The New York Giants select BYU Linebacker Jack Kelly with the 193th overall pick in 2026 NFL draft.
The New York Giants selected BYU linebacker Jack Kelly with the 193rd overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Interestingly, this was the first of the Giants’ back-to-back selections late on Day 3 as they continued adding depth to the roster.
I’ll be honest, once you get into the later rounds of the draft, I’m not overly familiar with a lot of these prospects. That’s just the reality of Day 3. At this point in the draft, you’re looking for players who can compete, earn a roster spot, contribute on special teams, and hopefully develop into something more over time.
Jack Kelly is one of those players that I had to do some homework on after hearing his name called. I spent some time watching YouTube highlights, reading scouting reports, and trying to get a feel for the type of player the Giants are bringing in.
A Productive Career at BYU
Kelly transferred to BYU after beginning his college career at Weber State, and he quickly made an impact with the Cougars. During his final season, he earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors while leading the team with 10 sacks.
One thing that stood out while watching his film is his versatility. He doesn’t look like a linebacker who is limited to one role. He can rush the passer, drop into coverage when asked, and appears to have a relentless motor that coaches love.
Heading into the draft, Kelly was generally viewed as a Day 3 prospect, although some analysts believed he had the upside to come off the board much earlier.
Scouting Report
Strengths
- Excellent timing as a blitzer.
- High motor and relentless effort.
- Shows good closing speed when attacking the quarterback.
- Has the athletic profile to become a valuable special teams contributor.
- Positional versatility gives coaches multiple ways to use him.
Areas to Improve
Like many sixth-round picks, Kelly is far from a finished product.
Scouts noted that he can be inconsistent defending the run and doesn’t always have elite sideline-to-sideline speed. Those are areas the Giants coaching staff will undoubtedly look to improve as he develops.
My Take
This is another pick where I’m trusting the Giants’ scouting department more than my own opinion because I simply hadn’t watched much of Jack Kelly before the draft.
After spending some time watching his highlights, though, I can definitely see why New York was interested. He plays with energy, gets after the quarterback, and seems to have the type of motor that gives late-round players a chance to stick in the NFL.
Realistically, his first opportunity is probably going to come on special teams while he works his way into the defensive rotation. If he embraces that role and continues to develop, maybe this winds up being one of those late-round picks that quietly outperforms expectations.
You can never have enough linebackers who play hard and bring versatility. Hopefully Jack Kelly can blossom with the Giants and become another successful Day 3 find.
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