New York Giants Stun NFL with Shocking Fifth Overall Pick of Arvell Reese

The New York Giants selected Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese with the fifth overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, 2026. The selection marked the first draft pick of the John Harbaugh era for the franchise.

The move was considered a surprise by many observers, as there had been widespread speculation that the team might target safety Caleb Downs or linebacker Sonny Styles with the fifth pick following Harbaugh’s attendance at Ohio State’s pro day. Reese had also been heavily rumored to be a target for the New York Jets.

Draft Board Strategy and Availability

Giants general manager Joe Schoen indicated that the team did not necessarily expect Reese to be available when they were on the clock. When asked if he anticipated Reese would still be on the board at No. 5, Schoen responded, No.

Schoen further explained that while the organization hoped for the outcome, there weren’t a lot of scenarios that we went through where he may be available.

According to team reporting, Reese was the highest-rated prospect on the Giants’ draft board, with the exception of quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The Giants’ decision to pivot to Reese came after the New York Jets selected David Bailey at No. 2, followed by the surprising selections of running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 and wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4.

Defensive Integration and Versatility

The selection of Reese comes at a time when the Giants’ roster is already deep with edge rushers, including Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux. While Reese is viewed as an emerging pass rusher and one of the premier athletes in the 2026 class, the team intends to utilize him in a specific role to complement their existing talent.

The Giants plan to employ Reese as an off-ball, weakside linebacker. In this capacity, he is expected to fill a starting role alongside free agent linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. Coach John Harbaugh highlighted the physical capabilities of the linebacker, stating, There’s really nothing he can’t do physically.

Arvell is a versatile player, and we’re going to play him at inside backer, Will linebacker. Our defense is pretty flexible, position-less you might call it. We’ll have an opportunity to move those guys around. But he’ll line up next to Tremaine (Edmunds), and he’ll be in the A gap, the B gap, the C gap, the D gap, off the edge. He’ll be moving around with all of our guys.

John Harbaugh

Offensive Line Additions

In addition to the selection of Reese, the Giants used the 10th overall pick to select Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa. This pick was acquired by the Giants from the Cincinnati Bengals as part of a trade involving Dexter Lawrence that took place the weekend prior to the draft.

While Mauigoa played as a tackle during his collegiate career at Miami, the Giants intend to move him to the interior of the offensive line. Harbaugh confirmed that the team plans to start Mauigoa at guard, though he noted that the player possesses the ability to play tackle if needed.

The addition of Mauigoa and Reese represents a significant investment in both the offensive and defensive lines during the first round of the 2026 draft, emphasizing a strategy of versatility and physical size under the new coaching leadership.