2, 202), range and anticipatory skills to thrive as a center fielder in single-high coverage.

Other players of note:

Arizona CB Treydan Stukes
Arizona RB Kedrick Reescano
Arizona OL Alexander Dost
Arizona QB Noah Fifita
Arizona Tiaoalii Savea
SMU S Isaiah Nwokobia
SMU OL Logan Parr
SMU WR Romello Brinson
SMU TE RJ Maryland
SMU TE Matthew Hibner
SMU OL PJ Williams
SMU QB Kevin Jennings
SMU RB Chris Johnson Jr.
SMU LB Alex Kilgore
SMU WR Jordan Hudson
SMU OL Savion Byrd
SMU EDGE Isaiah Smith

Duke's Mayo Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State

Player spotlight: Mississippi State CB Kelley Jones

The Giants must address the cornerback position this offseason, and it wouldn't hurt to add multiple bodies. And as fate would have it, the Duke's Mayo Bowl will feature one of the better prospects in the country: Kelley Jones.

The Mississippi State cornerback is considered a top-25 overall prospect by Mel Kiper Jr., who had this to say:

Jones can absolutely fly; I think he could end up in the 4.4-second range in the 40-yard dash in the lead-up to the draft, if he declares. But the third-year sophomore also brings terrific length, ball skills and feel for coverage. Jones seems comfortable with his back to the QB, is able to turn to locate the ball in the air and is disruptive at the catch point. And Jones is also a willing tackler in run defense.

Other players of note:

Wake Forest WR Carlos Hernandez
Wake Forest OL Fa’alili Fa’amoe
Wake Forest S Davaughn Patterson
Mississippi State WR Brenen Thompson
Mississippi State S Isaac Smith
Mississippi State EDGE Derion Gullette
Mississippi State DE Will Whitson
Mississippi State WR Ayden Williams
Mississippi State WR Anthony Evans
Mississippi State TE Seydou Traore

Game notes: Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne will not play on Friday.

Armed Forces Bowl: Rice vs. Texas State

There's not a lot going on in this bowl game, with no standout 2026 NFL draft prospects to highlight. But there are a couple in the game worth keeping a side-eye on.

Players of note: