The New York Giants were busy during Round 1 of the 2026 NFL draft on Thursday night in Pittsburgh, making a total of two picks after sending nose tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for No. 10 overall.However, their first pick came at No. 5, where they selected Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, who unexpectedly fell into their laps."We hoped. But there weren't a lot of scenarios that we went through where he may be available," general manager Joe Schoen told reporters. "We had him No. 1 of non-quarterbacks."Here's a look back at what the pre-draft scouting reports had to say about Reese.Dane Brugler, The AthleticFrom Dane Brugler:A starter for one-and-a-half years at Ohio State, Reese was a hybrid outside linebacker in defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s multiple fronts.
After spending time at edge defender and Mike linebacker as an underclassman, he became a joker defender in Patricia’s scheme in 2025. That role primarily asked him to be stacked, with some reps walked out and some on the edge. Box-score scouts will be unimpressed by his production, but his stats don’t accurately reflect his on-field impact, because he was primarily used as a spy and read player.
Reese emerged as the Big Ten Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year and became the first consensus All-America linebacker at Ohio State since James Laurinaitis (Reese’s position coach for the Buckeyes).An impressive height/weight/speed athlete, Reese — who is also one of the youngest prospects in the draft class — was asked to play a blend of multiple positions, which showcased his vast tools for NFL scouts. He is explosive from his spot and has exceptional closing burst to cover ground in a blink. He can create short corners as a rusher, but will need time to become more of a pass-rush technician, in terms of setting up and sequencing different moves.
He uses his length to anchor as an edge setter and skillfully deconstructs blocks with elusive movements or violent, well-timed hands.Lance Zierlein, NFL NetworkFrom Lance Zierlein:At 20 years old, Reese is still growing into his frame and his game, but learning from James Laurinaitis (linebackers coach) and Matt Patricia (defensive coordinator) should give him a head start in acclimating to the pro game. He plays off-ball linebacker and stand-up edge with the talent to post impact production from either spot. His third-down versatility adds alignment variety and helps camouflage defensive intent.
His run diagnosis and angles of attack are average, but he flows quickly once he triggers, using assertive hands to stack and play off blocks. He’s fast in pursuit and his tackle finishing could become elite. His rush is kinetic and tough for tackles to mirror.
It’s under construction, but Reese has already sprouted go-to moves and rush plans that need more refinement. He might need some runway to hit his stride, but his rare blend of traits, explosiveness and versatility could become a perfect storm of chaos once a defense decides how to deploy him.Todd McShay, The RingerFrom Todd McShay:Reese was a true junior last season, his first year as a full-time starter at Ohio State. He’s lean, and his arm length is a red flag for an edge, but his 40 time was outstanding.
He has explosive power rushing the passer. He shoots his hands, lifts offensive tackles, and gets off blocks at the top of his rush. He overpowers running backs.
He wins with speed off the edge and can get to the quarterback when he rushes from deep. Reese has a high ceiling and exhibited signs of development on tape. For example, he set up an outside rip move with an inside jab step in a play against Penn State last season.
But he’s not a polished hand-fighter, and at this stage of his development, he doesn’t have a great feel for how to set up his moves, consistently sync his hands with his feet, and counter well. He matches up well with running backs and can run with tight ends in coverage. He gets good depth and breaks on the ball well when he drops to hook in zone looks.
His instincts in zone are average, and his lack of length shows up in coverage at times. He’s a sideline-to-sideline run defender as an off-ball linebacker. He shows good pop stacking and shedding blocks between the tackles, beats blockers to the point of attack, and fills gaps.
He can slip blocks in tight spaces and closes well chasing from the backside. Sometimes he buries himself in blocks and loses outside contact as an edge run defender. NFL offensive tackles will be tougher to anchor against unless he gets bigger and stronger.NFL Draft BuzzFrom NFL Draft Buzz:Reese is a heat-seeking missile against the run with the kind of closing speed that makes offensive coordinators cringe when they see him flying toward their running back.
The question for NFL teams is simple: where does he fit? He played roughly half his snaps as an edge rusher in 2025 and the other half in the box. Both produced decent numbers. His best football probably comes as