Now that the 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone, the fallout from the special set of nights is starting to be expressed. For the New York Giants, the consensus is that they used their first-round pick perfectly, and grabbed the best possible player.
Arvell Reese is that guy, and the Ohio State Linebacker is going to be heavily relied on in 2026 and beyond. Mike Renner of CBS Sports wrote a glaring review of the Giants newest draft pick, and gave him a very generous A+ grade to boot.
"The Giants just became the scariest edge-rushing group in the NFL and truthfully it's not even close. Their third down packages are going to be a true sprint to the quarterback. Reese has special play strength for someone with 4.46 speed. And he's only scratching the surface at 20 years old."
Looks promising... for now
On paper, this looks like the perfect union. The Giants might have the scariest linebacking group since the 1980s and 1990s with Lawrence Taylor, Harry Carson and Carl Banks with Abdul Carter, Brian Burns and now Reese. Kayvon Thibadeaux is a name that consistently gets thrown around the rumor mill, but there might be a fire under him now to try and keep up with the rest of the pack.
Of course, everything will be revealed when training camp begins, and the pads are put on. Reese has the potential of being the best player from this group of linebackers, and that would make General Manager Joe Schoen look like a genius for taking him. Or, if it does not work out, this could be the biggest letdown of Schoen's rocky tenure.
Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson is going to have a lot of fun trying to come up with enough packages where Reese can get some blitz-action in with that blazing speed. If the rumors are true that he wants to become a better pass rusher, he is going to have enough chances to prove it in 2026.
The Giants are going to have a really interesting season come September, and all of these new players are going to have to gel really fast. There is no time for growing pains or adjustment, and head coach John Harbaugh has already laid down the expectation of playoff-implications.
No participation trophies here.
An A+ grade for drating Reese is appropiate for now. Until a game is played, or some footage is revealed with him making plays with that "NY" on his chest, it is all speculation. But, it looks like this franchise might have finally landed a guarenteed stud with their first-round pick on the defensive side of the ball.
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