The New York Giants selected Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese with the fifth pick of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night. And it definitely feels like they might have gotten the last laugh with their next cornerstone piece on defense.
With names like Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs being heavily discussed leading up to the pick, it felt like the Giants had unlimited directions they could go. Instead, they landed on Reese, and it may end up looking like the best value of the group.
As FanSided’s Mike Luciano described the potential next great linebacker in a franchise full of all-time greats, “The athleticism borders on freakish; he plays with the strength of someone 50 pounds heavier, and his versatility is everything a coach could ask for.”
Let’s talk about why the Giants are going to benefit the most with their first of two picks in the first 10 selections of the first round.
Arvell Reese adds a different dimension to the Giants defense
Sam Huff, Harry Carson, Antonio Pierce, and now Arvell Reese. The middle linebacker position is one of, if not the, most important positions on the defense, and the Giants just got a big upgrade in that department. General manager Joe Schoen revealed that's the plan with the new draft selection, to put him right in the middle of the very vulnerable defense minus Dexter Lawrence.
But that could quickly change. Reese spoke with DJ Siddiqi of Covers.com and talked about his willingness to become a better pass rusher. Something that is not unheard of, but uncommon for a MLB, Reese wants to be able to show that his 6.5 sacks as an All-American at Ohio State last season is not a fluke.
"I want to get better at pass rusher. I truly do,” Reese said.
His willingness to never be satisfied is what will bring hellfire to the Giants’ defensive core. Without Lawrence, they needed to get an absolute nightmare down the middle, and they got him. Adding an offensive weapon would have been stellar, but unnecessary with the current status of the front seven. Adding an offensive lineman in Francis Mauigoa is also a slam dunk, but that is a topic for another time.
For now, it's important to note that Reese will be a steel beam in this Giants defensive unit, and everything will be built around him. There is more than enough evidence to suggest that he will not be a one-dimensional player, and expect him to slide around that tackle box a bit in 2026.
That versatility is what makes this feel like more than just a solid pick. The Giants didn’t just add a linebacker, they added a player who can impact multiple areas of the defense and fill more than one need at once.
When asked about the hard work it takes to become an edge rusher, Reese summed it up pretty nicely. It gives a good indication of the kind of sacrifice and devotion he has to this game:
"I'm really just excited about perfecting the craft of everything that comes with being an outside backer, whether it's rushing, taking on certain run blocks and how to defeat certain tackles, however they pass it. It's gonna take some work, but I'm ready to work towards it."
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