While Malik Nabers might have been disappointed in the first picks of the John Harnaugh Era, his opinion is in the minority. NFL Draft grades from a variety of experts show wide-ranging approval for what GM Joe Schoen and head coach John Harbaugh decided to do.
The selections of Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese at 5 and Miami offensive linemen Francis Mauigoa at 10 were highly praised in the immediate draft grades gicing after the first round of the draft last night. Reese was considered on some
boards— including reportedly the Giants— the top player in the draft and Mauigoa was arguably the best lineman in this year’s draft class.
Let’s get to the grades.
The Giants had a lot of options, and some might question the fit of Arvell Reese at No. 5, considering edge rusher wasn’t really a need. They just took Abdul Carter at No. 3 last year, and they have Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. But at the same time, Reese is a top-three prospect overall, and I could see New York using him as an off-ball linebacker as he develops and realizes his immense potential as an NFL edge rusher. Reese is a complete football player, and he’s going to be a factor regardless of how defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson uses him.
New York Giants: 5. New York Giants: Arvell Reese, LB/edge, Ohio State. Getting Reese at fifth overall was excellent value. The team has decisions to make with three former first-round edge rushers on the depth chart (Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux), but Reese can play inside or outside for the Giants because of his athleticism and strength at the point of attack. I’m excited to see how he excels as a three-down player as his rookie season progresses.
10. New York Giants (via Bengals): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami. The selection of Mauigoa wasn’t a surprise since Big Blue desperately needed a starting right guard. He was a right tackle in college but mauls opponents in the run game and is sturdy in pass protection, making him a natural fit inside. The Giants added a second first-round pick (No. 10 overall) when sending disgruntled DT Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati. They’ll need to find a very good nose tackle on Day 2 to fill that spot, but getting a top-10 pick was a good move. Overall grade: A
Matt Verderame (Sports Illustrated)
5. New York Giants: Arvell Reese, LB/edge, Ohio State. Reese has a strong case as the best player in this draft, and certainly on the defensive side. In 2025, Reese was a force for the Buckeyes, totaling 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss, earning first-team All-American honors. At 6’4″ and 241 pounds, Reese ran a blistering 4.46 40-yard dash at the combine in Indy. With great size and speed, terrific athleticism and still only 20 years old, he’s an ideal prospect to build a defense around. For new coach John Harbaugh, he has his Roquan Smith in East Rutherford. Grade: A+
10. New York Giants (via Bengals): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami. Mauigoa came to Miami in 2023 and became an immediate starter. The 329-pounder has been a stalwart at right tackle, starting 42 games for the Hurricanes. On tape, Mauigoa is an excellent pass blocker who should be above average in that area from the start. On run plays, Mauigoa will grow into the role with some refinement, but he’s clearly the best right tackle in this draft. With an emphasis on running the ball under Harbaugh, the Giants are adding beef up front. Grade: B-
5. Giants: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio St. The Giants just became the scariest edge-rushing group in the NFL and truthfully it’s not even close. Their third down packages are going to be a true sprint to the quarterback. Reese has special play strength for someone with 4.46 speed. And he’s only scratching the surface at 20-years old. Grade: A+
10. Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami. The Giants lock in the missing piece to their starting five with Mauigoa. He’ll kick inside to right guard for now, where he’ll be a butt-kicker in the run game. His ability to move people off the line of scrimmage is special for a player who hasn’t even turned 21 yet. Jaxson Dart is somewhere celebrating. Grade: A-
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (USA TODAY)
5. New York Giants: Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State. Quite the way to kick off the John Harbaugh era. Reese fell further than anyone could have expected, and he now joins a defense that already includes Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux. But Reese was the top-ranked overall player on many analysts’ big boards (including ours). He can detonate blockers and ball carriers alike, which will surely come in handy for bolstering the league’s 31st-ranked run defense. The pass-rush plan might take some time to coalesce, but the Micah Parsons comparisons – while lofty – are not unfounded. Grade: A-
10. Giants (from Cincinnati Bengals): Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami (Fla.) John Harbaugh’s first steps with Big Blue have been centered on achieving some semblance of stability, which has largely escaped the franchise for the better part of a decade. Taking Mauigoa certainly aligns with that effort. Mauigoa is a punishing force in the run game who won’t get pushed around by pass rushers, either. He was announced as an offensive tackle, but he should slide in at right guard after veteran Jermaine Eluemunor was re-signed at right tackle. Olaivavega Ioane could have been a candidate for the same role, but Mauigoa is a high-floor prospect who can make life easier for Jaxson Dart. Grade: B
Charles McDonald (Yahoo! Sports)
5. New York Giants: Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State. This is how you get value in the top five of the draft. Reese easily could’ve been the second overall pick, and nobody would have batted an eye. To get him here is a bit further than most people thought he would fall, and the Giants need to replenish front seven talent after trading Dexter Lawrence. Reese can play any linebacker or edge rusher moving forward at a high level. Grade: A+
10. New York Giants (via trade with Cincinnati Bengals): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami. The Giants didn’t necessarily need to add to their offensive line here, but they must have really liked the potential of Mauigoa, who should be a versatile starter at multiple spots assuming his back can stay healthy after a herniated disc diagnosis. He’s got a lot of size and power to grow at right tackle or guard for the long term and will stabilize the offensive line immediately. Grade: B-
5. New York Giants: Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State. This is a fascinating selection for the Giants, as Reese gives the Giants as formidable a trio of edge rushers as there is in the NFL, teaming, of course, with recent top-10 selections Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Reese’s ability to play the off-ball linebacker position, as well as project as a dynamic pass-rusher gives head coach John Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson an awful lot of flexibility. Grade: A-
10. New York Giants (from Bengals): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami. His girth and power make him an ideal fit for New York, a club looking to adopt the run-heavy attack John Harbaugh preferred at Baltimore. I actually like this fit even better than Spencer Fano in Cleveland one pick earlier — despite the left tackle position being more valued than interior blockers. Grade: A
5. New York Giants: Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State. There will be some refinement needed if he moves to the edge full-time, and he can still offer some athleticism on the second level if the Giants want to use him in an off-ball role, but they have given themselves some options here at No. 5, and I love when a team seems to have a plan. Grade: A-
10. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami. When the Giants swung last weekend’s trade with the Cincinnati Bengals to secure this selection, many thought one potential path for them was Mauigoa at No. 5, and perhaps Tyson at No. 10. Another option was Mauigoa at No. 5, and the best defender available at No. 10.Now, the Giants get Arvell Reese at No. 5 — an elite upgrade to their defensive front — and a mauler in Mauigoa at No. 10. The process is commendable. Mauigoa’s back history is something to watch, but we are not doctors. Sitting here right now, this seems like a job well done from New York. Grade: A-
5. New York Giants: Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State. New York lands my top-ranked player here in Reese, a hyperversatile playmaker who can make an impact from both the off-ball linebacker and edge rusher spots. The Giants will have to prove they can fully maximize Reese’s skill set—and that means figuring out how to split his time on the edge and off the ball—but with Brian Burns and Abdul Carter already on the roster, New York’s coaching staff won’t have to force Reese into doing only one thing. I absolutely love this pick for New York. Grade: A+
10. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami. This is a right-down-the-fairway pick for the Giants, who look to the trenches and nab a tough and physical lineman in Mauigoa. The former Hurricanes standout brings starting potential at both guard and tackle, and he should contribute right away. But there are some concerns about a herniated disc injury, which could lead to problems down the road. But back-to-back trenches picks for the start of John Harbaugh’s tenure with the Giants—first Reese, now Mauigoa—just makes sense. Grade: B
5. New York Giants: Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State. The criticism around this pick will center on development. Reese isn’t a fine-tuned prospect. You’re hoping, in time, Reese turns into a player as dominant around the edge and inside as Micah Parsons. That’s his ceiling. He just won’t be that in 2026. Again: He needs time. But that doesn’t mean he won’t have a major role this season — that’s what was lost in the pre-draft process. He’ll be on the field just about every play for John Harbaugh as the most versatile chess piece at his disposal. He’ll put his hand in the dirt and rush. He’ll play off-ball linebacker. He’ll drop into coverage. He’ll line up over the A gap and torpedo the middle. Grade: A
10. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami. Most sources SNY touched base with believed Mauigoa to be the best lineman in this class. He can play tackle or guard – he has start-for-decade-plus potential. The issue is a back injury that crept up during the pre-draft process. One team SNY touched base with, who evaluated him extensively, said they felt his back “should be fine,” but couldn’t say for certain. The Giants, clearly, have no issue with the back. They might have the steal of the draft if they’re right. Grade: B+
Brent Sobleski (Bleacher Report)
5. New York Giants: LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State. The New York Giants should be thrilled, because Arvell Reese was almost universally seen as a top-three pick throughout the lead up to this event. Clearly, head coach John Harbaugh brought a little bit of the Baltimore Ravens with him to New York, because his previous team was known for getting great value on the regular.
The fascinating aspect of Reese’s inclusion is that he’s not currently an ideal fit. But he’s too talented to bypass. He’s not going to help cover up Tremaine Edmunds’ issues working in space. The Giants already have a ton invested in their edge rusher. A specific plan is necessary to fully maximize the versatile defender’s capabilities. Grade: A
10. New York Giants (via CIN): OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami. Earlier, the New York Giants did a wonderful job allowing the draft to come to them and ending up with Arvell Reese. The same can’t be said with the selection of Francis Mauigoa. Granted, a powerful offensive lineman does feel like a John Harbaugh-type of selection. The near-6’6″, 329-pound powerhouse is a people-mover. His power at the point of attack can set the tone for any entire front five, whether he starts at tackle or guard during his professional career. If the Giants wanted a guard now, Penn State’s Vega Ioane was the higher-rated option and natural prospect for the position. Grade: C
