The selection of arvell reese at No. 5 was not the most expected outcome of the draft night board, and that is part of what makes it notable. New York used its first first-round pick on an Ohio State edge defender who was not widely discussed as a Giant before the draft. At 20, he arrives with time to grow, but also with traits that can affect how a defense lines up, disguises intent, and creates pressure. The choice signals a bet on range, versatility, and developmental upside.
Why the Giants chose Arvell Reese over other options
The Giants had several paths available when their pick came up, including all three Ohio State defenders still on the board: Arvell Reese, linebacker Sonny Styles, and safety Caleb Downs. Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson and Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa were also in the mix. Instead, New York went with arvell reese, a move that surprised some observers because his name had not been broadly connected to the Giants in advance.
That surprise matters because the pick was not simply about filling a spot. It was about selecting a defender whose usage can vary. Reese plays both off-ball linebacker and stand-up edge, and that dual role gives the Giants more flexibility in how they shape sub-packages. In practical terms, that can help camouflage defensive intent before the snap, which is valuable for a team trying to create uncertainty for opposing offenses.
What Arvell Reese brings on the field
Reese’s profile is built around movement, burst, and versatility rather than polish. He is still growing into his frame and his game, but he already offers traits that stand out. He flows quickly once he triggers, attacks blocks with assertive hands, and moves fast in pursuit. His tackle finishing could become elite. His rush is described as kinetic and difficult for tackles to mirror, even if the plan behind that rush is still under construction.
The numbers from his college production give the pick substance. In 2025, Reese was a first-team All-American and posted a career-high 69 tackles, 10. 0 tackles for loss, and 6. 5 sacks. He also recorded 43 tackles and 3. 5 tackles for loss in 2024 for the national champions. His 4. 46-second 40-yard dash was the fastest among defensive linemen and linebackers in the group cited in the scouting report, underscoring why speed is central to his appeal.
At the same time, the Giants are not buying a finished product. Reese has only one season as a full-time starter and fewer than 1, 000 career defensive snaps. His run diagnosis and angles of attack are described as average, and play action or misdirection can briefly slow his process. Those are not minor points; they shape how quickly arvell reese can translate college traits into professional impact.
The developmental bet behind the pick
The deeper logic of the choice appears to be patience paired with role expansion. Reese learned behind and alongside Cody Simon, and Ohio State coaches praised his competitive toughness and maturity. At the pro level, he now enters a system where linebacker coach James Laurinaitis and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia can help guide the transition. That matters because Reese’s upside is tied to how the Giants deploy him, not just where they line him up.
His strengths suggest a defender who can stress protections from multiple angles. He can operate as a spy or cover man, and he has the kind of fluid change-of-direction ability that can matter in space. The weaknesses, however, are equally important for any realistic projection. He is slender for an edge, needs more man-to-man reps against backs and tight ends, and still has to develop better awareness as a hole player. In other words, the Giants selected a versatile athlete whose ceiling may depend on coaching detail as much as raw tools.
What this means for New York and beyond
The pick has implications beyond one roster spot. In a league where defensive flexibility is increasingly prized, a player like arvell reese offers a way to keep opponents guessing. He can align in multiple spots, which may let the Giants shift between pressure looks without changing personnel. That kind of adaptability can be especially useful against offenses built to identify coverages early.
At the same time, the Giants are accepting a learning curve. Reese has already shown the traits that can make a defense more chaotic once he is fully integrated, but his game remains unfinished. That creates a clear risk-reward profile: immediate value through athletic disruption, longer-term value through refinement. The question now is not whether the traits are real, but how quickly they can become consistent NFL production.
For the Giants, the draft choice was a statement about what they value: speed, position flexibility, and the possibility that an uncommon defender can become more than the sum of his current tape. If that projection holds, arvell reese may end up shaping more than one matchup. The open question is whether New York can turn a surprising selection into a reliable edge before the rest of the league adjusts.
