The New York Giants used a pair of top-10 draft picks to bolster both sides of the ball when they selected linebacker Arvell Reese and guard Francis Mauigoa.
Though both star rookies got limited run time with their respective units throughout the preseason, they both stood out in training camp and the preseason.
With the regular season officially beginning this week, Josh Edwards of CBS Sports named both Reese and Mauigoa to the NFL preseason All-Rookie team. Here's what he said about both:
Mauigoa played right tackle at Miami, but the need at right guard was greater for the Giants. Although it may come as a surprise to see Mauigoa rather than Baltimore's Vega Ioane, Mauigoa was taken four spots earlier and looked better in the preseason. Both
are worthy candidates for this distinction.
Much of the pre-NFL Draft process was spent considering Reese's potential as a full-time edge rusher, but his capabilities at linebacker had already been expressed on a football field. Flush with pass rushers like Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, Reese has to be Fix-It Felix Jr. rather than Wreck-It Ralph. His job is to clean up the mess created by the front.
Reese, the No. 5 overall pick from the draft, is expected to work mostly as an off-ball linebacker. This is despite his abilities as a stand-up edge rusher. It's expected that Reese will man the WILL position in Dennard Wilson's defensive scheme.
The Ohio State product graded out pretty well in his two preseason appearances. He logged only 22 total snaps across two games but came away with an 88.2 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus.
Meanwhile, Mauigoa got a little more run as the new starting right guard for the Giants offense. He excelled in his two preseason games, allowing no pressures on 23 pass-blocking snaps. He also graded out well as a run-blocker (74.2), per PFF.
The Giants will be relying on both rookies to make a massive impact on their sides of the ball, so New York would certainly be pleased if this prediction came to fruition.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: 2 New York Giants named to CBS Sports' preseason All-Rookie team
