April 25, 2026, 9:30 a.m. ET

The New York Giants selected Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood with the 37th selection in Round 2 of the 2026 NFL draft on Friday night in Pittsburgh.

The team was ecstatic as they felt they got a first-round talent in the second round in Hood.

“We had targeted Colton Hood as a guy, corner is a premium position, and a player we really like,” Giants general manager Joe Schoen said after making the pick. “So the fact that he was there, there’s some good players taken in front of us certainly, but really excited to get Colton where we were able to get him, and again add some really good depth and competition to the roster we currently have.”

Schoen then expounded the virtues of the young man, who promises to inject some life into the Giants’ dormant cornerback room.

“Absolutely. High-character kid,” said Schoen. “He’s been at Auburn and Colorado, then Tennessee, and we spent some time with him at the combine, but a kid that’s tough, that shows up on tape, he’s not afraid to throw his body around and tackle, he’s physical, and truly loves ball.”

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The feeling was mutual. Hood was overcome when he spoke to both Schoen and head coach John Harbaugh on the phone call welcoming him into the Giants family.

“Competing to start,” Harbaugh said when asked about his plan for Hood. “That’s what he’s going to do. We got a got a cornerback room now. It’s amazing how one addition changes the math in a room. Cornerback room is good, but now it’s really good. He’s going to push everybody, and he’ll be — I know one thing, he’s planning on coming in here and trying to win a starting job.”

Hood’s talent obviously got him noticed, but his personality and demeanor are what attracted the Giants to him as well.

“He’s a phenomenal kid, added Schoen. “We spent some time with him. He checks all the boxes. He has makeup in terms of our football and personal character, hard worker, former baseball player that has tremendous ball skills along with traits. So checks a lot of boxes along with the football makeup that we desire within the group. Add him to the other two players that you guys got to talk to today that were here, and he fits right in with those guys.”