John Harbaugh and Joe Schoen knew the risk they were taking when they drafted Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese and planned to make him an interior linebacker.
So far, they’re up big, and not solely because the Giants are tied with the Cowboys atop the NFC East. Reese had nine tackles, broke up three passes, and recorded a tackle for loss in Sunday’s 36-24 victory over the Cardinals. He also grabbed his first career interception, snagging an errant Jacoby Brissett pass in the second quarter.
“He was all over the field again,” Harbaugh said. “He played great. He may get a game ball yet for defensive player of the game ... He’s really taking off.”
Reese has indeed stuffed the stat sheet, racking up 34 tackles, four pass breakups, and three TFLs through his first month.
Rookie linebacker Arvell Reese has become a bargain for the New York Giants
We know what you’re thinking: How can someone who just received a $31.2 million signing bonus truly be considered a “bargain?” These are players on the veteran minimum making less than $80,000 per week.
That’s just it, though. As part of his standard rookie contract, Reese will earn $885,000 in base salary this year; that number gradually climbs to $1.28 million in 2029. That’s when the Giants will decide whether to pick up his fifth-year option, the value of which will be determined later. Kayvon Thibodeaux, who went No. 5 in the 2022 draft, is making $14.7 million on his fifth-year option.
Sports are funny like that sometimes. Most of us would love to make $885,000 in base salary, but that’s considered cheap for the level of play Reese has provided thus far. He’s a perfect example of the eye test still being relevant; watch the Giants’ defense for a drive, and you’ll understand why he went No. 5 this past spring.
The Giants are still waiting on Reese’s first sack, though that’s a problem teamwide. Abdul Carter has only one sack, but he hit Brissett three times on Sunday. Dennard Wilson’s defense managed just two sacks, though it was nonetheless double the amount they had in their first three games.
Reese, Carter, and the Giants’ front seven should have an excellent opportunity to break through against the Commanders next week. Washington quarterback Marcus Mariota went down with a knee injury on Sunday, and we’ll see whether seventh-round rookie and Rutgers product Athan Kaliakmanis starts instead.
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