2026 NFL draft: Prospects Giants should watch during New Year's Eve bowl games

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On New Year's Eve -- Wednesday -- bowl season kicks into high gear with five games, including the Cotton Bowl Classic, a College Football Playoff matchup. All 32 teams will have eyes on these games, including the New York Giants, who will have a top-7 pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

The Giants could still climb up to No. 1 overall and are likely to trade down for additional draft assets should they pick somewhere in the top-3. Despite rumors and speculation, it's doubtful they target a quarterback with Jaxson Dart, a 2025 first-round pick, under center.

With limited games remaining, Giants scouts have one final major opportunity to evaluate top prospects in live game settings.

Here is a quick breakdown of the players the Giants should key in on today.

ReliaQuest Bowl: Iowa vs. Vanderbilt

Player spotlight: Iowa offensive lineman Gennings Dunker

Although the Giants' offensive line improved in 2025, they still have some issues along the interior. Greg Van Roten is an impending free agent, and the team has an out in Jon Runyan Jr.'s contract should they decide to move on.

With that in mind, Gennings Dunker could intrigue them as a potential late-second-round pick.

Here's what Bleacher Report had to say about Dunker:

Gennings Dunker is a rugged, powerful in-line blocker built with the right stuff, but will need to kick inside to guard to mitigate his middling movement skills. He has the traits to carve out a role and crack a lineup on his rookie deal in a run-first, play-action-heavy offense.

Dunker is a 6'5", 315-pound offensive line prospect, who entered the Iowa program as a 3-star recruit in the 2021 class.

Dunker started 11 games in 2024 at right tackle, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. He started 11 games at RT during the '23 season and one in '22 at right guard.

Other players of note:

Iowa OL Logan Jones
Iowa OL Kade Pieper
Iowa OL Trevor Lauck
Iowa DL Aaron Graves
Iowa EDGE Max Llewellyn
Iowa S Xavier Nwankpa
Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers
Vanderbilt CB Martel Height
Vanderbilt OL Cade McConnell
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia

Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs. Texas

Player spotlight: Texas tight end Jack Endries

Michigan is a mess right now due to various off-field reasons, but that doesn't mean it will be devoid of prospect talent on Wednesday. The opt-outs on both sides will hurt, but there's still something to watch for.

While the Giants don't necessarily need a tight end, they could look for some depth in the mid-rounds, and Jack Endries is an intriguing option.

Here's what NFL Draft Buzz had to say about Endries:

What separates Endries from typical move tight ends is his football instincts and technical refinement rather than raw athleticism. He finds soft spots in coverage with veteran-like instincts and has eliminated the concentration drops that plagued his freshman season, but his modest frame and average speed ceiling prevent him from becoming a true mismatch weapon against NFL athletes.

Endries represents the modern evolution of the position where receiving ability often outweighs traditional tight end responsibilities, but his blocking limitations create roster construction challenges that could affect his draft stock. His consistent production and technical soundness suggest he'll find a role somewhere in the middle rounds, yet the inability to contribute meaningfully in run support may cap his upside as anything more than a situational contributor.

Other players of note:

Michigan CB Jyaire Hill
Michigan DL Rayshaun Benny
Michigan RB Max Bredeson
Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder
Michigan TE Marlin Klein
Michigan RB Justice Haynes (may not play)
Texas DT Hero Kanu

Game notes: Michigan linebackers Derrick Moore and Jaishawn Barham, offensive lineman Gio El-Hadi, have opted out of this game. Meanwhile, Texas had 12 players enter the transfer portal, and several more opted out of this game. There are too many to list, so keep track here.

Cotton Bowl Classic: Miami vs. Ohio State

Player spotlight: Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese

This is the big game of the day and one that will be heavily attended by NFL scouts. What makes it more notable for the Giants is that several top-end talents will fall right into their range (from No. 1 to No. 7) -- most of whom play positions of need. Moreover, several have already been mocked to the Giants.

Giants Wire has covered safety Caleb Downs quite a bit, so we went with linebacker Arvell Reese in the player spotlight instead.

Here's what Mel Kiper Jr. had to say about Reese:

This is a complete football player. Reese jumps off the Ohio State tape, playing the game like a veteran. I see natural instincts at the linebacker position that allow him to make plays most guys just can't make, and he has the burst to get home when turned loose as a pass rusher. Reese has been a big riser in this class.

Other players of note:

Ohio State S Caleb Downs
Ohio State WR Carnell Tate
Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
Ohio State DL Kayden McDonald
Miami EDGE Ruben Bain
Miami DT Francis Mauigoa
Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor
Miami QB Carson Beck

Sun Bowl: Arizona State vs. Duke

Prospects to watch:

Arizona State DL CJ Fite
Arizona State RB Kanye Udoh
Arizona State WR Malik McClain
Arizona State TE Chamon Metayer
Duke WR Cooper Barkate
Duke EDGE Wesley Williams
Duke S Terry Moore
Duke WR Andrel Anthony

Game notes: Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, cornerback Keith Abne, offensive lineman Max Iheanachor, and running back Raleek Brown won't play. Duke corner back Chandler Rivers, offensive lineman Brian Parker, and edge rusher Vincent Anthony will also sit out.

Las Vegas Bowl: Nebraska vs. Utah

Prospects to watch:

Nebraska WR Dane Key
Nebraska EDGE Dasan McCullough
Nebraska OL Elijah Pritchett
Utah LB Lander Barton
Utah S Tao Johnson
Utah CB Smith Snowden

Game notes: Utah offensive linemen Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu, and edge rushers John Henry Daley and Logan Fano will not play in this game. Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson Jr. will also sit this one out.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Prospects Giants should watch during New Year's Eve bowl games

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