2026 Draft My Guys! Dan/Nick's Favorite Prospects
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “2026 Draft My Guys! Dan/Nick's Favorite Prospects” inside PodZeus.
In this episode of Big Blue Banter, hosts Dan Schneier and Nick Bellotto dive into their 'My Guys' picks for the 2026 NFL Draft, spotlighting players they believe will make an immediate impact in the NFL. The discussion begins with a nostalgic review of past draft picks, highlighting successes like Gray Zabel and Travis Hunter, while acknowledging misses like Deontay Banks. The core of the episode focuses on their top prospects across all positions, with Caleb Downs (Ohio State safety) and Sonny Stiles (Ohio State linebacker) emerging as top-tier, high-IQ, versatile players. The hosts emphasize the importance of football intelligence, especially at safety and linebacker, and advocate for the Giants to prioritize interior offensive and defensive linemen to strengthen their trenches. Key guards like Chase Besantis and Keelan Rutledge are praised for their athleticism and physicality, while defensive tackles Kristen Miller and Chris McClellan are highlighted for their run-stopping prowess. The episode also covers wide receivers Casey Concepcion and Jordan Tyson, with a strong preference for trade-back strategies to target higher-value picks. The hosts stress that winning in the NFL starts in the trenches, and they believe the Giants must address both offensive and defensive line depth to become a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Prioritize football IQ and versatility over pure athleticism, especially at safety and linebacker.
The Giants must address interior offensive and defensive line depth to build a championship-caliber team.
Chase Besantis and Keelan Rutledge are top-tier guard prospects with elite run-game upside and physicality.
Trade back to target high-value players like Casey Concepcion or Chase Besantis instead of taking lower-tier picks at #5 or #10.
Defensive tackles like Kristen Miller and Chris McClellan offer immediate run-stopping impact and are critical to fixing the Giants' defensive weaknesses.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introducing the Buy Me a Coffee Page
Dan and Nick introduce their Buy Me a Coffee page as a direct way for fans to support the podcast without third-party cuts, emphasizing transparency and listener appreciation.
Recap of Last Year's My Guys Picks
The hosts reflect on their 2025 My Guys picks, celebrating hits like Gray Zabel and Travis Hunter while acknowledging misses like Deontay Banks and RJ Harvey, using the review to set the tone for this year’s class.
Caleb Downs: The High-IQ Safety
“He's the most likely player to be selected by the Giants. If I look at it right now, Nick, the Giants have put out a lot of smoke this draft... I think Downs is the most likely player to end up a Giant as we stand here today.”
Sonny Stiles: The Versatile Linebacker
“He's the guy in this class. And for me, it's always been him before the combine. We talked about this, Nick. It wasn't a combine riser for me that obviously helped me like come to the point of like, okay, now he has like other worldly athleticism that could translate to the NFL.”
Guard Class: Value and Physicality
“Out of all the guards I watched, I thought both Ioane and Besantis were the two best in pass protection and translate the best in pass protection at the next level.”
“He's the guy in this class. And for me, it's always been him before the combine. We talked about this, Nick. It wasn't a combine riser for me that obviously helped me like come to the point of like, okay, now he has like other worldly athleticism that could translate to the NFL.”
“He's the most likely player to be selected by the Giants. If I look at it right now, Nick, the Giants have put out a lot of smoke this draft... I think Downs is the most likely player to end up a Giant as we stand here today.”
“We lost a lot of interior pass rush juice by trading Dexter Lawrence and that's a good way to win in the nfl we won a lot like that we want a lot of games like that we want a lot of reps like that we need to like at this point i do want kristen miller but i wouldn't mind going kristen miller or Katie McDonald if somehow he fell at 37 and then coming back and getting McClellan at 103 or whatever it is, or trading back and getting more picks.”
Hosts
New York Giants
organization
Caleb Downs
person
Sonny Stiles
person
Ohio State
organization
Chase Besantis
person
Dan Schneier
person
Nick Bellotto
person
Kristen Miller
person
Keelan Rutledge
person
Casey Concepcion
person
OBJ to Giants heating up + Harbaugh reveals hints at roster’s future
Big Blue Banter: A New York Giants Football Podcast • 1h 2m • 3/31/2026
Jeremiyah Love: Fool’s gold or no brainer YES for Giants?!
Big Blue Banter: A New York Giants Football Podcast • 57m • 4/1/2026
CBS Draft analyst JP Acosta’s ‘My Guys’ Best Values + How They Fit The Giants
Big Blue Banter: A New York Giants Football Podcast • 53m • 4/3/2026
Caleb Downs is THE General This Giants Defense Needs
Big Blue Banter: A New York Giants Football Podcast • 53m • 4/6/2026
The Giants would be FOOLS to trade Dexter Lawrence
Big Blue Banter: A New York Giants Football Podcast • 39m • 4/7/2026
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “2026 Draft My Guys! Dan/Nick's Favorite Prospects” inside PodZeus.
Start discovering podcast insights today
Start with a 7-day trial and explore a growing catalog of popular podcasts. No credit card required.
No credit card required • 7-day trial • Cancel anytime