New York Giants’ first round draft pick Arvell Reese, second left, and Francis Mauigoa, second right, pose for a picture with head coach John Harbaugh, left, and general manager Joe Schoen, right, during an NFL football press conference at the team’s training facility, Friday, April 24, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Yuki Iwamura/AP
The Dallas Cowboys weren’t the only NFC East team hoping to improve their roster through this year’s NFL draft.
Whether it was through draft selections or trades, Dallas’ division rivals spent the weekend targeting several needs. One of those teams even negotiated with the Cowboys to move up in the draft’s first round.
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Below, we’ll recap how the Giants, Eagles and Commanders fared in the NFL draft:
New York Giants
Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese celebrates with fans after being chosen by the New York Giants with the fifth overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
Sue Ogrocki/AP
Round 1, pick 5: Ohio State LB Arvell Reese
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Round 1, pick 10: Miami (FL) OL Francis Mauigoa
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Round 2, pick 37: Tennessee CB Colton Hood
Round 3, pick 74: Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields
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Round 6, pick 186: Auburn DT Bobby Jamison-Travis
Round 6, pick 192: Illinois OT J.C. Davis
Round 6, pick 193: BYU LB Jack Kelly
Breakdown: The Giants got out to an interesting start as they held two top-10 draft picks. With the fifth pick, the Giants selected one of the draft’s top defensive prospects. While they didn’t have an immediate need at edge rusher or off-ball linebacker, the Giants could deploy Arvell Reese in those roles for the foreseeable future.
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With the 10th pick, the Giants addressed a need by selecting offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa. Mauigoa could line up at right guard as a rookie, helping New York fill a pivotal role on its offensive line.
The Giants carried their momentum into Day 2 of the draft, when they secured cornerback Colton Hood and receiver Malachi Fields. They used a second-rounder on Hood, who was considered one of the top defensive backs in the draft class. The team later moved into the third round, acquiring the 74th pick from Cleveland to take Fields. New York sent pick Nos. 105 and 145 to the Browns, along with a 2027 fourth-rounder in the Day 2 trade. Fields (6-4, 218 pounds) could add a new dimension to New York’s offense, stepping in as a big-bodied possession receiver.
The Giants closed out their draft moves by taking depth pieces in defensive tackle Bobby Jamison-Travis, Illinois offensive tackle J.C. Davis and BYU linebacker Jack Kelly.
Philadelphia Eagles
Southern California wide receiver Makai Lemon poses after being chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 20th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
Gene J. Puskar/AP
Round 1, pick 20: USC WR Makai Lemon
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Round 2, pick 54: Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers
Round 3, pick 68: Miami (FL) OT Markel Bell
Round 5, pick 178: North Dakota State QB Cole Payton
Round 6, pick 207: Georgia OG Micah Morris
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Round 7, pick 244: Texas Tech S Cole Wisniewski
Round 7, pick 251: DT Uar Bernard from Nigeria
Round 7, pick 252: New Mexico EDGE Keyshawn James-Newby
Breakdown: The Eagles mainly focused on the offensive side of the ball with their draft picks. They generated some buzz early when they moved up to select wide receiver Makai Lemon in the first round. With their second-round pick, the Eagles selected a Dallas-area product in tight end Eli Stowers.
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Both the Lemon and Stowers selections could help Philadelphia in the future if the team decides to move on veteran receiver A.J. Brown.
Day 2 was a busy one for Philadelphia, as the team selected tackle Markel Bell. The Eagles also made an impact move by trading for veteran linebacker Jonathan Greenard, sending 2026 and 2027 third-rounders to Minnesota.
To close out the draft, the Eagles made five selections. The most intriguing picks in that group were quarterback Cole Payton and defensive tackle Uar Bernard. Payton gets a chance to develop behind Jalen Hurts, while Bernard is looking to make his mark as he plays football for the first time.
Washington Commanders
Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles poses after being chosen by the Washington Commanders with the seventh overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
Gene J. Puskar/AP
Round 1, pick 7: Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
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Round 3, pick 71: Clemson WR Antonio Williams
Round 5, pick 147: Tennessee EDGE Joshua Josephs
Round 6, pick 187: Penn State RB Kaytron Allen
Round 6, pick 209: Michigan State C Matt Gulbin
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Round 7, pick 223: Rutgers QB Athan Kaliakmanis
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Breakdown: Like the Giants, the Commanders kicked off their draft stretch by selecting an Ohio State defensive standout. Linebacker Sonny Styles could make an immediate impact on a defense led by new coordinator Daronte Jones.
Washington made a total of six selections in the 2026 draft, mainly addressing depth on its roster. Receiver Antonio Williams was the team’s only Day 2 pick. The third-round receiver could line up in the slot and on the outside, giving the Commanders a new option behind Terry McLaurin.
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Edge rusher Joshua Josephs, who was one of four players picked on Day 3, could be a player to watch in the future in Washington. The fifth-rounder will likely be a rotational edge rusher for the 2026 campaign.