The New York Giants select Notre Dame Wide Receiver Malachi Fields with the 74th overall pick in 2026 NFL draft.
The New York Giants made an aggressive move in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, trading up with the Cleveland Browns to select wide receiver Malachi Fields with the No. 74 overall pick.
When a team moves up the draft board, it usually means they believe they’re getting a player who won’t be there much longer. That’s exactly what happened here, as the Giants targeted one of the biggest receivers in this year’s class to add another weapon for rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Giants Add Size to the Wide Receiver Room
At 6-foot-4½ and 218 pounds, Fields immediately gives the Giants something they haven’t had much of in recent years, a true big-bodied receiver who can win contested catches and make life easier for his quarterback.
Fields spent most of his college career at Virginia before transferring to Notre Dame for his final season. The move paid off, as he averaged an impressive 17.5 yards per reception while becoming one of the better contested-catch receivers in college football.
His game isn’t built around blazing speed. Instead, Fields wins with size, body positioning, strong hands, and excellent body control, making him a reliable target on third down and in the red zone.
What Malachi Fields Brings to New York
Fields played primarily as an outside receiver during his college career, lining up on the perimeter for roughly 90 percent of his snaps. While he has the versatility to move inside as a big slot receiver, his frame and catch radius make him a natural fit on the outside.
The biggest concern entering the draft was his speed. Fields ran a 4.61-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, leading some scouts to question whether he can consistently separate from NFL cornerbacks.
Fortunately, not every receiver needs to win with speed. Plenty of successful NFL receivers have built long careers by using size, leverage, and physicality instead of elite acceleration.
My Take
The fact that the Giants traded up to get Malachi Fields tells me they saw something they didn’t think would still be available later in the third round. When a front office is willing to give up draft capital to move up, there’s usually a belief that the player’s upside is worth the investment.
Naturally, Giants fans are going to draw comparisons to Plaxico Burress. That’s probably unavoidable when you’re talking about a receiver with Fields’ size and ability to win contested catches. I’m not saying he’ll become the next Plaxico, that’s a high bar to clear, but you can certainly see why the comparison will come up.
Final Thoughts
Malachi Fields may not have entered the NFL as the fastest receiver in the draft, but he brings traits that are becoming increasingly valuable. His size, toughness, and ability to make difficult catches should give the Giants another dimension on offense.
If he develops the way New York believes he can, don’t be surprised if fans look back at the Giants’ decision to trade up in the third round as one of the smarter moves of the 2026 NFL Draft.
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