The Giants announced that they have signed first-round linebacker Arvell Reese to his rookie contract. As the fifth overall pick, Reese’s fully guaranteed four-year deal is worth around $47.83MM.
Reese played three years at Ohio State, where he capped off a 43-tackle 2024 campaign with a national championship and then experienced a massive uptick in production last season. While recording 356 snaps at outside linebacker and 238 snaps as an off-ball LB, the 6-foot-4, 243-pounder tallied 69 tackles (10 for loss) and 6.5 sacks over 14 games. He earned Big Ten Linebacker of the Year honors and was named a consensus All-American.
Reese’s versatility helped make him one of the premier prospects in this year’s class. Just a few weeks before the draft, Reese was considered the favorite to go second overall to the Jets. They wound up taking former Texas Tech edge defender David Bailey with that selection. Two picks later, the Titans were down to Reese and one of his former college teammates, wide receiver Carnell Tate. They went with Tate at No. 4, leaving an easy decision for a Giants team that saw coveted ex-Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love join the Cardinals third overall. The Giants reportedly gave equal grades to Love and Reese.
While Reese could turn into a high-end outside rusher for the Giants, they already have three-time Pro Bowler Brian Burns, 2025 third overall pick Abdul Carter and 2022 fifth overall choice Kayvon Thibodeaux along the edge. Although Thibodeaux has been popular in trade rumors, it appears the Giants will keep the four-year veteran in hopes he rebounds from a 10-game, 2.5-sack showing from 2025. With Thibodeaux sticking around, the plan is for Reese to primarily play off-ball LB at the outset of his career. He will line up on the weak side and team with free agent acquisition Tremaine Edmunds as the Giants’ starting duo.
Reese was the first of seven picks in the 2026 draft for the Giants, who now have their entire class under contract. Here is the list:
- Round 1, No. 5: Arvell Reese (EDGE/LB, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 10 (from Bengals): Francis Mauigoa (T, Miami) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 37: Colton Hood (CB, Tennessee) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 74 (from Chiefs via Browns): Malachi Fields (WR, Notre Dame) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 186: Bobby Jamison-Travis (DT, Auburn) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 192 (from Dolphins): JC Davis (T, Illinois) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 193 (from Cowboys): Jack Kelly (LB, BYU) (signed)