標籤: Arvel

A new report has lent credence to recent speculation that the New York Giants are actually planning to use first-round pick Arvel Reese as an inside linebacker and not an edge rusher.

Many were surprised that the Ohio State edge was not selected with the No. 2 pick by the New York Jets in last month’s NFL Draft. What is even more surprising is that he was not even picked in the next two selections. Arguably, the most talented pass rusher in this year’s class was allowed to fall to the Giants at fifth overall.

When Big Blue used its pick at No. 5 on Reese, it established a 2026 linebacker corps that could be terrible. But it also created a log jam for the outside linebacker spot with Brian Burns, 2025 No. 1 pick Abdul Carter and 2022 first-rounder Kayvon Thibodeaux. However, soon after being drafted, Reese and the team suggested he could play inside linebacker.

Most assumed this was something they would only try on occasion and that Reese would not have a permanent spot as he showed a lot of potential by posting 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks for OSU last season. However, according to NFL insider James Palmer, the Giants are serious, and so far, Reese is looking good at that position.

New York Giants fall in love with Arvel Reese’s versatility

Palmer said that during mini-camp, coach John Harbaugh and the staff were impressed with how light Reese was on his feet and good in coverage. Additionally, he liked how he did not miss any assignments and confirmed the high football IQ he felt he had during the draft process.

The NFL insider also noted that if Reese is on the sideline, offenses can play away from him. If he is standing in the middle they can’t do anything. This way, he can still be used in the middle of the attack, but because he is so smart and athletic, he can also make an impact in the run game and coverage.

The summer will really tell the story of where Reese ends up playing for the Giants. But so far, it looks like the team has plans to field most of its talented linebackers at the same time in 2026.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

It seems like Arvel Reese has no idea about the roster he will be joining after becoming the New York Giants’ first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Thursday night was a wild night for Ohio State linebacker Arvel Reese. Heading into the first round of the event, many draft pundits had him going to either the New York Jets at No. 2 overall or the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3. However, he did not join any team. He was not even selected by the Tennessee Titans at No. 4 overall.

Instead, a player who many football evaluators believed had genuine superstar potential fell to the Giants at fifth overall. Although few expected Reese to fall this far, it was still a possibility. Because he could go somewhere in the top five, one would hope the First-Team All-American would have done some homework on which rosters he could work on.

Well, it seems that in the case of the Giants, they abandoned that research because they may have thought there was no chance he would end up as the newest member of Big Blue on Thursday night.

Arvel Reese only knows one New York Giants player?

During the press conference following his selection, Reese was asked which new teammate he was most looking forward to meeting. The 20-year-old spent 10 seconds trying to find the answer. When he finally figured it out, the answer was that one player wasn’t even on his side of the ball. “Jackson Dart,” Reese said.

While the Giants didn’t have a great defense last year, they still have some very good players on defense. An obvious choice would have been three-time Pro Bowler – including in 2025 – Brian Burns. Or 2025 first-round pick Abdul Carter. A player who dominated Ohio State’s conference, the Big Ten, in 2024. Even three-time Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence, because of his popular sack dance, would have made sense, even if he was traded last week.

It’s not a good thing for Reese that he knows so little about the team he’s going to. Giants fans will have to hope he was still filled with excitement about being drafted, that his mind suddenly went blank, or he was so focused on OSU getting back to the national title last season that he watched few NFL games.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

It was highly anticipated that the New York Giants would take the Ohio State Buckeye with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. But few expected it to be linebacker Arvel Reese.

Many were expecting Reese to be taken second or third overall, but when he slipped and was still on the board with the Giants, the team did not hesitate to draft him.

The 6’4 243-pound linebacker had 69 tackles and six and a half sacks in his final season at Ohio State in 2025, and was a unanimous All-American. The selection comes as a surprise as the team already has Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux. But he played inside linebacker before 2025. It will ultimately be up to defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson to find ways to utilize Reese’s potential to ensure he has a successful rookie season.

Following Reese’s selection, the team took right tackle Francis Mauigoa of the University of Miami with pick 10.^th Overall selection. Mauigoa appeared in 42 games in his three years at Miami. Although the 6’5 329-pound All-American tackle was viewed by many as the best tackle in the league, it was also a bit of a surprise. The team re-signed right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor to a three-year, $39 million contract this offseason, and Mauigoa is nursing a herniated disc.

But the team clearly isn’t worried about his injury history, and they would like to move him or Eluemunor inside to play the guard role. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds during training camp.

What we learned from the giants in Round 1

For several months, New York was primed for Caleb Downs and could potentially take him with the first pick, or with the 10.^th Which they acquired by trading Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals. But it appeared to be a blurry screen as the team passed him twice.

Downs will try to show that New York made a mistake by leaving him, as he will play with them twice a year since the Dallas Cowboys took him with the 11 pick.^th Overall selection.

With the selection of Reese it is clear that Kayvon Thibodeaux’s time in New York is coming to an end. He is entering the final year of his contract, and his role with Burns and Carter on the roster was already in question. Now with another premier pass rusher on the team, expect the team to move on from the 25-year-old edge rusher.

The Giants currently do not have a third-round pick and could try to trade Thibodaux on the second day of the draft to acquire one. New York’s next pick will be 37th overall, where they can take either a wide receiver or defensive tackle.

RELATED: 2026 New York Giants mock draft, Nos. 5 to 193

A New York Jets insider this week revealed the unexpected reason why the team prefers to use the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft on David Bailey instead of Arvel Reese.

After another disappointing season in 2025, the Jets are in good position heading into next week’s draft. While they don’t have the No. 1 overall pick at the event, they might as well as the Las Vegas Raiders are set to take quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the top pick in Round 1. This allows the Jets to select the most talent-rich player available this year.

There is a lot of speculation about who that player will be. However, most mock drafts and expert opinions point to the Jets selecting Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey or his Ohio State counterpart Arvel Reese. The reason a lot of people are divided on them is the perception that Bayley is better right now, with Reese having a much better fit.

Well, it seems like the Jets’ decision makers aren’t thinking long term and want to get better immediately after a three-win season.

Do the New York Jets want David Bailey because he can make an impact quickly?

During a new appearance on the gang is all here podcast, Jets insider Brian Costello claimed that many around the NFL are convinced Bailey will be the choice for two reasons. First of all, Glenn is feeling the pressure of losing his job and needs a player who can be very good now, not later. The second reason is that Bailey is a “plug-and-play” talent. On the other hand, it is unclear where Reese will play in the NFL as an EDGE or outside linebacker.

Costello believes it would be a poor decision by Glenn and management to draft a player based on what they can do for them now rather than in the long term. However, this is the opinion of sources around the NFL as to how the Jets’ brain trust will view this incident.

Jets fans will find out which way the team goes during the first day of the 2026 NFL Draft next week.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Ohio State linebacker Arvel Reese put on a show during the NFL Scouting Combine. Participating with the edge rushers at the combine in Indianapolis, Reese ran a 4.46 40-yard dash with a 10-yard split of 1.58 seconds. Measuring 6-foot-4 1/8 and 241 pounds were also some of the most impressive measurements for a player at his position.

Reese totaled 69 tackles and 6.5 sacks last season in Columbus. He is widely expected to be taken in the top five of April’s NFL Draft and could go as high as No. 2 overall to the New York Jets. Reese has taken the college football world by storm this season, as he has seen his draft stock rise.

Now, as he prepares for the draft, let’s take a deeper look at what made Arvel Reese who he is today.

What high school did Arvel Reese go to?

Arvel Reese attended Glenville High School, where he won a state football championship playing for coach Ted Ginn Sr. He was also named a finalist for the 2022 high school Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top high school linebacker.

What college did Arvel Reese go to?

Reese attended The Ohio State University. He is currently majoring in Human Development and Family Sciences. His GPA is still not public information.

What is Arvel Reese’s draft projection?

Reese is projected to be a top 5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

arvel reese college statistics

Reese put together a strong two-year college resume, showing clear development and defensive impact. In the 2025 season, he recorded 69 total tackles, including 34 solo stops and 35 assisted tackles, while adding an impressive 6.5 sacks and two pass deflections.

This is a significant jump from his 2024 campaign, where he recorded 43 total tackles (18 solo, 25 assisted) and 0.5 sacks. In both seasons, Reese did not record any forced fumbles, fumble recoveries or interceptions, but the increase in his pass-rushing production and overall tackle volume in 2025 highlighted his evolution into a more disruptive defensive presence.