The New York Giants selected Arvell Reese with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Reese will now be paired with Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux as versatile front-seven players for Dennard Wilson; however, Reese will be starting at linebacker next to the newly-signed Tremaine Edmunds.
Reese ended his college career with 112 tackles, 13.5 for a loss, with seven sacks and two passes defensed. 6.5 of his sacks came in 2025. Reese played two seasons for the Buckeyes – a total
of 960 defensive snaps. In 2025, he aligned 327 times as an edge defender (250 on the right side and 77 on the left), while playing 286 snaps in the BOX as a linebacker, and 34 snaps as an overhang defender.
He recorded 27 pressures and 34 STOPs for Ohio State last season, while missing only 6% of his tackles (4 missed). Reese is a 2024 National Champion and was a Consensus All-American in 2025, while earning the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year (2025). Here are his strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths
- Long and lean athlete who carries 241-pounds well
- Frame is not yet maxed out
- Premium level athlete with insanely fluid movement skills
- Changes direction well with excellent acceleration and elite short-area-quickness
- Above-average bend through contact
- Twitchy mover with springy explosiveness – elite burst
- Very good force into contact – stronger than he looks
- Shockingly powerful bull-rush
- Slippery up the pass rushing arc
- Excellent cornering ability – SLIPPERY at the top of arc
- Converts speed to power well
- Adaptive and smart QB spy
- Excellent in pursuit as a run defender
- Sure-tackler with very good tackling mechanics
- Long tackle radius
- Elite slashing ability on LOS or at second level
- Above-average edge setting ability – good leverage when in place
- Smart – high IQ – run defender
- Good eyes as a LB from second level
- Excellent stack and shed ability at second level
- Gets low and uses length to shed and locate ball carrier
- Speed athletic ability allow him to carry and play man sufficiently
- Solid overall zone awareness
- Elite third down blitzer from second level
- Has 322 snaps on special teams
- Versatile defender – LB/EDGE
- Is only 20-years old
Weaknesses
- Dangerous with power/finesse up arc, but still unrefined!
- Still development to be had with counter moves / pass rushing repertoire
- Can work on his hands as a pass rusher
- Capable zone coverage player who lost track of receivers a few too many times
- Will he be pigeon holed as a hybrid player?
Reese is a lean, explosive, and versatile player with elite athletic ability. His movement skills + power are a rare combination with his body type; plus, he possesses a tone-setting jolt in his hands when he’s stacking & shedding offensive linemen. He exercises good patience when necessary and his short area quickness allows him to pounce like a venus fly trap on an unsuspecting victim.
Reese’s power on the edge pops off the screen, whether due to his ability to stand up offensive tackles when he is setting the edge or if it’s him generating quality force through the ground and into contact with his impressive bull-rushing ability. That power is coupled with a slippery finesse style that allows him to dip/slip/rip through the high-side and create havoc, while possessing the pass-rushing IQ to spin/cut-off rushing paths for the quarterback.
Similar to Abdul Carter, Reese can be effectively employed on the edge or at the second-level. I could make a strong case that he’d be better off as a linebacker than a full-time edge, which may entice the Giants more; sure, he can be used on the edge in passing situation, but his linebacker skills – albeit not totally refined due to a lack of experience – are sufficient, while still possessing a ton of upside, to be relied upon in early down situations. Reese can rush, spy, carry receivers, and is a smart second level option, while possessing the power and strength to play on the edge when necessary.
Reese is a unique talent. At just 20 years old, the sky is the limit for the young man.
Here is a brief video breaking down Reese’s tape:
