Raul Allegre: Giants made mistakes drafting Arvell Reese, Francis Mauigoa

The New York Giants had two selections in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL draft, and many experts believe they knocked both picks out of the park.

Not everyone, however.

Raul Allegre, a kicker who won two Super Bowls with the Giants in 1986 and 1990 under Bill Parcells, thinks they could have done better.

With the fifth-overall pick in the draft, the Giants chose Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, a dynamic defender who can play both inside and outside linebacker. Five picks later, they grabbed Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa, arguably the best offensive lineman in the draft.

Allegre believes the Giants should have targeted one of Reese’s teammates with the fifth pick.

“The question here is whether the team is in a better position now,” Allegre said in a recent interview. “Obviously, the fifth pick was already theirs, and they ended up going for Arvell Reese. Personally, the player I liked the most was Caleb Downs, and I debated whether or not to take him twice. He ended up going to Dallas, which is not positive at all for Giants fans.”

Allegre is not sold on Mauigoa, either, at No. 10, citing his history of back injuries.

“Unfortunately, he (Mauigoa) arrives at the draft with a back issue that is said to need surgery; I don’t know which type or if he can recover without it,” Allegre stated. “But the fact that he has been diagnosed with back problems at the age of 20—I mean, 20! I developed back problems at 33. To me, it seems like a tremendous risk.”

The former Giants’ kicker’s concerns are real. Downs in Dallas has Giants fans shaking their heads. He could be the linchpin their defense was needed for some time. Mauigoa is not playing tackle, either. The Giants have shifted him inside to guard, not ideal for a top-10 pick.

To be fair, Allegre likely hasn’t seen film of either this summer, though. Both players have impressed. The Giants had their board set on draft day and were elected when both players “fell” to them. They likely had Downs high up on their board as well, but they passed not once, but twice on him, so they are not looking back.

And Allegre’s primary concern with Mauigoa? The rookie says his back feels great and there will be no issues regarding it, which the Giants’ medical staff obviously signed off on.