Baldy Breakdown: 'Gonna be fun' watching New York Giants' Arvell Reese

New York Giants rookie linebacker Arvell Reese is quickly becoming a legend, and he hasn't even played his first NFL game yet. The Giants selected the Ohio State stud fifth overall in this April's NFL draft over two other Buckeye stars that many felt they would have been better off taking. Sonny Sty

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What is the story about?

New York Giants rookie linebacker Arvell Reese is quickly becoming a legend, and he hasn't even played his first NFL game yet.

The Giants selected the Ohio State stud fifth overall in this April's NFL draft over two other Buckeye stars that many felt they would have been better off taking. Sonny Styles was a natural fit to fill their need at off-ball linebacker, and safety Caleb Downs is a can't-miss defensive quarterback who will be a perennial Pro Bowler.

But those experts didn't see what the Giants saw in Reese. He's bigger than one would think in person at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds. He's faster, too. And stronger. And meaner.

Heading into the draft, Reese was seen by many experts as primarily an edge rusher. The Giants are flush with those at

the moment and announced that Reese would be moved to inside linebacker to begin his career.

So far, so good. Reese has embraced his new role with vigor and violence, destroying everything in his path from blockers to ball carriers.

.@Giants @arvxll "Step up; Blow it up". It's his mantra....just follow the red wing tip shoes. Violent and Swift. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/XcAG9tfxp0
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) August 23, 2026

Reese has been a force from the second he walked through the door. Every day he seems to get that much better.

"Well, it's kind of the same as it's been from day one. He hasn't really missed a beat at all," head coach John Harbaugh said of Reese's acclimation to the NFL. "He learns very quickly, and he executes the defenses really well. And then when he doesn't, he listens to every word of the coaching and applies it on the next opportunity.

"He's making a lot of progress real fast. Once we start playing the real games, I think that'll be a learning experience for him, too. He's not going to go out there, and he'll never have experienced a regular-season pro football game until the Cowboys. So, after that game, I think it'll be a big step for him as far as, oh, okay, this is kind of how I need to approach this."

Reese's impact has not escaped people who have been with the team for decades.

Maximum IMPACT Boom! Arvell Reese is 💥.He's a *Thumper* thats on balance, and *Available* after contact.
Watch the full @BleavNetwork pod here👇🏾https://t.co/xmU7ZSbX3z pic.twitter.com/Qch99rZrh5

— Carl Banks (@CarlBanksGIII) August 24, 2026