NY Giants NFL Draft 2026: New York selects OLB Arvell Reese at No. 5
Big Blue View • • sports
Key Points:
- Reese is a tall, athletic linebacker with an explosive burst, impressive power, and versatility, having played multiple linebacker and edge rusher positions at Ohio State.
- He is praised for his competitive toughness, fluid change-of-direction skills, and ability to use violent hands and long arms to disengage blockers effectively.
- Despite limited experience as a full-time starter and fewer than 1,000 career defensive snaps, Reese won Big Ten Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year and was a consensus All-American.
- His pass rush relies more on athleticism and feel than strategic moves, and he needs to develop more awareness and man-to-man coverage skills, especially against backs and tight ends.
- Reese's physical frame is slender for an edge defender, and while his stats may not fully reflect his impact due to his role as a spy and read player, his dynamic talent and explosive tools project well for various linebacker or edge roles in the NFL.
